AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn redshirt junior left-hander Bailey Horn was selected by the Chicago White Sox with the 11th pick of the fifth round (142nd overall) in the 2020 MLB Draft Thursday.
Coming on the heels of Tanner Burns being drafted in the first round last night, it marks the third time Auburn has had two pitchers drafted in the top five rounds, including the first time since 1997.
"It was a surreal feeling to get that call. I just can't explain it," Horn said of being drafted. "I've had a lot of help to get where I am today, and I can't thank the people in my corner enough. Coach Thompson took a chance on me out of junior college, and I can't thank him enough for that. I'm excited for this next step in my career."
Horn made his way to Auburn from McLennan Community College prior to the 2019 season and played a pivotal role in Auburn's postseason run that culminated in Omaha, Nebraska, for the first time since 1997. The Waco, Texas, native gutted out a rain delay and pitched 6.0 scoreless innings in the regional final vs. Georgia Tech en route to being named to the Atlanta Regional All-Tournament Team.
"He's missed some time at the collegiate level, but I think what he did in the postseason last year and how he started this year, even in the fall, from a professional baseball standpoint, they've see him," head coach Butch Thompson said. "He kind of came out of nowhere. The sky's the limit. His best days are definitely ahead of him. There's just not a lot of guys walking Earth who are left-handed with the power he has and are that type of athlete."
Prior to the abrupt ending of the 2020 season, Horn was 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA and struck out 27 batters in 17.1 innings. He turned in 11.0 scoreless innings with 18 strikeouts and two walks in his final two appearances of the season and struck out a career high 11 batters in his final appearance vs. Chicago State.
What they're saying about Horn
D1 Baseball Co-Editor Aaron Fitt
"Bailey Horn is one of my favorite sleepers in this draft. I've seen him attack at 92-93, loose and easy, quality slider at 81-82, tough angle. Physical and athletic. Took some time to find his stride last year coming off injury, but was pretty filthy by Auburn's postseason run."