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Justus, Gonzalez Selected on Day 2 of 2016 MLB Draft

June 10, 2016

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech’s Connor Justus and Matt Gonzalez were selected Friday during Day 2 of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft. It marks the 16th consecutive year that multiple Yellow Jackets were taken in a single draft and the 35th time in the last 36 years.

Justus was selected in the fifth round with the 156th overall pick by the Los Angeles Angels. The third of eight players taken by the Angels, he is the first Georgia Tech player drafted by the Angels since Thomas Nichols in 2010. The Cartersville, Ga., native is the first Tech player drafted in the first five rounds since Sam Clay in 2014.

Gonzalez was taken with the 169th overall pick by the hometown Atlanta Braves in the sixth round. He is the first Yellow Jacket player taken by the Braves since Kyle Wren in 2013. Gonzalez was originally drafted in the 11th round by Oakland in 2012, but he chose to enroll at Tech instead.

Connor Justus, SS, LOS ANGELES ANGELS 
• First Tech player drafted in first five rounds since Sam Clay (2014, 4th round by Minnesota)
• Considered one of the best defensive shortstops in college baseball
• Teamed up with Wade Bailey to form one of the nation’s best double play combos
• Georgia Tech led nation with school-record 80 double plays turned
• Only Yellow Jacket to start all 63 games in 2016
• First Georgia Tech player drafted by the Angels since Thomas Nichols in 2010 (16th round)
• Batted career-best .324 with six home runs and 37 RBI in 2016
• Named third-team All-ACC
• Helped turn 150 double plays in three years at Georgia Tech

Matt Gonzalez, 2B, ATLANTA BRAVES 
• Ultimate utility player during four years, playing multiple positions
• Atlanta Braves drafted him as a second baseman
• First Georgia Tech player drafted by Atlanta since Kyle Wren in 2013 (8th round)
• Led Yellow Jackets with .378 average, 93 hits, 11 home runs and 54 RBI in 2016
• One of three Yellow Jackets named first-team All-ACC
• Named to ACC Championship and NCAA Gainesville Regional All-Tournament teams
• Finished career as one of only three players in school history to amass 300 hits (ranked third in school history with 302 career hits)
• Tied for school record with 21 career sacrifice flies
• Originally drafted in 11th round by Oakland in 2012 Amateur Baseball Draft but chose to enroll at Georgia Tech

GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS SELECTED IN 2016 MLB DRAFT 
Rd (Pk) Name, Position, Team
5 (156) Connor Justus, SS, Los Angeles Angels
6 (169) Matt Gonzalez, 2B, Atlanta Braves

The final 30 rounds of the 2016 MLB Draft will be held Saturday on MLB.com.

For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GTBaseball), Facebook (facebook.com/GTbaseball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.

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