If you’ve followed Georgia baseball the past two years, then you’re already familiar with the impact made by Emerson Hancock as one of the top pitchers in the SEC.
Wednesday night, the Cairo native’s hard work paid off as the Seattle Mariners selected Hancock with the sixth pick in the first round of the MLB Draft.
He becomes the 11th Bulldog selected in the first round, the first since pitcher Robert Tyler was taken 38th overall by Colorado in 2016.
"We thought the Mariners would be a good chance for us," Hancock said in a Zoom meeting with reporters. "We had some really good meetings, got to know a lot of their front-office people, especially Mr Scott Hunter (Seattle Director of Amateur Scouting) back in the fall and when they got the pick I got call right before. I think it's a great fit. I'm definitely excited."
Hancock would be the only Bulldog taken in the first round. Fellow starter Cole Wilcox was projected in most mock drafts to go somewhere in the latter half of the first round but went un-selected.
When contacted by UGASports, Wilcox said vis text that there were “still some things that could happen,” but offered no further comment.
Experts praised the Mariners’ selection of Hancock.
"(I love) his four-pitch mix," MLBNetwork analyst Al Leiter said. "He's been up to 99 mph, he's really 94-96. I think Jerry DiPoto (Mariners GM) has historically been picking college guys, along with Scott Hunter (Director of Amateur Scouting). This is a nice pick."
"I thought it was perfect, it worked out just the way I hoped it would," Hancock said. "I'm very blessed for the Mariners believing in me. It's great. I'm ready to get to work."
According to MLB.com, Seattle’s assigned value for Hancock as the sixth overall pick sits at $5,742,900.
Hancock finished his career with a 16-7 career mark with a 3.47 ERA in 33 career starts, struck out 206 batters and walked just 55 in 192 innings of work before his junior season ended prematurely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"To me (the highlight) was just being with my teammates," Hancock said. "I just care for those guys so much. We're such a close-knit group and anytime you have a big series with, it's always a moment to remember with those guys."
Some of his best work came in conference play.
They include:
• Earned SEC Pitcher of the Week after a dominating win over Missouri, going eight scoreless innings and allowing just three hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts, retiring 19 of the final 20 batters he faced
• Tossed complete game five-hitter at Tennessee, with no walks and nine strikeouts, but lost 2-0 on a two-run infield single; also lost 1-0 to No. 10 LSU after pitching a then-career-high eight innings, allowing just one run on two hits with four strikeouts
• Beat No. 22 South Carolina 6-1 in Columbia, with a career-high 12 strikeouts in seven innings. The lone run allowed came on a home run
• No decision versus No. 5 Vanderbilt; left with a 2-1 lead in the eighth with eight strikeouts.
It was efforts like these that enabled the big right-hander to finish third nationally in WHIP (084) and 20th nationally in ERA (1.99) as a sophomore.
Hancock was 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA with 34 strikeouts and just three walks in 24 innings for the 14-4 Bulldogs before the season was cancelled.
"To hear the Commissioner call your name, it really hits you hard," Hancock said. "It makes you remember all the past experiences, all the tournaments and all the things you've done to get to this point."
The draft wraps up Thursday with rounds 2-5, beginning at 5 p.m.
Of the remaining draft-eligible Bulldogs, obviously Wilcox is still in play, but keep an eye on left-handed pitcher Ryan Webb, along with outfielder Tucker Bradley possibly hearing their names called.
Other potential draftees include shortstop Cam Shepherd, outfielder/infielder Riley King and outfielder Ben Anderson.
Players not selected will be able to sign free agent deals worth $20,000 or return to school for another year after the NCAA voted to allow all spring sports athletes to keep their current year of eligibility for another season.
