North Carolina State University Athletics
Four More #Pack9 Players Selected On Final Day Of MLB Draft
7/13/2021 2:58:00 PM | Baseball
NC State baseball saw four more of its players selected on the third and final day of the 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, as Jonny Butler, Terrell Tatum, Luca Tresh and Reid Johnston all heard their name called on Tuesday afternoon.
Â
Butler was selected in the 14th round (428th pick) to the Oakland Athletics, Terrell Tatum was taken in the 16th round (485th pick) to the Chicago White Sox, Luca Tresh was drafted in the 17th round (499th pick) to the Kansas City Royals and Reid Johnston was called in the 19th round (576th pick) to the Cleveland Indians.
Â
The eight total players ties as the second-most NC State has had selected in a MLB Draft, as the Wolfpack had a program-best nine drafted in 2008 and eight in 2006, 2017 and 2019. It also topped the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and was the third-most among the NCAA in MLB Draft selections this year.
Â
Under head coach Elliott Avent, 120 players have now been selected in the MLB Draft, including 47 since 2014.
Â
JONNY BUTLER | ROUND 14, PICK 428 – OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Butler emerged as this year's ACC batting average champion (.376) and ranked among the league leaders in slugging percentage (.663) and on-base percentage (.452).
Â
Butler collected First-Team All-ACC honors and All-America honors from four publications after finishing the regular season with a batting average of .406. He was one of the most dangerous hitters in the country down the stretch, turning in 11 consecutive multi-hit games to conclude the regular season.Â
Â
In NCAA Tournament play he went 10-for-32 (.313) with a team-high 12 runs batted in, highlighted by a 3-for-4 outing with a home run and career-best five RBIs in his College World Series debut versus Stanford on June 19.
Â
Additionally, Butler excelled in the classroom as he was named the 2021 ACC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year to become the program's second player to earn the honor.
Â
TERRELL TATUM | ROUND 16, PICK 485 – CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Tatum, who made 50 starts in 53 appearances, turned in the best season of his career at the plate in 2021, batting .317 with 12 home runs and a .534 slugging percentage. He was named First Team All-ACC after batting .370 against conference opponents.
Â
Tatum, who primarily played as a designated hitter, turned in multi-homer games on April 30 at Wake Forest, May 16 at Pittsburgh and May 22 vs. Florida State, but his biggest home run of the season came on June 21 against Vanderbilt in the College World Series, as it proved to be the game-winning run in a 1-0 game.
Â
LUCA TRESH | ROUND 17, PICK 499 – KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Tresh was one of three players to start all 56 games in 2021 at their respective positions. After losing first-rounder Patrick Bailey to the 2020 MLB Draft, he filled the void for the Pack behind the plate as a plus defender, making just five errors on the year and throwing out 24 percent of runners attempting to steal a base.
Â
He led the team with 15 home runs and turned in 14 multi-hit games, which was highlighted by a career-best 4-for-5 outing with four RBIs on Feb. 23 vs. UNCG. Additionally, seven of his home runs came within an eight-game span.
Â
REID JOHNSTON | ROUND 19 – PICK 576 – CLEVELAND INDIANS
Johnston was one of the most consistent pitchers on the team this year, going at least six innings in 11 of his 12 starts. A Third Team All-ACC and All-ACC Academic Team selection, he led the team with 96 strikeouts in 96.2 innings pitched, and compiled a 4.47 ERA with a 9-3 record.
Â
In his first start of the season on March 26, he threw a complete game in the Pack's 9-2 win at North Carolina, which was the second of his career. He additionally picked up six straight wins on the mound between April 25 and June 4, surrendering just 16 earned runs in that span of 42.1 innings.
Â
Â
Butler was selected in the 14th round (428th pick) to the Oakland Athletics, Terrell Tatum was taken in the 16th round (485th pick) to the Chicago White Sox, Luca Tresh was drafted in the 17th round (499th pick) to the Kansas City Royals and Reid Johnston was called in the 19th round (576th pick) to the Cleveland Indians.
Â
The eight total players ties as the second-most NC State has had selected in a MLB Draft, as the Wolfpack had a program-best nine drafted in 2008 and eight in 2006, 2017 and 2019. It also topped the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and was the third-most among the NCAA in MLB Draft selections this year.
Â
Under head coach Elliott Avent, 120 players have now been selected in the MLB Draft, including 47 since 2014.
Â
JONNY BUTLER | ROUND 14, PICK 428 – OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Butler emerged as this year's ACC batting average champion (.376) and ranked among the league leaders in slugging percentage (.663) and on-base percentage (.452).
Â
Butler collected First-Team All-ACC honors and All-America honors from four publications after finishing the regular season with a batting average of .406. He was one of the most dangerous hitters in the country down the stretch, turning in 11 consecutive multi-hit games to conclude the regular season.Â
Â
In NCAA Tournament play he went 10-for-32 (.313) with a team-high 12 runs batted in, highlighted by a 3-for-4 outing with a home run and career-best five RBIs in his College World Series debut versus Stanford on June 19.
Â
Additionally, Butler excelled in the classroom as he was named the 2021 ACC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year to become the program's second player to earn the honor.
Â
TERRELL TATUM | ROUND 16, PICK 485 – CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Tatum, who made 50 starts in 53 appearances, turned in the best season of his career at the plate in 2021, batting .317 with 12 home runs and a .534 slugging percentage. He was named First Team All-ACC after batting .370 against conference opponents.
Â
Tatum, who primarily played as a designated hitter, turned in multi-homer games on April 30 at Wake Forest, May 16 at Pittsburgh and May 22 vs. Florida State, but his biggest home run of the season came on June 21 against Vanderbilt in the College World Series, as it proved to be the game-winning run in a 1-0 game.
Â
LUCA TRESH | ROUND 17, PICK 499 – KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Tresh was one of three players to start all 56 games in 2021 at their respective positions. After losing first-rounder Patrick Bailey to the 2020 MLB Draft, he filled the void for the Pack behind the plate as a plus defender, making just five errors on the year and throwing out 24 percent of runners attempting to steal a base.
Â
He led the team with 15 home runs and turned in 14 multi-hit games, which was highlighted by a career-best 4-for-5 outing with four RBIs on Feb. 23 vs. UNCG. Additionally, seven of his home runs came within an eight-game span.
Â
REID JOHNSTON | ROUND 19 – PICK 576 – CLEVELAND INDIANS
Johnston was one of the most consistent pitchers on the team this year, going at least six innings in 11 of his 12 starts. A Third Team All-ACC and All-ACC Academic Team selection, he led the team with 96 strikeouts in 96.2 innings pitched, and compiled a 4.47 ERA with a 9-3 record.
Â
In his first start of the season on March 26, he threw a complete game in the Pack's 9-2 win at North Carolina, which was the second of his career. He additionally picked up six straight wins on the mound between April 25 and June 4, surrendering just 16 earned runs in that span of 42.1 innings.
Â
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
C/OF
/ BaseballAuburn Regional Preview: Elliott Avent on ACC PM
Thursday, May 29
Game Three Press Conference: Athens Super Regional
Tuesday, June 11
Game Two Press Conference: Athens Super Regional
Sunday, June 09
Game One Press Conference - Athens Super Regional
Saturday, June 08