Mariners draft Wilcox in the sixth round, 185th overall

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Following a dominant junior season, Bryant University baseball right-hander Kyle Wilcox (Sandy Hook, Conn.) was selected in the sixth round, 185th overall, by the Seattle Mariners on day two of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

Wilcox becomes the eighth Bulldog to be drafted in the past three years and is the third highest draft pick in program history. Kevin McAvoy was taken in the fourth round by the Boston Red Sox in 2014 and Doug Johnson was a fifth-round selection of the Colorado Rockies in 2002. Wilcox is also the fifth pitcher in the last three seasons to hear his name called during the draft. In all, the Black and Gold have had six pitchers sign professional contracts in head coach Steve Owens' five seasons.

"We are very excited for Kyle and the opportunity that he now has," Owens said. "He has developed quite a bit since his freshman year and we look forward to watching him develop into a great professional pitcher."

In just his second year as a full-time starter, Wilcox emerged as Bryant's top arm this past spring. The hard-throwing righty went 7-3 with a 3.24 ERA in a team-high 80.2 innings. Wilcox made 15 appearances, 14 starts, allowed just 61 hits and struck out 50 batters. He won seven-straight decisions during the season and posted four starts of eight innings or more.

Wilcox went 10-6 with a 3.40 ERA and 110 strikeouts over 153.1 career innings. He allowed just 118 hits over 43 games and 25 starts.