SEATTLE, Wash. – Senior right hander Chase Isbell was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 15th round of the Major League Baseball Draft Tuesday.
Selected with the 439th overall pick, Isbell becomes Auburn's 11th player, including the sixth pitcher, drafted in the last two seasons. All 11 players were previously undrafted.
A two-year reliever for the Tigers, Isbell posted a 4-2 record with a 5.54 ERA in 37 career appearances, good for the second most on the team in the last two seasons. He earned a pair of saves and struck out 65 batters in 52.0 career innings.
The Springville, Alabama native was instrumental in Auburn's run to Omaha in 2022 as he logged a 0.68 ERA in his last nine appearances and 13.1 innings of the season.
Isbell was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year watch list prior to his senior season and tied for the team lead with 23 appearances, 12 of which came in SEC play. He struck out 42 batters in 33.1 innings, good for the best strikeout per nine inning rate on the team (11.3). His two saves were also tied for the second most.
Along with Cole Foster, Bryson Ware and Isbell, Auburn also had five signees selected in this year's draft – Colt Emerson by the Seattle Mariners (1st round, 22nd overall), Kevin McGonigle by the Detroit Tigers (1st round, 37th overall), Sam Mongelli by the Los Angeles Dodgers (10th round, 310th overall), Bjorn Johnson by the Milwaukee Brewers (12th round, 362 overall) and Dylan Watts by the Milwaukee Brewers (18th round, 542nd overall).