NEW YORK – Mizzou Baseball junior RHP Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) became the program’s seventh first round draft pick as he was selected 24th overall by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2017 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft Monday. Houck is the highest-drafted Mizzou player since Kyle Gibson went 22nd overall in 2009.

Of Mizzou’s seven first round draft picks, four have come since 2006 after Houck’s selection Monday. Houck had arguably the most productive three-year career of any pitcher to come through Mizzou’s program. He finishes his career ranked fourth in school history in career strikeouts (292), a mark that ranks second among three-year players. Houck threw 300.2 innings during his three seasons, becoming just the second Mizzou player ever to throw 300+ innings in his first three seasons. He showed tremendous durability over his Mizzou career, pitching through 6.0 innings in 37 of 44 career starts, 7.0 innings in 24 and 8.0 innings in 13 starts.

Houck is coming off a junior season during which he allowed career lows in hits (78), extra-base hits (22), homers (five), triples (one) and earned runs (35). He finishes his Mizzou career with 17 wins, a 3.26 ERA and 292 strikeouts. He limited batters to just .220 hitting throughout his career.

Several other Mizzou players hope to hear their names called as the MLB Draft continues this week. Rounds 3-10 will be Tuesday while rounds 11-40 will be Wednesday.

— Mizzou Athletics —