Illinois junior second baseman Michael Massey was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round of the MLB Draft. The slot value of the pick is $533,000.
Massey is the highest drafted infielder in Illinois history at No. 109 overall, one round ahead of shortstop Brandon Wikoff (Overall No. 161) in 2009.
Massey has been one of the best middle infielders in Illinois history, ranking in the top 50 in career batting average and becoming the first Illini ever to win the prestigious Gold Glove Award. Massey hit .324 with 43 doubles, five triples, 17 homers and 110 RBIs in 159 career games and made only one error in his last 93 games.
Massey has one year of eligibility remaining. He has until July 15 to sign with the Royals.
Illinois senior outfielder Jack Yalowitz was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 10th round of the MLB Draft.
Yalowitz had an exceptional four-year career in Champaign, hitting .272 with 22 homers and 127 RBIs in 199 starts. He had a huge sophomore season in 2017 with 12 homers and a .335 average to earn first team All-Big Ten honors and again was selected All-Big Ten in 2019, to the third team, after hitting .295 with five homers this season.
