Plunkett Goes To Dodgers On Draft’s Final Day
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Razorback catcher Zack Plunkett was selected on the final day of the 2019 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft Wednesday afternoon. Plunkett was taken in the 20th round (No. 611) by the Los Angeles Dodgers, making him the seventh Hog taken in this year’s draft.
This is the second time in his career Plunkett has been drafted as he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2018 MLB Draft, but elected to come back to school for his senior year. Plunkett was taken in the 37th round a year ago, but was able to improve his draft stock by 17 rounds after returning to Fayetteville.
2019 MLB Draft Picks (Arkansas)
CBB (75) – Dominic Fletcher (Arizona)
CBB (76) – Isaiah Campbell (Seattle)
4th (123) – Matt Cronin (Washington)
8th (232) – Jack Kenley (Detroit)
8th (249) – Jacob Kostyshock (Colorado)
9th (287) – Cody Scroggins (Boston)
20th (611) – Zack Plunkett (Los Angeles Dodgers)
With now seven picks through three days, Arkansas has had 95 players drafted with head coach Dave Van Horn at the helm dating back to 2003. Plunkett is the first Razorback drafted by the Dodgers since pitcher Doug Bennett in the fifth round of the 1991 draft.
A Hurst, Texas native, Plunkett was a transfer to Arkansas after spending the 2015 and 2016 seasons under head coach Jim Schlossnagle at TCU. Plunkett made 19 starts in 39 games for the Horned Frogs during those two seasons, totaling 12 hits with 10 runs scored and eight RBIs. Of his 39 appearances, 35 were either as a starter at catcher or as a defensive replacement behind the plate.
After sitting out the 2017 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Plunkett appeared in seven games in 2018, four as a pinch hitter. This year, Plunkett has played in 25 games with 16 starts, hitting .265 with 13 hits, seven extra-base hits and nine RBIs. Plunkett also hit two home runs, one each coming against Louisiana Tech (March 9) and Grambling (April 30).
Plunkett went a career-best 3-for-4 at the plate against Northwestern State (April 23), hitting three doubles and walking five times with one run driven in.
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