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Virginia Tech's Horan, Joyce, Cavs' Crockett picked in Major League Baseball draft

Associated Press

Virginia Tech's Tyler Horan connects against UConn in the NCAA regional at English Field last Sunday.

Courtesy of Virginia

Virginia's Kyle Crockett was drafted by the Cleveland Indians.

MATT GENTRY | The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech pitcher Jake Joyce sports a Mohawk haircut as a graduation present to teammate Clark Labitan.

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Virginia draft picks

Players drafted out of Virginia high schools and colleges during the first two days of the major league draft.

Thursday

Competitve Balance Round B (following second round)

71st overall pick. Oakland, Chad Pinder, SS, Virginia Tech.

Friday

Eighth Round

252. San Francisco, Tyler Horan, LF, Virginia Tech

Ninth Round

286. Washington, Jake Joyce, RHP, Virginia Tech

10th Round

287. Houston, Austin Nicely, LHP, Spotswood HS

Mark Berman | 981-3125

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Two more Hokies and a Cavalier were chosen Friday on the second day of the major league draft.

Virginia junior reliever Kyle Crockett was chosen in the fourth round by the Cleveland Indians.

Virginia Tech left fielder Tyler Horan was picked in the eighth round by the San Francisco Giants, while Tech reliever Jake Joyce (Carlisle) was chosen in the ninth round by the Washington Nationals.

"Playing at the next level's always been my dream," said Joyce, the 2009 Timesland player of the year.

Joyce was bypassed in the draft last year but pitched well in the Cape Cod League last summer and was 7-1 with a 4.16 ERA and three saves as a Tech senior this year.

"I had two teams talk to me about possibly being picked in the top 10 rounds and I didn't even tell my parents about those phone calls because I didn't want them to expect too much," said Joyce, who began his high school career at Bassett before transferring to Carlisle.

Horan also was bypassed in last year's draft. But he belted 16 homers in the Cape Cod League last summer and hit .342 with 11 homers and 50 RBIs for Tech as a fourth-year junior.

"It's awesome," Horan said of getting drafted. "It was pretty nerve-wracking."

Horan, who recently graduated, said he intends to turn pro and skip his senior season.

Crockett, a left-hander, is 4-1 with a 1.68 ERA and 12 saves.

UVa signee Austin Nicely, a pitcher for Spotswood High School, was taken by Houston in the 10th round.

Late Thursday night, Tech infielder Chad Pinder was chosen by Oakland in the supplemental round which followed the second round.

"It was an unbelievable feeling," Pinder said Friday. "It was a very, very long night for me and my family."

Pinder said he expects to turn pro and forego his senior season.

Rounds 3-10 were held Friday. The draft concludes today with the final 30 rounds.

Saturday, September 14, 2013