KU hurler Goddard drafted by Diamondbacks in third round
LAWRENCE, Kan. – With the 99th pick of the 2018 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Kansas baseball’s junior right-handed starter Jackson Goddard Tuesday afternoon.
“I was absolutely thrilled for Goddard when I saw he was picked 99th overall,” head coach Ritch Price said. “We knew when he came here he had a tremendous future ahead of him and this is a testament to how hard he has worked the last three years. He is a great Jayhawk and we look forward to following his career as it unfolds.”
Goddard spent his three seasons at Kansas in the weekend rotation, making 36 starts on the bump, including 10 starts spanning 52 and 2/3 innings his junior campaign.
He began 2018 with a 4-0 record through four starts before suffering an oblique injury that sidelined him the first six weeks of conference play. In his return to the mound at Oklahoma State (April 22), he struck out the first seven batters he faced and eight overall in the abbreviated four-inning start.
He closed the season strong in his final three outings, as he dominated Kansas State (May 11), Oklahoma (May 17) and then-No. 12 Texas (May 23), combining for a 1.37 ERA in 19 and 2/3 innings pitched. He struck out 27 batters and held opponents to a .181 batting average.
“It feels great to hear your name called by a professional baseball organization,” Goddard said. “KU provided me with the best three years of my life and I can’t thank my coaches, teammates and everyone involved enough, for putting me in this position.”
Goddard became the 30th player in Kansas history to be drafted in the top-10 rounds of the MLB Draft – including the secondary draft during the 1960’s and early 1970’s. He is also the ninth player to don that honor in the Price era (Tom Gorzelanny – 2nd, Don Czyz – 7th, Sean Land – 9th, Tony Thompson – 6th, Wes Benjamin – 5th, Michael Tinsley – 7th, Blake Weiman – 8th, Stephen Villines – 10th and Jackson Goddard – 3rd) and fourth in the last three years.
In addition, Goddard is the third-highest draft pick in KU history, trailing Gorzelanny (No. 45 in 2003) and Jimmy Walker (No. 91 in 1993).
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