Pidich Selected by Cincinnati in 8th Round of MLB Draft
6/5/2018 5:14:00 PM | Baseball
Redshirt Senior Becomes Second Panther Drafted in 2018
NEW YORK – Redshirt senior Matt Pidich has become the second Pitt player taken in the 2018 MLB Draft, as the pitcher was selected with the 192nd pick of the Cincinnati Reds in the eighth round Tuesday afternoon.
Pidich is the second Pitt player taken on the second day of the MLB Draft, becoming the first Panther in program history to be selected by the Cincinnati Reds. He is the 16th Pitt player drafted over the last five seasons and the 12th pitcher taken since Pitt joined the ACC prior to the start of the 2014 season. His selection marks the second consecutive year and sixth time since 2011 that Pitt has had two or more hurlers drafted.
"I would like to thank the Cincinnati Reds organization for selecting me," Pidich said. "I am truly grateful for this opportunity to continue to play the game I love. For as long as I can remember it has always been a dream of mine to play professional baseball and now that dream has come true. I owe a huge thank you to my parents for all of their encouragement and guidance since I first picked up a baseball. I would also like to thank all of my coaches, both past and present, my teammates, my family and friends for all of their support along the way. I am very excited and looking forward to the next chapter of my baseball career.
Pidich was the ace of the Panther staff in his redshirt senior season, leading the team with a 3.05 ERA, battling to a 6-2 record. He tossed 91.1 innings en route to a team-best 99 strikeouts, ranking 10th in ACC and 69th in the nation. He earned a dominant win against Georgia Tech as the Panthers captured their first ever victory in the ACC Tournament, throwing 7.0 innings of one-run work, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out eight Yellow Jacket batters.
As Pitt's Opening Day starter, he threw 6.0 frames of one-run baseball against Oakland, allowing three hits and two walks and striking out seven to capture his first win of the year. Pidich tallied ACC victories against nationally-ranked Duke, as well as Boston College and Miami in his final season with the Panthers.
His 91.1 innings of work in 2018 are tied for 11th most in program history for innings pitched in a single season, and his 99 strikeouts are tied for third most in a single season.
"Matt is as close to a complete pitcher as we have on our staff," said head coach Joe Jordano. "He's a competitor. He's a complete pitcher and his very meticulous work ethic and attention to detail will benefit him throughout the next chapter of his baseball career. I look forward to watching his progress."
After batting back from Tommy John surgery, Pidich put up some impressive innings in his final two seasons, owning a 4.61 ERA in 16 appearances (nine starts) as a redshirt junior.
In his career, Pidich owns a 3.55 ERA, having tossed 164.2 innings with a record of 11-7. His career at Pitt comes to an end with 172 career strikeouts and a miniscule .238 opponent average.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
Pidich is the second Pitt player taken on the second day of the MLB Draft, becoming the first Panther in program history to be selected by the Cincinnati Reds. He is the 16th Pitt player drafted over the last five seasons and the 12th pitcher taken since Pitt joined the ACC prior to the start of the 2014 season. His selection marks the second consecutive year and sixth time since 2011 that Pitt has had two or more hurlers drafted.
"I would like to thank the Cincinnati Reds organization for selecting me," Pidich said. "I am truly grateful for this opportunity to continue to play the game I love. For as long as I can remember it has always been a dream of mine to play professional baseball and now that dream has come true. I owe a huge thank you to my parents for all of their encouragement and guidance since I first picked up a baseball. I would also like to thank all of my coaches, both past and present, my teammates, my family and friends for all of their support along the way. I am very excited and looking forward to the next chapter of my baseball career.
An incredible career at Pitt for Matt Pidich (@MattPidich) and the senior is selected with the 229th pick by the @Reds in the #MLBDraft! #H2P pic.twitter.com/t9HVfD6Fut
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) June 5, 2018
Pidich was the ace of the Panther staff in his redshirt senior season, leading the team with a 3.05 ERA, battling to a 6-2 record. He tossed 91.1 innings en route to a team-best 99 strikeouts, ranking 10th in ACC and 69th in the nation. He earned a dominant win against Georgia Tech as the Panthers captured their first ever victory in the ACC Tournament, throwing 7.0 innings of one-run work, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out eight Yellow Jacket batters.
As Pitt's Opening Day starter, he threw 6.0 frames of one-run baseball against Oakland, allowing three hits and two walks and striking out seven to capture his first win of the year. Pidich tallied ACC victories against nationally-ranked Duke, as well as Boston College and Miami in his final season with the Panthers.
His 91.1 innings of work in 2018 are tied for 11th most in program history for innings pitched in a single season, and his 99 strikeouts are tied for third most in a single season.
"Matt is as close to a complete pitcher as we have on our staff," said head coach Joe Jordano. "He's a competitor. He's a complete pitcher and his very meticulous work ethic and attention to detail will benefit him throughout the next chapter of his baseball career. I look forward to watching his progress."
After batting back from Tommy John surgery, Pidich put up some impressive innings in his final two seasons, owning a 4.61 ERA in 16 appearances (nine starts) as a redshirt junior.
In his career, Pidich owns a 3.55 ERA, having tossed 164.2 innings with a record of 11-7. His career at Pitt comes to an end with 172 career strikeouts and a miniscule .238 opponent average.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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