The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
07.13.2021 | Baseball
The Longhorns had a total of seven players selected in the 2021 MLB Draft, the most since 2017.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Baseball had four players selected on the final day of the 2021 MLB Draft to bring the Longhorns total to seven draft picks. The seven players selected in the 2021 MLB Draft is tied for the sixth-most in the nation.
Ivan Melendez was picked in the 16th round by the Miami Marlins, Kolby Kubichek was taken in the 18th by the New York Mets, Cam Williams was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 19th round and Zach Zubia was picked in the 20th round by the Marlins.
Melendez, selected with the 479th overall pick, led the Longhorns offensively in 2021 with a .319 batting average and a .603 slugging percentage. He mashed 13 doubles, three triples and a team-high 13 homers. He finished the season with 51 RBI and 38 runs scored and was named the First Team All-Big 12 designated hitter.
Melendez caught fire in the month of April hitting .412 with eight doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 27 RBI and 16 runs scored during the month. From April 3-11, he established a program-record by homering in six- consecutive games. He capped off the season with a strong showing in the College World Series and was named to the All-Tournament team.
Kubichek, the 532nd overall pick, made 12 starts during the season and recorded a 3.86 ERA and a 5-3 record. He struck out 41 batters in 51 1/3 innings pitched. He had four quality starts, including a career best seven innings against Kansas State.
For his career, Kubichek pitched in 30 games and logged 79 total innings with 64 career strikeouts. He had a great summer in 2019, being named a Cape Cod League All-Star for the Chatham Anglers.
Williams, taken with the 559th overall pick, led Texas with 20 doubles and was second with 12 homers. He started 61 games at third base and finished with 51 RBI and 42 runs scored. He was named second team All-Big 12 after leading the Longhorns with a .361 average in league play
A career .287 hitter in 73 games played, Williams finished his Texas career with 22 doubles, one triple and 13 homers. He drove in 60 runs and scored 51.
Zubia, the 599th overall pick, batted .286 in 2021 and led the Longhorns with 61 RBI. He finished with 11 doubles, three triples and 11 homers in his final season on the Forty Acres. He led the Longhorns with 19 multiple RBI games and had a team-high 39 game on-base streak that ended at the College World Series.
For his career, Zubia finished ranked in the top-10 of several Texas all-time career lists. Zubia is 10th all-time with 186 career starts, eighth with 30 homers, 10th with 162 RBI, eighth with 140 walks, and third with 18 sacrifice flies. Also an outstanding student, Zubia completed his Master's Degree in marketing in 2021 and is the first four-time Academic All-Big honoree in program history.
2021 MLB Draft Selections
CB-A (32) – Ty Madden – Detroit Tigers
8 (241) – Mike Antico – St. Louis Cardinals
9 (263) – Cole Quintanilla – Washington Nationals
16 (479) – Ivan Melendez – Miami Marlins
18 (532) – Kolby Kubichek – NY Mets
19 (559) – Cam Williams – Kansas City Royals
20 (599) – Zach Zubia – Miami Marlins
