Buford graduate Austin Upshaw and University of North Georgia standout Connor Hoover each earned a shot at professional baseball on Wednesday when they were selected in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.
Upshaw, who graduated from the Wolves program in 2014, was picked by the Chicago Cubs in the 13th round (405th overall). The infielder played at Georgia Perimeter in 2015 before moving on to Kennesaw State for the 2016 and 17 season. He was named to the 2017 A-SUN All-Conference team.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners took Hoover with the 633rd overall pick in the 21st round. The Nighthawks shortstop enjoyed a stellar 2017 campaign, being named second team All-Region after batting .361 with a team-high 84 hits, 18 home runs and 74 RBI. The 2015 PBC Freshman of the Year, Hoover led the league in runs scored and walks.
The junior shortstop from Appling became the third Nighthawk taken in the MLB draft in the last four years and the eighth player sent to the professional ranks by North Georgia since 2010.
Hoover was equally impressive in the field, leading the PBC with 183 assists at shortstop and fifth in double plays turned.
"The UNG baseball family couldn't be happier for Connor to be drafted by the Seattle Mariners organization," UNG head coach Tom Cantrell said. "He is the epitome of a yearly development as he grew on and off the field in his three years representing our program. We are always happy to see one of our student-athletes get an opportunity to continue playing at the professional level."
