BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford left-handed pitcher Samuel Strickland was taken by the Atlanta Braves in the 19^th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft Tuesday afternoon.
 
Strickland was the 25^th pick in the 19^th round and the 577^th pick overall in the draft.
 
"It is great to have another one of our guys have an opportunity to play at the next level," Samford head coach Tony David said. "We have developed a good history of Samford players being drafted and we are excited for Sam to join that list. We are proud of the tradition we have developed with the draft, particularly in the last decade-plus. Sam had a tremendous career here and I know he will do well in the future."
 
Strickland played the last four seasons at Samford, turning in one of the best careers in program history. Strickland ranks second in the school history in wins with a 23-9 career record, and he posted a 3.60 career ERA.
 
Strickland was named a Freshman All-American, SoCon Freshman of the Year and first team All-SoCon after posting an 8-2 record and a 2.33 ERA as a freshman in 2018. He went 7-3 with a 4.00 ERA in 2019. He was off to a tremendous start, going 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA in 2020, before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Strickland went 5-4 with a 5.20 ERA in 2021.
 
In 2018, Strickland helped lead the Bulldogs to the SoCon Tournament title, and an upset of seventh-ranked Florida State in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. The 2019 squad won the program's first-ever SoCon regular season title. In 2021, the Bulldogs won another SoCon Tournament championship, earning a spot in the NCAA Starkville Regional.
 
Strickland is the 29^th Samford player taken in the MLB Draft since 2011, and the 31^st in the time David has been on staff (since 2005).
 
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