Troesser, Franklin Selected on Day Two of MLB Draft

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri pitchers Austin Troesser and Zach Franklin became the first Tigers taken in the 2023 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Monday. The New York Mets selected Troesser with the 135th overall pick in the fourth (compensation) round, before the Chicago White Sox picked Franklin in the 10th round with the 299th overall choice.

Troesser’s selection extended Mizzou’s streak of having at least one player chosen in each of the last 28 MLB Drafts dating back to 1996.

Troesser recorded career-best totals for mound victories (5), strikeouts (53), innings pitched (45.2) and appearances (22) while limiting the opposition to a .229 batting mark this spring as one of the Tigers’ most dependable weapons out of the bullpen. The right-hander from Loose Creek, Mo., also made three starts and logged a club-best 4-2 record in Southeastern Conference play, including 4 2/3 hitless innings in March 19 victory over Tennessee that capped Mizzou’s series sweep of the Volunteers.

In his three seasons at Mizzou, Troesser has compiled an 8-5 record to go along with a 4.98 earned run average and 76 strikeouts over 77.2 innings spanning 37 appearances.

Franklin led Mizzou in wins (6) and saves (2) in his first season in Columbia after transferring from Western Carolina. The right-hander fanned 59 hitters in 38.2 innings spanning 20 appearances and ranked fourth among all SEC relievers in games finished (15).

A native of Marion, N.C., Franklin racked up 22 victories, 270 strikeouts and 13 saves in 88 career pitching appearances, each of which ranked among the career pitching leaders at the NCAA Division I level.

Troesser and Franklin join a long line of Tiger pitchers selected in the draft, with their selections marking the 27th consecutive year at least one Mizzou hurler has been taken in the draft. Additionally, Troesser becomes the sixth Tiger pitcher to go in the first four rounds of the draft since 2017, joining Ian Bedell (2020), TJ Sikkema (2019), Michael Plassmeyer (2018), Tanner Houck (2017) and Spencer Miles (2022).

With one year of remaining eligibility, Troesser will have until Aug. 1 to sign a professional contract with the Mets.

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