Nebraska junior shortstop Brice Matthews was selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros on Sunday night. Matthews, who became the seventh first-round selection in NU history, was the No. 28 pick overall in the draft, which is being held in Seattle. Matthews is Nebraska’s highest overall selection since 2005, when third baseman Alex Gordon was chosen No. 2 overall by the Kansas City Royals. Matthews is NU’s first 1st-round selection since 2006, when right-handed pitcher Joba Chamberlain was the No. 41 overall selection by the New York Yankees.
Nebraska junior Max Anderson was selected in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Detroit Tigers on Sunday night. Anderson, who became the fifth second-round selection in NU history, was the No. 45 pick overall in the draft, which is being held in Seattle. With the selections of Brice Matthews and Anderson, the Huskers become the first program to have their middle infield drafted in the first two rounds since 2015, where Arizona State’s Scott Kingery and Kevin Newman were picked up in the first and second rounds.
Hastings native Mike Boeve made history one last time Sunday night when he became the highest draft pick in Omaha Baseball history after the Milwaukee Brewers picked him in the second round and 54th overall. Omaha’s previous highest draft pick was two-time All-Star Bruce Benedict who went 99th overall in the fifth round back in 1976.
