Packer, Cannon Picked in Third Day of MLB Draft

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Virginia baseball players Matt Packer (Jr., Germantown, Tenn.) and Tyler Cannon (Jr., Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) were selected Thursday in the third day of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Overall, Virginia had five players taken in the draft.

Packer was a 32nd-round pick (965th overall) of the Cleveland Indians. Cannon was a 41st-round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates (1225th overall).

The two join three UVa players who were picked on Wednesday. Andrew Carraway (Sr., Marietta, Ga.) was a 12th-round pick (353rd overall) of the Seattle Mariners. Jeff Lorick (Jr., Duluth, Ga.) was picked in the 20th round (598th overall) by the Atlanta Braves, while Robert Poutier (Sr., Yorktown, Va.) was a 29th-round selection (864th overall) of the San Diego Padres.

Packer is 3-4 with a 3.95 ERA this season. He has been particularly strong in recent weeks and has a 2.87 ERA over his last 11 appearances. The reigning NCAA ERA champion (1.14 in 2008) was named to the midseason and preseason Wallace Award Watch Lists this year. He is tied for first on the team in appearances this year with 29 and had three strong outings last weekend in the super regional, where he pitched 3.2 scoreless innings.

Cannon is having his best season in a Virginia uniform. He earned First-Team All-ACC honors at shortstop and was named to the initial watch list for the Wallace Award, which is presented to the nation’s top shortstop. In 61 games (59 starts), he is batting a career-best .339, including a team-best .377 in ACC games. He already has set career highs with 17 stolen bases, 37 RBI, 19 doubles and 50 runs. He has 19 multiple-hit games this year, including two five-hit games.