Ole Miss’ Woodman taken in second round by Blue Jays
Published 12:01 pm Friday, June 10, 2016
J.B. Woodman was the first Ole Miss player taken in this year’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, going in the second round to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.
The junior outfielder was the 57th overall pick.
Woodman is the first Ole Miss player to be selected in the first two rounds since Drew Pomeranz in 2010.
Woodman’s stock rose with a strong third season at the plate and in the field in Oxford. The Orlando, Florida, native hit .323 and led the Rebels in home runs (14), RBIs (55), runs scored (53) and slugging percentage (.578).
Woodman, who also flashed swiftness on the basepaths with a team-best 12 stolen bases, is vying to become the first Ole Miss player to lead the Southeastern Conference in home runs since Mark Barnthouse did it in 1977.
Woodman also tops the league in outfield assists with nine, earning a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team. Seven of those came at the plate to keep runs off the board.
Woodman’s campaign earned him All-America honors, becoming the Rebels’ 13th All-American in Mike Bianco’s 16 seasons as head coach. Woodman was a finalist for the Ferriss Trophy, which is annually awarded to the top collegiate player in Mississippi.
The 40-round draft continues today and will conclude Saturday with shortstop Errol Robinson likely the next Ole Miss player to be taken.