Lincoln Memorial's Elliott Selected by Padres in 10th Round of MLB Draft
STORY BY LMU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
HARROGATE, Tenn. — Ethan Elliott's decorated career on the diamond at Lincoln Memorial University may be over, but his playing days aren't.
On Tuesday, the All-American left-handed pitcher became the highest LMU pitcher taken in the MLB Draft and the fourth ever when he was taken by the San Diego Padres in the 10th round with the 293rd pick.
The Knoxville, Tenn., native is now the 11th Railsplitter drafted since Cameron Andrews became the first in 1993, while he is the first LMU baseball player drafted since 2014 when fellow Knoxville pitcher Logan Sawyer was taken in the 29th round by the Colorado Rockies.
The 6-foot-3 hurler is also the second highest overall player drafted as he is right behind Allen Butler, who was selected in the eighth round with the 239rd pick by the New York Yankees in 1996.
It's a more than earned opportunity for Elliott as he dazzled in his splendid career, where he ranks first in career ERA (3.01), wins (37), starts (54), innings pitched (358) and strikeouts (402).
Those feats, including his senior campaign that featured a 12-2 season record which set the program record for wins in a single-season, caught the eye of the scouts as the MLB Draft Tracker stated:
"Elliott put up incredibly impressive strikeout-to-walk numbers at Lincoln Memorial this season, whiffing 134 batters while walking just 14 over 92 2/3 innings. The southpaw has a fastball that ranges from 85-89 mph, but also throws a decent changeup. He finished the season particularly strong, putting up a 0.78 ERA over his final six starts, while striking out 65 in 46 1/3 innings, including a 16-strikeout shutout on April 12."
A full list of the Padres' draft picks can be viewed HERE.
The Padres are getting one of the most decorated athletes in LMU baseball history as Elliott is a four-time All-American, nine-time All-Region player, Region Pitcher of the Year, two-time NBCWA Regional Pitcher of the Week and Academic All-District, in addition to being named All-SAC three times, SAC Pitcher of the Year and SAC Freshman of the Year.