Shortstop Kevin Merrell was selected 33rd overall by the Oakland Athletics in the 2017 MLB First Year Player Draft on Monday night in the competitive balance round.
This is the highest drafted Bulls player since the Chicago White Sox took SS Jason Dellaero with the 15th pick in the 1997 draft. Merrell isn’t the highest drafted Bulls player selected by the A’s, as catcher Scott Hemond was the A’s 12th overall selection in 1986.
Merrell was the ranked as the 51st-best player and eighth best in Florida in the draft according to Baseball America. An AL scout said that their team had a third round grade on Merrell and sees him at either second base or in the outfield.