Chentouf Taken in 36th Round by Detroit Tigers
6/6/2018 6:34:00 PM | Baseball
Reliever Becomes Fourth Pitt Pitcher Drafted in 2018
NEW YORK – University of Pittsburgh closer Yaya Chentouf has become the fourth Pitt pitcher selected in the 2018 MLB Draft as the junior was chosen in the 36th round with the 1,065th pick by the Detroit Tigers Wednesday evening.
Chentouf is the fourth Pitt pitcher selected in 2018 and the 14th pitcher taken since the Panthers joined the ACC prior to the start of the 2014 season. He is the 19th Pitt player to be drafted over the previous five seasons and fifth in program history by the Detroit Tigers, the first since 2013.
"It's a blessing to be selected in this year's draft, and I can't wait to get started with the next step in my career," said Chentouf. "I think about all of the people that have helped mold me into the person that I am today and I want to thank everyone who has been on this crazy journey."
Chentouf racked up 16 saves over the past three seasons, solidifying himself as the program's all-time saves leader. His career ERA of 3.09 ranks 17th in program history.
This season, he tallied eight saves, a mark that ranks second in Pitt history for saves in a single season. He appeared in 25 games, racking up a record of 5-3 with a 3.73 ERA. In his 41.0 innings of work, he fanned 45 batters. In 2017, Chentouf tallied two saves in 13.2 innings of work, making 13 appearances.
He established his dominance out of the bullpen as a freshman, garnering ACC All-Freshman recognition after leading the team with six saves in 16 appearances. He threw 24.0 innings, allowing just three earned runs and three walks, fanning 17 and holding opponents to a .232 average. He opened the year with 18.2 innings of work without allowing a walk in his rookie campaign and earned his first collegiate save on March 26, 2016 against Boston College, tossing a flawless ninth inning in the Pitt victory.
"Yaya is one of the toughest, most competitive athletes that I've ever coached," said head coach Joe Jordano. "He wants the ball in pressure situations and, even if he does not succeed, he immediately wants to go back out and convert on the next opportunity. He's a bulldog on the mound and an incredibly intense competitor. I have no doubt he will be successful in professional baseball."
Chentouf also saw time in the outfield in his first two seasons with the Panthers, owning a .225 career average with 34 hits, 20 runs, three doubles and 11 RBI.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
Chentouf is the fourth Pitt pitcher selected in 2018 and the 14th pitcher taken since the Panthers joined the ACC prior to the start of the 2014 season. He is the 19th Pitt player to be drafted over the previous five seasons and fifth in program history by the Detroit Tigers, the first since 2013.
"It's a blessing to be selected in this year's draft, and I can't wait to get started with the next step in my career," said Chentouf. "I think about all of the people that have helped mold me into the person that I am today and I want to thank everyone who has been on this crazy journey."
Pitt's all-time saves leader Yasin Chentouf has earned his selection by the Detroit @tigers in the 36th round of the #MLBDraft! #H2P #ProPanthers pic.twitter.com/QUasx5lUnl
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) June 6, 2018
Chentouf racked up 16 saves over the past three seasons, solidifying himself as the program's all-time saves leader. His career ERA of 3.09 ranks 17th in program history.
This season, he tallied eight saves, a mark that ranks second in Pitt history for saves in a single season. He appeared in 25 games, racking up a record of 5-3 with a 3.73 ERA. In his 41.0 innings of work, he fanned 45 batters. In 2017, Chentouf tallied two saves in 13.2 innings of work, making 13 appearances.
He established his dominance out of the bullpen as a freshman, garnering ACC All-Freshman recognition after leading the team with six saves in 16 appearances. He threw 24.0 innings, allowing just three earned runs and three walks, fanning 17 and holding opponents to a .232 average. He opened the year with 18.2 innings of work without allowing a walk in his rookie campaign and earned his first collegiate save on March 26, 2016 against Boston College, tossing a flawless ninth inning in the Pitt victory.
"Yaya is one of the toughest, most competitive athletes that I've ever coached," said head coach Joe Jordano. "He wants the ball in pressure situations and, even if he does not succeed, he immediately wants to go back out and convert on the next opportunity. He's a bulldog on the mound and an incredibly intense competitor. I have no doubt he will be successful in professional baseball."
Chentouf also saw time in the outfield in his first two seasons with the Panthers, owning a .225 career average with 34 hits, 20 runs, three doubles and 11 RBI.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
Players Mentioned
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