Junior left-handed pitcher Jake Eder was selected by the Miami Marlins with the 104th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft on Thursday.
Eder is the second VandyBoy pitcher selected in this year’s MLB Draft and was taken a mere three picks after teammate Tyler Brown. He will join former Vanderbilt teammates JJ Bleday, Julian Infante and Zach King in the Miami farm system.
In his first season as a full-time weekend starter in 2020, Eder had a 3.60 ERA and was second on the team with 27 strikeouts. He led the team with 20 innings pitched in four starts.
Eder’s rise to becoming a fourth-round draft pick began last season, when his 2.97 ERA as a reliever was the second-lowest in the Vanderbilt bullpen. Pitching his best in the postseason, he earned two saves in three appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Eder also earned a three-inning save in Game 3 of the College World Series to clinch the Commodores’ second national championship.
Eder’s development at Vanderbilt began as a freshman, when his 5.45 ERA in nine starts and two additional appearances brought up questions about his control. But with a dedication lauded by head coach Tim Corbin, he cemented his role as a strikeout pitcher by year three.
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