JONESBORO, Ark. (6/10/15) – Arkansas State senior corner infielder Zach George has been selected with the 1,057th pick in the 35th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday afternoon in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft and was the fourth Red Wolves player chosen to tie the school record for most MLB draft picks in one draft when four players were selected in the 1995 draft.

George, a native of Paragould, Ark., enjoyed one of the best seasons in A-State baseball history during the 2015 as he leads the nation in on-base percentage at .548 and led the Sun Belt Conference with a .399 batting average.  He also finished atop the SBC leaderboard in hits (81), walks (52), and doubles (22).  The 52 walks set a new school record, breaking the previous record of 49 by Matt Bryant in 1996, while the 22 doubles are the second most in a season in school history.

Additionally, George reached base in all 55 games this season and in all 19 games he played during the 2013-14 seasons to register the nation's longest on-base streak of 74 games, which records indicate is also a school record.  He only struck out 28 times in 274 plate appearances and led the team in slugging percentage (.562), total bases (114), and hit-by-pitches (16).  He also scored 38 runs, drove in 35 runs, hit three home runs, and was second on the team with nine stolen bases.

“I couldn't have made it where I am today without the love and support of my family, teammates, coaches, and friends,” George said.  “I am extremely excited to see where this path may take me.”

The redshirt senior has racked up several awards for his performance this season as he was selected to the All-SBC First Team as a utility player.  George was also named First-Team All-Conference by College Sports Madness and was recently named a finalist for the Gregg Olson Award, which is given to college baseball's breakout player of the year.

 “What a wonderful day for the A-State baseball program to have Zach as our final player taken in the MLB draft this year,” A-State head baseball coach Tommy Raffo said.  “He has overcome and persevered so much in his career at Arkansas State and being drafted is a great exclamation point on what he has accomplished for himself and Red Wolves baseball.”

The career numbers are very solid for George as well as he was a .324 hitter in 176 games, 167 of which were starts.  He registered 204 hits, 44 doubles, four triples, and 11 home runs over five years of playing time.  He set the career record for walks with 143, breaking Ryan Emery's mark of 141 from 2010-13, and only struck out 84 times, while finishing with an on-base percentage of .461 and 20 stolen bases.

George becomes the 13th player chosen in the MLB draft in the Raffo era and joined teammates David Owen (19th round), Stuart Levy (27th round), and Chandler Hawkins (33rd round) as draftees.  He is the first Red Wolves player in history to be selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The four draft picks for A-State also tied Appalachian State with the most selections by a team in the Sun Belt Conference.