Pitcher Michael Plassmeyer becomes Mizzou's first player taken in 2018 MLB Draft

Pitcher Michael Plassmeyer became the first Missouri Tigers player to be selected in the 2018 MLB Draft when the Seattle Mariners chose him on Tuesday in the fourth round with the 118th overall pick.

Plassmeyer, a 6-foot-2 lefty, went 5-4 this season and posted a 3.05 ERA while pitching a team-leading 91 1/3 innings for the Tigers. He struck out 103 batters. Against SEC competition, Plassmeyer’s WHIP was 1.15.

His junior season was by far his best collegiate one yet. He attributed part of his success to standing further on the left side of the mound, which lowers his release point. He also tweaked his curveball grip this season.

During the spring, Mizzou baseball coach Steve Bieser said an uptick in Plassmeyer’s velocity and an increased variety of pitches paired with the pitcher’s strong command to create “artwork when you see him go out there.”

Missouri had another pitcher taken when New York Mets drafted 6-foot-7 right-handed pitcher Bryce Montes De Oca in the ninth round at No. 260 overall. He was rated as the No. 138 overall draft prospect by MLB.com.

Montes De Oca, a Lawrence native, had his best season for Missouri as well as he went 6-4 with a 3.13 ERA. He has the ability to hit 100 mph on his fastball but has been hampered by injuries over the years. He still has another year of eligibility remaining and the slot money for his pick is valued at $152,100.

Here's Baseball America's evaluation on Plassmeyer: "Plassmeyer is a back-of-the-rotation starter who has earned notice as a useful draftee because of his reliability and plus control. Plassmeyer gained a tick to his fastball this year, although he still sits at a modest 86-90 mph although he’ll now bump 92 early in outings. He’s also improved his slider this year, refining it into an average offering. His changeup is a below-average pitch at this point."

The assigned signing bonus for the 118th overall pick is approximately $469,400.

Missouri signee Trey Dillard, a junior-college pitcher, was chosen in the 16th round, 494th overall, on Wednesday by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mizzou junior right-hander Andy Toelken went in the 19th round, 579th overall, to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Fellow junior right-hander Giovanni Lopez was chosen 687th overall in the 23rd round by the Miami Marlins. In the 26th round, junior third baseman Brian Sharp was drafted by the New York Mets with pick No. 770. Senior outfield Tre Harris went to his hometown Atlanta Braves with pick No. 952 in the 32nd round.

Some Mizzou signees were drafted in late rounds, too. Seth Halvorsen, a two-way high school player, was picked up by the Minnesota Twins, who selected him with the No. 904 overall pick in the 30th round. The Royals selected Trae Robertson, a leftie pitcher from Columbia Hickman, with the No. 1142 overall pick in the 38th round. Luke Mann from St. Louis Vianney, was undrafted after 39 rounds. The draft concludes Wednesday with rounds 11-40.

This story was originally published June 5, 2018 at 1:46 PM with the headline "Pitcher Michael Plassmeyer becomes Mizzou's first player taken in 2018 MLB Draft."