Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Two Dawgs Taken On Day 2 Of MLB Draft
July 18, 2022 | Baseball
Preston Johnson and Brad Cumbest both heard their names called on Day 2 of the MLB Draft
STARKVILLE – Another pair of Diamond Dawgs realized their dream come true on day two of the 2022 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft, which featured rounds 3-10 on Monday (July 18).
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Preston Johnson, a right-handed pitcher from Crystal Springs, Mississippi, was the first State player off the board on day two after being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles as the No. 197 overall pick in the seventh round. Two rounds later, MSU outfielder Brad Cumbest was selected as the No. 266 overall pick in the ninth round by the Colorado Rockies.
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On Sunday, pitcher Landon Sims was selected as the No. 34 overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round (Competitive Balance A), while catcher Logan Tanner followed closely behind as the No. 55 overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round.
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Sims became the ninth State player in the last 11 years to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft, which is more than the previous 25 years combined for the program. Overall, Mississippi State has heard 183 student-athletes' names called at the event for a total of 224 draft picks overall.
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Much like Sims and Tanner, Johnson and Cumbest each were key members of State's 2021 National Championship run. In 2022, Johnson moved into the role of a weekend starter and finished the campaign ranked first in the SEC in strikeouts with 117. Johnson appeared in 14 games with 13 starts and 79 innings of work.
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Cumbest enjoyed his most productive season in the Maroon and White in 2022 after posting a .302 clip at the dish while starting all 56 games in the outfield. Cumbest ended the campaign with 12 doubles, 15 home runs and 39 RBIs, while the Hurley, Mississippi, native also successfully stole five bases in seven attempts.
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Under head coach Chris Lemonis, Mississippi State has seen 23 student-athletes drafted in the MLB Draft, including five going in the first round. Lemonis also now has 11 draft picks in the first five rounds of the draft during his MSU tenure.
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The 2022 MLB Draft concludes Tuesday (July 19) with rounds 11-20 starting at 1 p.m. CT.
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Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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Preston Johnson, a right-handed pitcher from Crystal Springs, Mississippi, was the first State player off the board on day two after being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles as the No. 197 overall pick in the seventh round. Two rounds later, MSU outfielder Brad Cumbest was selected as the No. 266 overall pick in the ninth round by the Colorado Rockies.
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On Sunday, pitcher Landon Sims was selected as the No. 34 overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round (Competitive Balance A), while catcher Logan Tanner followed closely behind as the No. 55 overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round.
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Sims became the ninth State player in the last 11 years to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft, which is more than the previous 25 years combined for the program. Overall, Mississippi State has heard 183 student-athletes' names called at the event for a total of 224 draft picks overall.
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Much like Sims and Tanner, Johnson and Cumbest each were key members of State's 2021 National Championship run. In 2022, Johnson moved into the role of a weekend starter and finished the campaign ranked first in the SEC in strikeouts with 117. Johnson appeared in 14 games with 13 starts and 79 innings of work.
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Cumbest enjoyed his most productive season in the Maroon and White in 2022 after posting a .302 clip at the dish while starting all 56 games in the outfield. Cumbest ended the campaign with 12 doubles, 15 home runs and 39 RBIs, while the Hurley, Mississippi, native also successfully stole five bases in seven attempts.
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Under head coach Chris Lemonis, Mississippi State has seen 23 student-athletes drafted in the MLB Draft, including five going in the first round. Lemonis also now has 11 draft picks in the first five rounds of the draft during his MSU tenure.
Â
The 2022 MLB Draft concludes Tuesday (July 19) with rounds 11-20 starting at 1 p.m. CT.
Â
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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