LSU Players Nola, Goody Selected During Day 2 of MLB Draft

BATON ROUGE, La. - LSU shortstop Austin Nola and pitcher Nick Goody were selected Tuesday during Day 2 of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft.

Nola, a senior from Baton Rouge, was chosen in the fifth round by the Miami Marlins. Goody, a junior from Orlando, Fla., was selected in the sixth round by the New York Yankees.

Each player was selected in last season's draft and significantly improved his draft status during the 2012 season. Nola was selected in the 31^st round of the 2011 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, and Goody was selected in the 22^nd round last season by the Yankees.

Rounds 2-15 of the MLB Draft were completed on Tuesday. The draft concludes on Wednesday with Rounds 16-40.

Nola, a four-year starter for LSU, is hitting .313 this season with 16 doubles, one triple, four homers and 42 RBI. He was named the Most Outstanding Player last week of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional.

"It's an honor to be drafted, and it's always been a goal of mine to play pro ball, but my focus right now is on helping LSU get to the College World Series," Nola said. "It's been an incredible experience to have been a part of this program for the past four seasons. It doesn't get any better than LSU Baseball -- this is where my heart is."

Goody, in his first season at LSU after transferring from State College of Florida, has 11 saves, three walks and 45 strikeouts in 33 appearances this season as the Tigers' closer.

LSU signee Hayden Jennings, an outfielder from Evangel High School in Shreveport,  La., was selected in the sixth round Tuesday by the Washington Nationals.

LSU first-team all-America pitcher Kevin Gausman was chosen in the first round on Monday by the Baltimore Orioles. Also selected on Monday in Compensatory Round A were LSU signees Joey Gallo (39^th selection, Texas Rangers) and Jesmuel Valentin (51^st selection, Los Angeles Dodgers).

LSU Draft Summary through Day 2 (draft will conclude Wednesday with Rounds 16-40)

LSU Players selected in the 2012 MLB Draft

Kevin Gausman, RHP   1st Round    Baltimore     4^th selection

Austin Nola, SS      5^th Round     Miami    167^th selection

Nick Goody, RHP   6^th Round New York Yankees   217^th selection

LSU Signees selected in the 2012 MLB Draft

Joey Gallo, INF/RHP     Comp. Round A     Texas     39^th selection

Jesmuel Valentin, INF    Comp. Round A     Los Angeles Dodgers   51^st selection

Hayden Jennings, OF   6^th Round Washington     204^th selection