6:00: Morning News

Draft day arrives for 8th-rounders Boyd, Musgrave

West Virginia center fielder Bobby Boyd led the Big 12 with a .356 batting average and was drafted in the eighth round by the Astros.

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As projected, West Virginia pitcher Harrison Musgrave was selected on Day 2 of the MLB draft. But in a bit of a surprise, the left-hander wasn’t the first Mountaineer chosen.

Junior center fielder Bobby Boyd was selected by the Houston Astros with the 226th pick in the eighth round on Friday, seven spots ahead of Musgrave going to the Colorado Rockies.

The 5-foot-9 Boyd was an All-Big 12 performer who led the conference with a .356 batting average. He had one homer, 24 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.

“It just all feels like a dream,” said Boyd, a native of Silver Spring, Md. “I can’t believe this day has come. I want to thank everyone with the Astros for giving me this opportunity.”

The Nutter Fort native Musgrave went 5-3 with a 2.62 earned run average this season, striking out 87 in 106 1/3 innings with a .227 opponent batting average. That followed a sophomore campaign in which he was 9-1 with a 2.17 ERA, earned Big 12 pitcher of the year honors and was drafted in the 29th round by the Philadelphia Phillies.

He passed on signing a contract last summer but is presumed to be leaving school this time around.

“I would like to thank the Rockies organization,” Musgrave said. “It’s a great honor and a new challenge that I look forward to.”

Underclassmen have until July 18 to agree wiith MLB clubs.

Saturday’s final day of the draft features rounds 11 through 40 with several West Virginia players expected to be picked, including junior pitchers John Means and Sean Carley, junior second baseman Billy Fleming and senior first baseman Ryan McBroom.







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