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Mizzou’s Troesser chosen by Mets, Franklin by White Sox in MLB Draft

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Missouri baseball had several players selected in the 2023 MLB amateur draft. Right-handed pitcher Austin Troesser was the first Tiger off the board, selected by the New York Mets in the fourth round with the 135th overall pick. Shortly after, Spencer Nivens, a Columbia Rock Bridge graduate and shortstop for Missouri State, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round with the 142nd overall pick. Zach Franklin, a right-hander for Missouri, was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 10th round with the 299th overall pick.

Troesser, a Fatima High School graduate, appeared in 22 games during the 2023 season, finishing with a 5-3 record and a 4.73 ERA. Franklin, who transferred from Western Carolina, made 20 appearances with one start, posting a 6-3 record and a 7.45 ERA. Nivens had a standout season at Missouri State, driving in 45 runs and hitting 14 home runs with a .341 batting average.

Additionally, former Missouri right-handed pitcher Seth Halvorsen, who transferred to Tennessee, was drafted by the Colorado Rockies with the 202nd overall pick.

The St. Louis Cardinals also made several picks in the draft, including Chase Davis, an outfielder from Arizona, with the 21st overall pick in the first round. They also selected Travis Honeyman, Quinn Mathews, Zach Levenson, Jason Savacool, Charles Harrison, Ixan Henderson, Christian Worley, and Caden Kendle in subsequent rounds.