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Nebraska Baseball Likely Loses Big Bat In Boldt To MLB Draft

By Oliver Vandervoort

Aug 7, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball and glove prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball and glove prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Nebraska baseball team is likely going to be losing one of its best bats as Ryan Boldt was selected in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft on Thursday night.

Boldt was taken as the 53rd overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays, and while he was expected to go early, the junior being selected this early seems to almost guarantee he’ll be forgoing his senior season.

As Huskers.com points out, the outfielder getting drafted that high marks the first time since Joba Chamberlain was selected in the first round of the 2006 draft that a Nebraska baseball player was taken in the first two rounds. This also marks the 38th year in a  row at least one Cornhusker was selected in the amateur draft.

Boldt had a bit of a down year in 2016 at the plate, hitting just .288 with five home runs. He did show the ability to both hit and run the bases as he stole 20 bags this season. Average wise, the outfielder had a much better 2015 when he put up a .344 average. His home runs and stolen bases were both quite a bit lower than this year.

It’s a safe bet Major League Baseball saw improvement in all aspects of his game as one of the reasons he was such a top prospect. While it’s always a decent recruiting tool for the Nebraska baseball team to tout such high draft picks, it means the team has likely lost its third player in just two days.

On Thursday, pitcher Garrett King and outfielder, Elijah Dilday announced they were leaving the program and will probably exit the school altogether. Rebuilding from one year to the next is a bit of a unique challenge in college baseball but head coach Darin Erstad now has his work cut out for him.

If Boldt does indeed decide to forgo his senior season, he’ll have some holes to fill on a roster that seemed plenty talented, but couldn’t win a game once it reached the postseason. The Major League Baseball draft is also far from over.

Next: Nebraska Baseball Sees Pair Of Players Leave The Program

It will be interesting to see how many more Nebraska baseball players are selected in the early rounds and who decides to go pro rather than return to the Cornhuskers.

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