NEW YORK --- Cal State Fullerton had four more players selected on the third and final day of the 2016 Major League Baseball First- Year Player Draft on Thursday.
Junior Chris Hudgins was taken as the 480th overall pick in the 16th round by the Kansas City Royals, Junior Dillon Persinger was drafted in the 18th round as the 522nd overall pick by the Cleveland Indians, Timmy was taken was the 733rd overall pick in the 24th round by the Washington Nationals, while Taylor Bryant was chosen in the 994th overall pick in the 33rd round by the Cleveland Indians.
This marks the third time in four years that seven or more Titans were taken in the MLB Draft and the second straight year.
For Chris Hudgins it's the second time he's been drafted, as he was taken in the 35th round by the New York Yankees in the 2014 draft.
Hudgins has started and played in 50 games behind the dish for the Titans. He's accumulated 40 hits on the year with 10 being doubles and five being home runs, which is good for third on the team to go along with a .985 fielding percentage.
Persinger was drafted for the third time in his career, as he was previously taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers (17th round, 2014) and by the Cleveland Indians (31st round, 2015).
Persinger has been of those guys you hate to play against, but would love to have on your team. Persinger has reached base via HBP a team-leading 13 times this season, which is third in the Big West. He also ranks second in the Big West in stolen bases (18) and is second in the conference in steals per game (0.31). Titans are 7-5 when Persinger starts at second base this season, as opposed to 26-15 when he starts at first base.
It's also the second time Richards has been drafted, as he was taken in the 40th round by the Miami Marlins in 2013.
Richards has had a heck of a postseason in what will be his final year with the Fullerton program. After batting a solid .284 in the regular season, he's brought his average all the way up to .305 after batting .500 so far in postseason play. He's gone 10-of-20 from the dish, scoring four runs, recording two doubles and four RBI, while scoring four runs. He's walked three times and boasts a .583 on-base percentage. The Long Beach native played a huge part in taking down rival Long Beach State last weekend to get his Titans to Omaha.
Bryant is one of two Titans that have started in every ballgame this season. He's collected 57 hits on the year, with three of those being homers and 16 being doubles. He's also established himself as one of the best third basemen in college baseball.
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