SEC dominates Day 1 of MLB Draft
But as good as the SEC is in football, it's even more dominant in baseball. Sunday's first round of the Major League Baseball Draft provided even more evidence.
The draft kicked off July 13 with the first three of a scheduled 20 rounds. A total of 105 players were selected by MLB franchises. Of those 105 players, 31 played their college baseball in the SEC. That total is more than every other power conference combined with the Atlantic Coast Conference seeing 12 players drafted, the Big 12 having seven and the Big Ten seeing six selected.
OU saw three players taken, but even the Sooners' solid day wasn't quite up to some of their brethren.
Arkansas and Tennessee carried the way with four players each taken in the first round alone. Volunteers left-hander Liam Doyle went fifth overall, followed by shortstop Gavin Kilen at No. 13, third baseman Andrew Fischer at No. 20 and right-hander Marcus Phillips at No. 33. Gage Wood, a right-handed pitcher, was Arkansas' first selection at No. 26, followed by shortstop Wehiwa Aloy (No. 31), left-hander Zach Root (No. 40) and outfielder Charles Davalan (No. 41).
Two SEC teams made the College World Series, with LSU ultimately capturing the national championship. The Tigers' win marked the sixth straight season an SEC school had won the title. Dating back to 2009, Southeastern Conference teams have won the crown nine different times.
The draft is set to conclude Monday as rounds 4-20 take place on MLB Network.
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