The Sports Inquirer

Release from Kennesaw State Athletics:

For the second straight day, a pair of Kennesaw State baseball players were selected in the 2015 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday afternoon on the final day of the annual event.

The Miami Marlins selected righthander Jordan Hillyer with the 416^th overall pick in the 14^th round of the draft, while the Arizona Diamondbacks took Will Lowman 586^th overall with the first pick in the 20^th round –marking the second Owl selected by the organization in as many days. In addition, Jaret Hellinger, who was KSU signee for the 2016 season, also got selected in the 20^th round (600 overall) by the hometown Atlanta Braves.

Hillyer, a 2015 Second Team All-Conference Atlantic Sun Conference selection and a three-time Pitcher of the Week award winner, served as one of the main catalysts in the Owls’ weekend rotation. He was one of two pitchers to make 14 starts and led the Atlantic Sun Conference in strikeouts (92) and compiled an impressive 2.72 ERA in 89.1 innings of work. Hillyer also posted a career-best two shutouts.

For the second consecutive day, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected a member of the Kennesaw State baseball team by selecting Will Lowman in the 20^th round. Lowman will join teammate Kal Simmons, who was selected in the eighth round Tuesday afternoon, as a member of the Diamondbacks’ organization in the 2015 MLB Draft.

The hard-throwing lefthander became a vital role for head coach Mike Sansing out of the bullpen, serving as the Owls’ closer in the ninth inning for most of the season. Lowman made a career-high seven saves and posted an ERA of 4.26 in 25.1 innings of work on the mound. He also proved to be durable, making a career-best 26 appearances, which also led the team.