VMI junior right-hander Zak Kent was selected in the ninth round of the 2019 MLB draft Tuesday by the Texas Rangers organization and was the 265th pick overall.
Kent is the fourth-highest draft pick in VMI baseball history, trailing just Andy Beasley (4th, 1990), Ryan Glynn (4th, 1995) and Josh Winder (7th, 2018). VMI had three student-athletes drafted last year, Winder (Twins), Matt Pita (12th round, Yankees) and Nathan Eaton (21st – Royals).
Kent earned second-team All-Southern Conference honors in May, as selected by the league’s Sports Media Association. He finished the 2019 season with a 4.64 ERA and a 5-5 record with one save in 15 games and 14 starts. The right-hander led the Southern Conference and ranks seventh in the nation with 132 strikeouts on the year – also a school record. Opponents’ hit just .229 against him and Kent allowed only 30 walks in 97 innings.
Former Keydet standout hurler Reed Garrett was taken in the 16th round by the Rangers in the 2014 draft and is currently at Texas’ Triple A team in Nashville.
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Chris Graham
