Clemson's Beer drafted in MLB first round |
Clemson All-American right fielder
Seth Beer was selected 28th overall in the first round by the Houston Astros Monday night.
"It means everything," Beer told Astros media after the selection. "Obviously, Houston the past couple of years has been on the come up and to get the call from the World Series champs is just an incredible opportunity and I'm so excited." The Astros are slotted $2,399,400 for the 28th pick contract. Astros assistant GM Mike Elias told reporters Monday that although Beer was announced as an outfielder, he could play first base as well as either corner outfield spot. "Certainly once we get him into our minor league system, his work with our coaches and the construction of our roster as he approaches the big league level will determine where he ends up," Elias said. Beer paced the ACC in home runs (22) and slugging percentage (.642) this season and ranked second on the team in batting average (.301) and RBIs (54). The Suwanee, Georgia product has hit 56 home runs and totaled 177 RBIs over 188 games as a Tiger. He won the Dick Howser Trophy for the nation’s best player as a freshman in 2016, when he hit .369 with 18 home runs, 70 RBIs and a .700 slugging percentage. MLB draft analysts were split on Beer going as early as he did. "This sounds like an Astros pick to me because how many guys do they have that we don't know what position they're going to play?" MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds said. "To me, it's about the bat. Watching him bat, he can turn on a ball and can drive it the other way. I watched him hit left-handers and right-handers...This guy can swing it. I like the fact that he stepped up in big games and really carried his club when they needed him to. Will he be able to play defensively? Yeah, I think he will be able to be somewhere in the outfield. The biggest thing the Astros are looking at is the bat and they'll figure out where he goes from there." "There are (concerns). I don't think there's any chance he plays the outfield," MLB Network's Jim Callis said. "He's a first baseman all the way, if not a DH. It all comes down to the bat with Seth Beer. He's a polarizing prospect in some regards. If you like him, there is a lot to like...In the last three years, he's probably been the most productive hitter in college baseball. He's also walked about twice as much as he's struck out. "Flipside of that is he's had very little history of success with wood bats. He hasn't hit well with team USA the last two summers and didn't hit well in the high school showcase circuit before he went to Clemson. This is probably going to be a boom or bust pick where he hits a ton or not at all. Teams were really conflicted on that." Clemson’s last first-round selection was infielder Richie Shaffer, who went with the 25th pick to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012. Beer has a remaining year of college eligibility and until a mid-July deadline to sign a pro contract. The Moment your name is called and you get to hug Mom &Dad. Seth Beer Everyone!!! Well done @astros IMO you got the best pure hitter in the #2018mlbdraft pic.twitter.com/SHWV1WAru3 The #Astros selected OF Seth Beer from Clemson in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft! Watching your dreams come true with your family & the teammates you battled with every day. @beer_seth #ClemsonFamily pic.twitter.com/hWOPb1IQJ0 #Clemson coach Monte Lee reflects on Seth Beer’s impact as a Tiger. pic.twitter.com/br1PpYTXr8
Welcome to the squad, Seth! https://t.co/onJAl3mzd9 pic.twitter.com/eDhyZjo003
With the 28th pick of the 2018 #MLBDraft, the @Astros select @ClemsonBaseball 1B Seth Beer: https://t.co/I4XB50hdHx pic.twitter.com/W65jOKcwYU
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 5, 2018
Congrats to Seth Beer, who was drafted in the first round (No. 28 overall) by the 2017 World Series champion @astros! He is the Tigers' first first-round @MLB draft pick since 2012! #ClemsonFamily #28 pic.twitter.com/MYdrpKBwBe
— Clemson Baseball (@ClemsonBaseball) June 5, 2018
Congrats to @ClemsonBaseball's Seth Beer, who is headed to the @astros with the 28th pick. pic.twitter.com/tFnpsWjpR3
— ACC Baseball (@ACCBaseball) June 5, 2018
Hey, @deshaunwatson, you got some #ClemsonFamily coming to join you soon in H-Town! @beer_seth @ClemsonFB pic.twitter.com/XP5IHZDW62
— Clemson Baseball (@ClemsonBaseball) June 5, 2018
Congratulations Seth! Go Tigers! Go @astros https://t.co/Dq6gbIXL9a
— Jim Clements (@ClemsonPrez) June 5, 2018
Astros’ Mike Elias said he thinks 1B & either corner OF spot are options for Seth Beer. "But certainly once we get him into our minor league system, his work with our coaches & the construction of our roster as he approaches the big league level will determine where he ends up."
— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) June 5, 2018
Seth Beer becomes Clemson's 14th first-round draft choice in history. He is first clemson 1st round pick to go to Astros.
— Tim Bourret (@TimBourret) June 5, 2018
Seth Beer: "It means everything. Obviously, Houston the past couple of years has been on the come up and to get the call from the World Series champs is just an incredible opportunity and I'm so excited."
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 5, 2018
— Clemson Baseball (@ClemsonBaseball) June 5, 2018
Astros owner Jim Crane got on the media conference call with Seth Beer and congratulated him. Beer said: "Well, thank you so much for the opportunity. It's truly a blessing and an honor. I'm so grateful and super excited."
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 5, 2018
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