Georgia Tech pitchers Jones, Stanford both picked by Rays on second day of MLB Draft
After Georgia Tech shortstop Kyle Lodise was drafted in the third round of the MLB Draft on Sunday night by the Chicago White Sox, his teammates Brady Jones and Riley Stanford heard their name called on Day 2 of the Draft Monday.
The Jackets’ pair of pitchers were both selected by the Tampa Bay Rays with Jones going in the 12th round 357th overall while Stanford followed in the 16th round 477th overall.
Jones came to Georgia Tech prior to the 2025 season after transferring from Georgia State where he spent the first two years of his college career and worked his way into the weekend rotation immediately. The junior righty was selected as a member of the All-ACC Third-Team after going 7-3 over 16 starts with a 4.92 ERA and 73 strikeouts. He finished with a rate of 9.71 strikeouts per nine innings and narrowly missed a no-hitter back in early May against Louisville, settling for a one-hit shutout.
Stanford opened the season as the Jackets’ Sunday starter before he was moved to the bullpen and missed several weeks due to injury. The redshirt-sophomore made 12 appearances overall with seven of those being starts and had a 5.08 ERA over 28 1/3 innings while recording 34 strikeouts. His fastball velocity topped out at 98 MPH.
Three Georgia Tech signees were also selected in Monday’s portion of the draft to make it four overall in the two-day event following Ryan Mitchell being picked in the second round (55th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. Ryan Hall was picked by the Detroit Tigers in the fifth round (159th overall), Cooper Underwood was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 12th round (365th overall) and Cole Raymond was picked by the Los Angeles Angels in the 17th round (499th overall).
Jones and Stanford each have the option to not sign with the Rays and return to Georgia Tech next season while the signees also have the option to turn down the chance to sign and continue with their plans to play collegiately with the Jackets.
