Cave Selected in the Fourth by Giants
The 2017 MLB Draft is underway and Garrett Cave was the first Spartan to be selected
TAMPA, Fla. - Junior RHP Garrett Cave didn't have to wait too long before hearing his name called after being selected in the fourth round by the San Francisco Giants.
The Florida International University transfer was a starter for the Spartans in his junior campaign. He started the season as a 2017 Baseball America Top MLB Draft Prospect. He made 18 appearances on the mound for Tampa, nine of them being starts. After posting a 5-2 record and tallying 84 strikeouts, the Bushnell native set the University of Tampa Single-Season record for most strikeouts in a nine inning game with 12.26. He also places fifth on the Single-Season rankings for lowest opponent batting average with .199.
Cave's fourth round selection is the highest round selection for Tampa since 2006 when Sergio Perez (RHP) was selected by the Houston Astros in the second round.
Along with Cave's selection, the Spartans had two UT signees drafted. The first was Freddy Tarnok, a 6'3" RHP from Riverview High School drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the third round. The other Tampa Baseball signee to be drafted was Jose Caballero, a 5'11" shortstop transfer from Chipola College. The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted him in the seventh round.
Rounds 11-40 will be Wednesday, June 14th. Live updates are provided by the MLB Draft Tracker at www.mlb.com/draft/tracker.