Henry, Kauffmann Selected on First Night of MLB Draft
6/3/2019 11:45:00 PM | Baseball
• Michigan MLB Draft Selections
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan baseball program had two pitchers selected on the first day of the 2019 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday evening (June 3). Junior pitchers Tommy Henry and Karl Kauffmann were selected in Competitive Balance Round B, which took place after the completion of the second round. Henry was taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks as the 74th overall pick, while Kauffmann was selected 77th overall by the Colorado Rockies.
The pair represents Michigan's highest draft picks since 2010, when outfielder Ryan LaMarre was drafted 62nd overall by the Cincinnati Reds. Michigan has now had at least one player taken in the MLB Draft in each of the last seven years under head coach Erik Bakich.
A native of Portage, Michigan, Henry has appeared in 53 games over the past three seasons. Over 212.1 innings pitched, the junior lefty has recorded 227 career strikeouts, which ranks eighth in program history. He has been named a National Pitcher of the Week and is a two-time Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Week selection.
Henry is tied with Kauffmann with a team-leading nine victories on the season through 16 starts and 106.1 innings pitched. The lefty has compiled a 3.61 earned-run average during his junior campaign, and his 111 strikeouts on the year rank second most in program history for a single season. Henry did not allow an earned run through the first three starts of this junior season, which included a 13-strikeout, complete-game shutout at The Citadel (Feb. 22). Prior to the draft, he was named the No. 59 overall prospect by MLB.com.
A native of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Kauffmann has made 44 appearances for the Wolverines over the last three seasons, including 30 starts, and has amassed 181 strikeouts and 16 career wins while holding batters to a .220 average. The righty owns a 2.76 career ERA, which ranks sixth best in program history, through 198.2 innings pitched. He is a two-time All-Big Ten third team selection and has twice been named the Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Week.
As a junior, Kauffmann has made 16 starts and one relief appearance to earn a career-best nine victories on the season. He has struck out 93 batters, which ranks 10th in program history for strikeouts in a single season, and earned his first career save with a scoreless inning of relief against San Jose State (March 27). Most recently, Kauffmann tossed 8.2 scoreless innings, scattered six hits and struck out seven to earn the win in Michigan's regional opener against Creighton (May 31). Kauffmann was named the No. 110 overall prospect by MLB.com.
Michigan is in the midst a strong postseason run after going 3-1 in the Corvallis Regional and advancing to an NCAA Super Regional for the first time since 2007 and second time overall. The Wolverines are seeking their eighth trip to the College World Series and their third national title.
The draft will resume Tuesday (June 4) with rounds 3-10 starting at 1 p.m., and rounds 11-40 will take place Wednesday (June 5) starting at noon. MLB.com will provide live coverage both days.
