Two Eagles selected in MLB Draft

via @b_h_johnson/Instsgram

It is every young baseball player’s dream to hear their name called by the commissioner during the MLB Draft, something that became a reality for two former Georgia Southern Eagles last week.

Thomas Higgins was the first Eagle selected during the 2024 MLB Draft, falling to the Seattle Mariners at pick No. 453 in the 15th round. His selection marked the first Eagle taken in the MLB Draft since Jordan Jackson was also selected by the Mariners during the 2021 MLB Draft.

In two healthy seasons in Statesboro, Higgins put together a record of 8-5 with an earned run average of 4.62. During his 87.2 innings of work, the right-handed pitcher struck out 75 batters while walking just 30 opponents.

Fellow right-handed pitcher Ben Johnson was selected just two rounds later by the Chicago Cubs at pick No. 512. He is the first Eagle selected by the Cubs since Chris Walker fell to the franchise in the sixth round of the 2002 MLB Draft.

In four seasons as an Eagle, Johnson struck out 202 batters while walking 96 batters 213.2 innings of work. His selection marked the 36th time that multiple Eagles came off the board during the draft.