DENVER – Former North Carolina Central University baseball student-athlete
Austin Vernon (Raleigh, N.C.) received the call that many baseball players dream of as he was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 10th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft on Monday, July 12.
Vernon is now the third Eagle to be selected in the MLB Draft, and the highest pick since Corey Joyce (Lexington, N.C.) was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 12th round in 2019. Vernon's older brother, Andrew, was NCCU's first MLB Draft selection in 2016 by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 28th round.
Vernon was a 2021 First Team All-MEAC honoree, and made history this year by throwing the first no-hitter at NCCU in the modern era on May 7 against Delaware State. One week later he tied the NCCU single-game record with 13 strikeouts against Florida A&M on May 13. He also has set a new Eagle single-season record with 109 strikeouts, and led the MEAC in that category. Vernon ranked 10th in the nation in strikeouts-per-nine innings at 13.88, and finished 37th in total strikeouts. He also finished second in the league with a 2.55 ERA.
Vernon made 53 career appearances on the mound with 21 starts, and pitched 134.2 innings with a 3.54 career ERA and nine wins. He has the third-lowest career ERA at NCCU, and the fourth-most career strikeouts with 182. Vernon also has the second-lowest career opposing batting average at .201, and the second-highest strikeouts-per-nine innings mark at 12.16. He also notched four saves during the 2019 season.
Vernon is now the seventh Eagle to sign to play for an MLB organization since 2015.
The Tampa Bay Rays compete in the American League East Division, and are the defending American League Champions. The Rays made their second World Series appearance in franchise history in 2020, but fell in six games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tampa Bay is currently in second place in its division with a record of 53-37, and is tied for the fourth-most wins in the major leagues, and have the fifth-best win percentage at .589.
The Tampa Bay minor league organization consists of seven teams: the Durham Bulls (Triple-A), the Montgomery Biscuits (Double-A), the Bowling Green Hot Rods (High-A), the Charleston RiverDogs (Low-A), GCL Rays (Rookie), DSL Rays 1 (Rookie), and DSL Rays 2 (Rookie).
For more information on the Tampa Bay Rays, visit RaysBaseball.com.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
