KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — University of Tennessee right-handed pitcher Zach Linginfelter was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 19th round (581st overall) of the 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
With his selection, Linginfelter becomes the 129th overall player drafted out of Tennessee and the first Volunteer to be selected in the 2018 Major League Draft. He is the first UT draftee by the Washington Nationals’ organization since Andrew Lee was selected in the 11th round of the 2015 draft.
As a draft eligible sophomore, Linginfelter has the option to return to Tennessee next season as all non-senior college draftees have the option to return to school if they do not sign a pro contract by July 15.
Linginfelter was previously drafted by the New York Yankees out high school in the 16th Round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft.
This season, Linginfelter started four games, posting a 3-4 record with a 3.93 ERA and a career-best 71 strikeouts through 55.0 innings of work. He led the Vols’ staff in strikeouts and finished second on the team with two saves in 2018. In his final appearance of the season at Missouri on May 17, Linginfelter became the first UT pitcher since James Adkins in 2007 to record 14 punchouts.
As a freshman on UT’s staff in 2017, he made 22 appearances, including six starts, posting a 3-4 record and three saves for a 3.67 ERA. That year, Linginfelter struck out 61 batters through 56.1 innings of work. His three saves and 61 strikeouts rank among the top five single-season records by a freshman at Tennessee.
-UT Athletics
