Two Hokies Plus Transfer Commit Drafted on Day 2 of 2022 MLB Draft

After a historic opening day of the 2022 MLB Draft for Virginia Tech Baseball, the history continued on day 2 of the draft with two more Hokies being drafted in the top 160 while incoming Toledo SP transfer Kyle Jones also was selected (transfer as reported by TSL's Chris Hirons).

Nick Biddison was selected 135th overall in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers while Cade Hunter was selected 153rd overall in the fifth round by the Cincinnati Reds of the 2022 MLB Draft. Biddison is the fourth highest-selected outfielder in program history while Hunter is the fourth highest-selected catcher in VT history.

Biddison and Hunter join Gavin Cross and Tanner Schobel as top 160 picks for the Hokies with this being the first time that Tech has had 4 players taken in the top 160 of a single draft. The only other time that Tech had more than 1 player selected in the top 160 prior to this year was 2020 when Ian Seymour and Carson Taylor were drafted in the top 160.

Biddison heads to MLB after a career year as he had a .351 batting average with 14 home runs, 47 RBIs, 14 doubles, a .434 on-base percentage, a .598 slugging percentage, and 21 stolen bases. Biddison was a great leadoff hitter for Tech while his versatility proved valuable in getting Tech the best possible lineup plus his leadership by example helped Tech reach new heights as ACC regular season champs, Super Regional hosts, and a #4 national seed.

Hunter leaves Blacksburg for the pros after a career season of his own behind the plate batting .330 with 17 home runs, 66 RBIs, 14 doubles, a .440 on-base percentage, a .637 slugging percentage, 11 stolen bases, a .987 fielding percentage, and only 7 errors. Hunter slid farther down the draft than many may have expected, but it would be shocking if he didn't sign in what is still a strong landing spot for someone who could prove to be a steal for the Reds.

Meanwhile, Toledo SP Kyle Jones was drafted 204th overall in the 7th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins after a strong 2022 season with Toledo as he was 7-3 with a 4.24 ERA in 17 appearances including 15 starts over the course of 91.1 innings. He did this while having 114 strikeouts for an impressive 11.2 strikeouts per 9 innings.

While some may be hoping that Jones will defer the pros and come to Virginia Tech, the odds of that are extremely low at this point.

The loss of Jones is disappointing, but Tech's pitching rotation should still be quite strong with Drue Hackenberg and Griffin Green returning as a 1-2 punch plus George Mason grad transfer Jared Lyons who was All-Atlantic 10 First Team in 2021.

If Jones signs, he will be the second incoming player that didn't make it to Blacksburg due to a draft selection after incoming 2022 recruit Nick Morabito was drafted 75th overall on Day 1 and has reportedly agreed to a deal with the New York Mets already as reported by the Washington Post's Jacob Richman.