BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— The Colorado Rockies selected Samford closer Stephen Jones in the 21st round of the Major League Baseball Draft Wednesday afternoon.
Samford has now had 29 players drafted since head coach Casey Dunn took over the program in 2005, and a total of 27 over the last nine years. Jones is the second player off the 2019 team to be selected, following Branden Fryman by the New York Mets, also in the 21st round.
Jones, who was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2018 draft but decided to return for his senior season, made the transition from starting pitcher to closer in 2019. He led the SoCon with 13 saves, and he posted a 3-0 record and a 2.21 ERA this season.
For his career, Jones has a 14-10 record with 13 saves and a 4.23 ERA. At the conclusion of the 2019 season, Jones was named second team All-SoCon by both the coaches and the media.
Samford finished the 2019 season with 41 wins, tying the school record for victories. The Bulldogs earned the program's first Southern Conference regular season title.
