Dillon Tate Ron Jenkins / AP
Dillon Tate, a right-handed pitcher out of UC Santa Barbara, entered the world of professional baseball singing “Billie Jean” when he was picked in the first round of last week’s 2015 draft.
Tate was one of nine black players chosen in the first round — an increase compared with prior years. In 2014, there were four black players selected in the first round; in 2013 there were six; and 2012 brought seven black prospects into the MLB farm system, which the league said was the highest number since 1992.
“It’s our hope,” MLB Senior Vice President for Youth Programs Tony Reagins told BuzzFeed News, “that these numbers will continue to rise.