MLB Draft

Four Hogs, five signees drafted on Day 3

Arkansas' Dominic Taccolini throws a pitch during a game against Western Illinois on Friday, March 11, 2016, at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.
Arkansas' Dominic Taccolini throws a pitch during a game against Western Illinois on Friday, March 11, 2016, at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.

The final day of the 2016 MLB Draft saw four current Arkansas players and five signees selected by big-league clubs.

Pitchers Dominic Taccolini, Doug Willey and James Teague and shortstop Michael Bernal were the current Razorbacks taken, while signees Tyler Benninghoff, Trevor Stephan, Blake Lillis, Brenden Heiss and Jordan McFarland were also picked.

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Despite struggling this season, Taccolini was the first Arkansas player to come off the board Saturday, going to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 16th round with the 492nd overall pick. The Blue Jays also drafted Zach Jackson in the third round Friday.

As a junior, Taccolini posted a 5-5 record with a 5.75 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 72 innings. His season was highlighted by a 10-inning shutout against Kentucky, as he became the first Arkansas pitcher since 1982 to throw an extra-inning shutout.

The next Razorback drafted was Bernal, who went in the 28th round to the San Francisco Giants with the 875th overall pick.

Bernal batted just .274, but provided some power to the lineup, hitting eight home runs, which tied for the team lead. He had 37 RBIs, too.

Four rounds later, Willey was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 966th overall pick.

A graduate transfer from Division II Franklin Pierce, Willey was one of Arkansas' best bullpen arms, posting a 3.49 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings. He was second on the team with three saves.

The final Arkansas player drafted was Teague, who was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 37th round, 1,111th overall.

Last season, Teague primarily pitched out of the bullpen, but did make one start. In 30 1/3 innings, he was 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA and 30 strikeouts.

Taccolini and Teague each have one season of eligibility remaining, while Bernal and Willey finished their careers as seniors.

Although injuries limited him last season, the first Arkansas signee drafted Saturday was Benninghoff, a right-handed pitcher from Kansas City, Mo., Rockhurst. He was an 11th-round pick by the Minnesota Twins (333rd overall).

Stephan, a right-handed pitcher from Hill J.C. in Texas, was the next signee off the board, going to the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round, 538th overall.

He was followed by left-handed pitcher Lillis (Milwaukee Brewers; 25th round, 741st overall), right-handed pitcher Brenden Heiss (Chicago Cubs; 31st round, 944th overall) and outfielder Jordan McFarland (Washington Nationals; 36th round, 1,084th overall).

The MLB signing deadline is July 15.

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