Langeliers the No. 9 overall pick in 2019 MLB draft, 1 of 6 Bears selected

The Atlanta Braves made Baylor junior Shea Langeliers the ninth overall pick in this week’s MLB draft — the second-highest draft pick in Baylor baseball history.

Only Stan Hilton, taken fifth overall in 1983, can top Langeliers’ selection. The Bears’ catcher is the eighth first-round pick in program history, joining a list that includes such major leaguers as Pat Combs (1988), Scott Ruffcorn (1991), Kip Wells (1998), Jason Jennings (1999) and David Murphy (2003).

Four other Bears have been selected as supplemental first-round picks over the years: Chad Hawkins (2000), Mark McCormick (2005), Aaron Miller (2009) — and Davis Wendzel, the Bears’ starting third baseman who went 41st overall to the Texas Rangers in this year’s draft.

The signs were there throughout Langeliers’ and Wendzel’s careers. Both were All-Americans and multiple-time All-Big 12 selections. In addition to stellar hitting statistics — Langeliers hit double-digit home runs all three seasons, and Wendzel hit over .300 each season in green and gold — both were among the best in the nation defensively at their positions.

Four other Bears were also drafted this week: pitcher Cody Bradford (6th round, Rangers), pitcher Kyle Hill (10th round, Seattle Mariners), second baseman Josh Bissonette (31st round, Pittsburgh Pirates) and pitcher Luke Boyd (38th round, Los Angeles Angels). The six total selections were the most for Baylor since 2009, when seven Bears were picked. (The 2012 team also had six players drafted.)

This year’s Baylor draft class can boast team accomplishments in addition to individual excellence. The Bears made the NCAA tournament each of the last three years, and all six student-athletes played meaningful roles in the team’s run to their first ever Big 12 tournament title in 2018.

“It’s hard for me to put into words all the things I have gotten out of (my time at) Baylor,” Langeliers wrote before the draft. “I went to Baylor and fell in love with it; loved the people, love the coaches, loved everything about it… Three years later, I don’t think I would change one thing.”

Sic ’em, Baylor draftees!