Baseball

Taccolini Second Razorback Picked by Toronto

June 11, 2016

Dominic Taccolini Bio | 2016 MLB Draft Central

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Junior right-handed pitcher Dominic Taccolini became the third Arkansas player drafted Saturday afternoon when he was selected in the 16th round, No. 492 overall, by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

Taccolini follows Zach Jackson and Clark Eagan as the third Razorback drafted to the MLB over the last two days and he is the second Hog taken by the Blue Jays in this year’s draft. Jackson was taken in the third round by Toronto Friday.

From Sugarland, Texas, Taccolini was Arkansas’ primary starting pitcher throughout the 2016 season, making 13 starts in 15 appearances. He posted an even 5-5 record with a 5.75 ERA over 72 innings pitched.

The hurler recorded 61 strikeouts, good for second-most on the team behind Jackson and only allowed 26 walks, which was a new season-low in which he threw 40 innings or more.

Taccolini turned in one of the best performances in school history in April when he threw a complete 10-inning shutout against Kentucky, which included a career-high 10 strikeouts and no walks, while only giving up five hits.

The outing was the longest by any starting pitcher in the NCAA this season and longest by a Razorback since Clint Brannon went 11 innings in 2004. The performance earned him the SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week award, the first of his career.

Over his three years in a Razorback uniform, Taccolini has transformed from a relief pitcher to a weekend starter, pitching 70 innings or more and tallying at least 60 strikeouts in each of the last two seasons. He has 13 career wins to his name and has held opponents to a .255 batting average since 2014.

Rounds 11-40 of the draft continue through Saturday afternoon and will conclude after the 40th round. All the selections can be followed on MLB.com.

The signing deadline for underclassmen and high school seniors selected in the 2016 First-Year Player draft is July 15.

For more information on Razorback Baseball, follow @RazorbackBSB on Twitter.

Powered by