Julien one of three Auburn Tigers selected on Day 3 of MLB draft

ABC and Junior National Team alum Edouard Julien (Quebec City, Que.) was one of three Auburn Tigers selected on Day 3 of the 2019 MLB draft. Photo: Auburn Athletics

By George Nunnelley

Auburn Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn third baseman Edouard Julien (Quebec City, Que.) and left-handed pitchers Jack Owen and Elliott Anderson were selected on the third and final day of the MLB Draft Wednesday.

Julien was drafted in the 18th round by the Minnesota Twins, Owen was drafted in the 21st round by the St. Louis Cardinals and Anderson was drafted in the 23rd round by the Kansas City Royals.

In four years under head coach Butch Thompson, Auburn has now had 22 players drafted. The Tigers have also had multiple players selected in the draft every year since 2006 and at least one player selected in a SEC record 45 consecutive seasons.

Julien, a draft eligible sophomore, was taken with the 539th overall pick, marking the second time in his career he has been drafted. The Quebec City native was previously drafted by the Phillies in the 37th round of the 2017 MLB Draft.

In two seasons on The Plains, Julien has etched his name in the record books. He broke Frank Thomas' freshman RBI record and led the Southeastern Conference with 69 RBI during a freshman All-American campaign in 2018.

This year he became the first Auburn player since 2010-11 to drive in 40 or more runs in back-to-back seasons and also became the fifth fastest player in program history to drive in 100 career runs. Only Tim Hudson, Gabe Gross, Frank Thomas and Todd Faulkner have done it faster.

Owen, who is also a draft eligible sophomore, was drafted for the first time in his career as he was taken by the Cardinals with the 635th overall pick.

After serving primarily in a midweek role as freshman, Owen entered Auburn's starting rotation in the third week of the 2019 season and has turned in a 4-2 record and a team-best 2.45 ERA. He was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week after throwing a complete-game shutout vs. UTSA on Mar. 9.

The Aliso Viejo, California, native didn't allow a run in a span of 20.2 innings earlier this season and set the program record by throwing 28.2 innings without allowing an earned run dating back to last year at the start of the season.

Anderson, a junior from Cartersville, Georgia, was selected for the first time in his career as the Royals took him with the 679th overall pick.

The southpaw has been one of the Tigers most-used arms out of the bullpen in each of the last two seasons and has made 64 career appearances in an Auburn uniform.

After going 5-0 with a 3.64 ERA as a sophomore, Anderson has posted a 6-2 record with a 4.42 ERA during his junior season and has 12 wins in his career. Anderson has turned in career highs in appearances (26), innings pitched (59.0) and strikeouts (63) in 2019.