HILLSBORO, Kan. – Bluejays starting pitcher Dustin Hurlbutt, junior, became the third player in the history of the program to be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft held this past Monday through Wednesday at Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, N.J.
Hurlbutt, the ace of the Bluejays pitching staff, was selected in the 16th round, pick number 488 by the Oakland Athletics, becoming the highest drafted player in Tabor College history.
The right-handed pitcher joins Jacob Webb (18th round, pick number 533 by the Atlanta Braves, 2014) and Tyson Kendrick (49th round, pick number 1483 by the Detroit Tigers, 2010) as the only three players ever drafted by Major League Baseball teams.
Hurlbutt, who transferred to Tabor from NCAA Division II Northeastern State University, helped lead the Bluejays to their fourth consecutive KCAC regular season title, a second straight KCAC Tournament title and the school’s second straight trip to the Avista-NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.
He was also named the KCAC Co-Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-KCAC selection after finishing the year with a 10-3 record and a 3.16 ERA. He gave up just 38 runs (31 earned) in 88.1 innings pitched this season, which included seven complete games and one complete-game shutout. The right-hander also struck out a team leading 106 batters, while opponents hit just .225 off of him.
Nationally, Hurlbutt finished the year ranked 10th in total batters struck out (106), 15th in total wins (10), 16th in batters struck out per nine innings (10.80) and 47th in hits allowed per nine innings (7.13).
Hurlbutt and the rest of the Bluejays (54-12) also set a new single-season record for most wins. The 54 wins broke the previous mark set just a year ago at 51. Tabor also ended the year ranked No. 7 in the final NAIA Baseball Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.