STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University junior pitchers Chris Stratton and Nick Routt signed with the National League teams that selected them last week in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft.
Stratton, the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year from Tupelo, signed Tuesday evening with the San Francisco Giants, while Routt, a left-hander from Silver Spring, Md., came to terms with the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend. The first steps in professional baseball for both will be stops at their team training camps in Arizona.
Stratton was the 20th player selected last week after posting an 11-2 record, a league-leading 2.38 ERA, and 127 strikeouts. A first-team Louisville Slugger All-American and second-team Capital One Academic All-American, Stratton helped MSU’s pitching staff compile a 2.58 ERA, just behind Missouri State’s nation-leading 2.57 ERA.
Routt, a 16th-round draft pick, went 3-5 with a 3.80 ERA, drawing seven early-season starts in 18 appearances. Routt allowed one earned run in his last six appearances and earned wins in relief against Southern Miss. He also earned a victory against the University of Kentucky in MSU’s championship run through the SEC tournament.
Stratton will report today to the Giants’ training center in Scottsdale, Ariz. He is expected to begin his pro career with Salem-Keizer (Ore.), the Giants’ short-season Class A team in the Northwest League.
Routt will report this week to the Reds’ training camp in Goodyear, Ariz. He is projected to begin his pro career with the Billings (Mont.) Mustangs in the Pioneer League.
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