On the second day of the 2015 MLB Draft, junior starting pitcher Kevin Duchene was picked in the fifth round by the Oakland Athletics (No. 158 overall) and senior first baseman David Kerian was selected in the ninth round by the Washington Nationals (No. 284 overall).

Duchene was a Louisville Slugger second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten starting pitcher in 2015. The Joliet, Illinois, native ranked second in the Big Ten with an 11-2 record and third in ERA (1.75), strikeouts (88) and innings pitched (102.2) this season.

Duchene made an immediate impact at Illinois, being named a Freshman All-American and Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2013. He earned ABCA/Rawlings second-team All-Mideast Region and All-Big Ten honors after going 9-1 with a 2.79 ERA in his debut season. His nine wins set the school record for most wins by a freshman.

For his career, Duchene ranks second in Illinois history with a 2.11 ERA and tied for seventh with 24 wins. His 24-4 (.857) overall record is tied with Tanner Roark (12-2, .857) for the sixth-best winning percentage in the UI record book.

Kerian was 2015 Louisville Slugger second-team All-American and 2015 Big Ten Player of the Year led the conference with 16 home runs, a .367 average, .462 on-base percentage, .667 slugging percentage and 138 total bases to go along with a team-high 52 RBI. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection at first base for the second time in his career, also earning the honor as a sophomore in 2013.

For his career, the Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, native hit .316 with 19 home runs and 126 RBI. He finished with a .410 on-base percentage, .480 slugging percentage and .991 fielding percentage. He also scored 104 runs and tallied 42 stolen bases.

Illinois had three players drafted in the first nine rounds for the first time in program history. Kerian and Duchene joined junior Tyler Jay (No. 6 overall - Minnesota Twins).