University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Ben Solomon
Blackwood and Tubbs Selected in MLB Draft
Jun 11, 2016 | Baseball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis junior duo of pitcher Nolan Blackwood and outfielder Darien Tubbs were both selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft on Saturday.
Blackwood was drafted in the 14th round by the Oakland Athletics while Tubbs was taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 16th round.
The 412th overall pick, Blackwood has put his name all over the Memphis baseball record book in his three seasons with the Tigers. Blackwood pitched in a program record 83 games in his career and notched a record 24 career saves. Blackwood has a 2.32 career earned run average in 116 1/3 innings pitched, which ranks as the fifth lowest ERA in program history (minimum 70 IP).
"We are thrilled for Nolan and have enjoyed watching him develop into a professional prospect over the past three years," Memphis head coach Daron Schoenrock said. "Spending three years as a closer in the American Athletic Conference, Nolan has pitched in countless 'big moments' and is ready for what the game has in store for him next. He has worked hard for this opportunity and we look forward to seeing his professional career unfold. We wish Nolan the best in this next step of life."
The Southaven, Miss., set the single-season saves record with 14 as a sophomore in 2015 on his way to being named an NCBWA second-team All-American as well as a member of the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA South All-Region team. As a freshman he set the program record for single-season appearances with 31 and finished with a 2-4 record and a 2.41 ERA in 41.0 innings. He notched his first three saves during that season.
Blackwood is the fourth Memphis Tiger to be drafted by the Athletics and the first since Chad Harville in 1997.
The 491st overall pick, Tubbs was a three-year starter with 174 games played, batting .286 with 189 hits, 133 runs scored and 77 RBI during his Memphis career. His 13 career triples are tied for the second most in school history and his 66 stolen bases are tied for the third most. Tubbs was twice named to the American Athletic Conference All-Conference second team, in 2015 and 2016. The Cookeville, Tenn., product, entered last season as the American Preseason Player of the Year and batted .304 with 40 runs scored and 24 driven in. He finished the season on a 10-game hitting streak and had a hit in 16 of the last 17 games.
"We inserted Darien into the pressure-packed leadoff spot day one of his freshmen year," said Schoenrock. "He withstood several ups and downs in his freshmen campaign and to see the player he has grown into three years later, makes all of us in Tiger Baseball proud. He is ready to launch the next step of his baseball career and possess the tools and makeup to excel at the professional level. All of Darien's hard work will serve him well and we wish him the best."
Tubbs' sophomore campaign was his breakout season with the Tigers. He started all 58 games and batted a team-leading .321 with 57 runs scored and 38 driven in. He had nine doubles, five triples and seven home runs to go along with 24 stolen bases. During the 2015 campaign Tubbs had three separate double-digit hitting streaks, including a career-best 14-game hitting streak. Tubbs managed to reach base in 56 of the 58 games that season.
His father, Greg Tubbs, was drafted in the 22nd round of the 1984 MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves. He played in 35 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 1993. The senior Tubbs was also a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization (1990-92, 94) and was inducted into the Buffalo Bisons Hall of Fame in 2014.
Tubbs is the third Memphis Tiger to be drafted by the Dodgers and the first since Kevin Dotson in 1983.
Blackwood was drafted in the 14th round by the Oakland Athletics while Tubbs was taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 16th round.
The 412th overall pick, Blackwood has put his name all over the Memphis baseball record book in his three seasons with the Tigers. Blackwood pitched in a program record 83 games in his career and notched a record 24 career saves. Blackwood has a 2.32 career earned run average in 116 1/3 innings pitched, which ranks as the fifth lowest ERA in program history (minimum 70 IP).
"We are thrilled for Nolan and have enjoyed watching him develop into a professional prospect over the past three years," Memphis head coach Daron Schoenrock said. "Spending three years as a closer in the American Athletic Conference, Nolan has pitched in countless 'big moments' and is ready for what the game has in store for him next. He has worked hard for this opportunity and we look forward to seeing his professional career unfold. We wish Nolan the best in this next step of life."
The Southaven, Miss., set the single-season saves record with 14 as a sophomore in 2015 on his way to being named an NCBWA second-team All-American as well as a member of the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA South All-Region team. As a freshman he set the program record for single-season appearances with 31 and finished with a 2-4 record and a 2.41 ERA in 41.0 innings. He notched his first three saves during that season.
Blackwood is the fourth Memphis Tiger to be drafted by the Athletics and the first since Chad Harville in 1997.
The 491st overall pick, Tubbs was a three-year starter with 174 games played, batting .286 with 189 hits, 133 runs scored and 77 RBI during his Memphis career. His 13 career triples are tied for the second most in school history and his 66 stolen bases are tied for the third most. Tubbs was twice named to the American Athletic Conference All-Conference second team, in 2015 and 2016. The Cookeville, Tenn., product, entered last season as the American Preseason Player of the Year and batted .304 with 40 runs scored and 24 driven in. He finished the season on a 10-game hitting streak and had a hit in 16 of the last 17 games.
"We inserted Darien into the pressure-packed leadoff spot day one of his freshmen year," said Schoenrock. "He withstood several ups and downs in his freshmen campaign and to see the player he has grown into three years later, makes all of us in Tiger Baseball proud. He is ready to launch the next step of his baseball career and possess the tools and makeup to excel at the professional level. All of Darien's hard work will serve him well and we wish him the best."
Tubbs' sophomore campaign was his breakout season with the Tigers. He started all 58 games and batted a team-leading .321 with 57 runs scored and 38 driven in. He had nine doubles, five triples and seven home runs to go along with 24 stolen bases. During the 2015 campaign Tubbs had three separate double-digit hitting streaks, including a career-best 14-game hitting streak. Tubbs managed to reach base in 56 of the 58 games that season.
His father, Greg Tubbs, was drafted in the 22nd round of the 1984 MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves. He played in 35 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 1993. The senior Tubbs was also a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization (1990-92, 94) and was inducted into the Buffalo Bisons Hall of Fame in 2014.
Tubbs is the third Memphis Tiger to be drafted by the Dodgers and the first since Kevin Dotson in 1983.
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