Six LSU players were drafted in the first nine rounds on the 2017 MLB Draft
When seniors Kramer Robertson, Cole Freeman and Jared Poche and junior Greg Deichmann decided to return to LSU after the 2016 season despite getting drafted, one of the goals the group had in mind was getting the Tigers to the College World Series.
That goal was accomplished on Sunday night when the Tigers defeated Mississippi State 14-4. But another goal took place on Monday and Tuesday.
All four Tigers ended up getting drafted higher than their spots from a season ago:
Deichmann heard his named called during the first two rounds of the draft on Monday night while Robertson, Freeman and Poche all heard their names on Tuesday afternoon.
Those four weren’t the only Tigers to get drafted either. Junior pitcher Alex Lange was the first LSU player off the board when he was drafted 30th overall by the Chicago Cubs on Monday and catcher Michael Papierski was taken 10 picks after Poche went in the ninth round to the Houston Astros.
«I’m just so happy for those six players, » LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. «This is a great thing for them. Gosh, what a great ending to their careers at LSU. All their hard work and all their sacrifices and the work our staff have done with them and their teammates have supported them, for them to finish their career with a trip to Omaha and play for a national championship and get what they wanted as far as professional baseball goes, it’s an awesome two days for those guys.»
Two of those drafted players — Lange and Poche — didn’t even want to talk about the draft on Tuesday to reporters because they were so locked in to focusing on the task at hand.
«It’s a honor and everything but I’m just really focused on Omaha and Florida State on Saturday, » Lange said. «I’ve just kind of turned my attention moving to the north.»
Robertson and Freeman were together for the draft at Freeman’s apartment so when the excitement of Robertson’s selection had just about died down, it picked right back up again for Freeman.
«We were both at my apartment, » Freeman said. «It was really exciting. Obviously, we were right by our phones and going back and forth with teams and agents and just kind of waiting for our name to be called. It was real cool to be together and see Kramer go and then maybe 10 minutes right after I go. It was special to experience that together.
«You’re excited for him and then almost right after I’m getting a phone call about a team and I’m talking to them and they say we might pick you right here and then you’re just waiting to see your name pop up. You’re hoping they stick with it. It just happened so fast. It’s stressful talking to all of the teams.»
Robertson said he got to hang out some with Deichmann on Monday but was surrounded by Freeman, Lange and sophomore Antoine Duplantis on Tuesday. He said he was glad he was able to experience the thrill of being selected with teammates.
«They’ve gone through everything with me, » Robertson said. «The struggles, the highest of highs, the lowest of lows. We got to experience that together so that just makes it much sweeter because those are guys I consider family.
«I was probably more excited when those guys got called then when I got called. You’re just so nervous and your heart is pounding for all of them. It was cool to see all four of us that came back improve our draft stock and see Alex go in the first round with a team like the Cubs is something really cool.»
Deichmann admitted that he had certain expectations set out for himself but those expectations didn’t include being drafted 43rd overall.
«But to get that call and hear your name called just sends chills down your spine, » Deichmann said. «It’s an unbelievable experience and something that I’m going to remember forever.»
It’s been a whirlwind 48 hours for the Robertson, Deichmann, Freeman and Poche — winning a Super Regional championship on Sunday and finding out what pro teams they’ll start their pro careers with by the time they took the field again at Alex Box Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Robertson said it was a little hard to comprehend everything that happened but he was happy about it nonetheless.
«It’s a dream come true to get to win a Super Regional to go to Omaha and then two days later get drafted by just an incredible organization with so much history, » Robertson said. «I can’t really put it all together and put it into words. I’m just really humbled and honored. The goal right now is still win a national championship and I’m completely focused on that.»
