Charleston, S.C. – The Citadel's Matt Talley was selected by the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday with the 866th overall pick in the 28th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.
After being drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 25th round of the 2010 MLB Draft, Talley (Sumter, S.C.) elected to return to school for his senior season and complete his civil engineering degree. He leaves The Citadel ranked fifth all-time in career innings pitched with 300.0 and in career starts with 48.
"I am very excited to get drafted by the Atlanta Braves," said Tally on Tuesday night. "Growing up in South Carolina and in Braves territory, it's hard not to watch what is going on over there and all the success they have had. The process was certainly nerve racking, but it will be nice to be playing close to family and friends and to have a former teammate in Matt Crim already in the Braves system. Last summer was a tough decision, but I didn't want to waste the work I had put into my degree at The Citadel. It's such an accomplishment to get a degree from here and it certainly is nice to leave with a conference championship."
The southpaw was named the preseason SoCon Pitcher of the Year in 2011 after earning All-Region honors at the NCAA Regional in Columbia in 2010 when he picked up the win over No. 16 Virginia Tech as he allowed just two runs in 7.0 innings of work in the upset of the Hokies. Talley collected 21 career victories in 62 appearances with the Bulldogs that included 235 career strikeouts, four complete games and a pair of shutouts.
"We are certainly proud of Matt and the things he was able to accomplish in his four years here at The Citadel," said Bulldogs Head Coach Fred Jordan on Talley being drafted. "He came back to get his degree, which was very important to him and now he has a wonderful opportunity to continue his baseball career in the Atlanta system and we certainly wish him the best." Talley becomes the 27th draft pick selected during Jordan's tenure and is the 17th pitcher drafted in that span.
Talley becomes the fifth player selected by the Braves from The Citadel and the first since Matt Crim (Charleston, S.C.) was taken in the 21st round of the 2009 draft by Atlanta.
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