sports@starkvilledailynews.com
Ethan Small’s patience has paid off.
Small, Mississippi State’s ace left-handed pitcher, was chosen in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Monday night by the Milwaukee Brewers. Small was the 28th overall pick and he became the 15th-ever MSU player to be chosen in the draft’s opening round.
Small’s Monday night selection comes just one year after Small was taken in the 26th round of last year’s draft by Arizona. Instead of inking with the Diamondbacks, Small elected to return to Starkville. It has proven to be a fruitful decision as he used an outstanding 2019 season to jump up 25 rounds in the draft into a spot that has a slot value of just under $2.