SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Last week, the Samford University baseball program boasted three players selected in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft, which was held Monday through Wednesday, as the Bulldogs' school-record number of drafted players continued to grow under the tutelage of Head Coach Casey Dunn.
 
Samford's Jared Brasher was drafted in the eighth round by the Washington Nationals, while Kevin Williams, Jr., was taken in the 13^th round by the Los Angeles Angels and T.J. Dixon was selected by the Minnesota Twins with the first pick in the 24^th round.
 
The Bulldogs' baseball program boasts seven top-10 round picks since 2012 and a total of 22 players drafted in the last seven years. Since Dunn took the reins in 2005, the Bulldogs have had a total of 24 players selected in the MLB Draft. Prior to Dunn's arrival, Samford only had a total of three players drafted in school history.
 
With this season's MLB Draft success, the Bulldogs have now had at least three players taken in a single season four times in school history, all of which have occurred under the direction of Dunn and his staff.
Brasher, Samford's hard-throwing relief pitcher this season, was an instrumental part of the program since his freshman season in 2014. Upon his arrival, he immediately became a key member of the Bulldogs' pitching staff and has accumulated 177 strikeouts in his career.
 
Brasher finished his Samford career ranked third on the Southern Conference's active career list in both lowest opponent batting average and fewest hits per nine innings. A member of the 2016 SoCon Spring Academic All-Conference Team, he has filled a critical role in Samford's bullpen during the 2017 season, while compiling a brilliant 3-0 record and 3.74 ERA.
 
Brasher routinely touched 97 miles per hour on the radar gun this season and tallied 46 strikeouts in only 33.2 innings of action.
 
Williams, Jr., concluded his junior season at Samford with a team-leading 11 home runs. The Bulldogs' speedy outfielder also added 34 RBI, 13 doubles and 37 runs scored. Williams started 58 games of the season and played a key role in Samford's 33-26 final record.
 
Prior to the 2017 campaign, Williams transferred to the Bulldogs from Miami-Dade College where he spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career.
 
Dixon will go down in Samford lore as one of the best outfielders in school history. The Bulldogs' speedy center fielder, and leadoff specialist, set the school's all-time record in runs with 188, as well as games played with 231. He started in a phenomenal 226 games of his illustrious Samford career.
 
As one of the most decorated players in Bulldog history, Dixon closed out the 2017 campaign as the Southern Conference's active career leader in stolen bases, triples, runs, hits, walks, games played and was also ranked fifth in doubles.
 
This year, he turned in the best season of his career and tallied a stellar .326 batting average with 48 runs, 41 RBI and a .417 slugging percentage. The Bulldogs' Second-Team Preseason All-SoCon performer, and 2014 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American, also registered a team-high 23 stolen bases, which ranked second in the SoCon.
 
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