Colton CrossThree more Chattanooga-area college pitchers were chosen on the third and final day of the Major League Baseball draft Wednesday.
Former Ringgold High School pitcher Colton Cross, who recently finished up his collegiate career at Shorter University, joined ex-teammate Matthew Crownover as draft picks when the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the 31st round. Crownover, who recently finished his junior season at Clemson, was picked in the sixth round by the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.
Cross, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound right-hander, began his college career at Kennesaw State and transferred to Shorter for his final two seasons. He was 2-7 with a 4.13 ERA this past season and allowed only 43 hits in 48 innings pitched (with a .231 opponent average) while striking out 40. Cross also had four of the team’s five complete games.
As a junior, he was 4-5 with a 3.46 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 96 innings pitched. At Ringgold, he was a three-time Best of Preps selection.
Jeff Burke, a junior right-hander at Boston College who prepped at Baylor, was selected in the 32nd round by San Francisco. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder was having his best collegiate season this year before injuring his elbow and undergoing Tommy John surgery. Burke was 2-3 in eight starts with a 4.85 ERA and allowed 44 hits in 39 innings pitched.