The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Tolbert Selected in 13th Round of MLB Draft by Kansas City
6/5/2019 3:03:00 PM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM - Tyler Tolbert became the second UAB baseball player selected in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft as the Kansas City Royals chose the infielder in the 13th round on Wednesday afternoon.
The junior is now the 31st Blazer in program history to be drafted and joins teammate Graham Ashcraft to go in the 2019 draft as Ashcraft was selected in the sixth round by the Cincinnati Reds. Tolbert will be reunited with former Blazer Brewer Hicklen who has been in the Kansas City farm system since 2017.
"We have had the privilege of having Tyler Tolbert in our baseball family for the last three years and he has been a true joy to coach," head coach Brian Shoop said. "He is an exciting player with world class speed that the Royals have always loved, so he fits their long-time mode of team speed. Wouldn't it be amazing if Tyler and Brewer both ended up playing together again in Kansas City?
"Tyler can play infield or outfield so he is very versatile. He is a model teammate and I can assure that everyone in the UAB baseball program is thrilled for Tyler on this special day in his life!"
Tolbert started 47 games this year for the Blazers and finished with a .283 batting average. He stole 41 bases which ranked him fifth nationally and he ranks inside the top 10 for stolen bases at UAB with 76 career steals (76-of-91, .835%).
In his career he started 131 games, compiled 110 hits and scored 82 runs.
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