LOS ANGELES — A Mid-South native's dreams of being drafted to Major League Baseball came true Tuesday.
Collierville native Grayson Saunier was selected 559th overall in the 19th round by the Texas Rangers. Saunier was the 159th ranked player in the draft, according to MLB.com
Saunier, a right handed pitcher, played his high school baseball at Collierville High School. The Dragons finished 37-11 this year with an appearance in the TSSAA state baseball tournament.
Saunier is committed to play baseball for defending College World Series champion Ole Miss under Mike Bianco. He watched the first two days of the MLB Draft with his friends and family in Collierville, but returned to Oxford to workout Tuesday. He said one of his new teammates let him know he'd been drafted.
"It was super cool, one of my teammates here told me and I was kind of taken aback, but yeah I'm super thankful to the Rangers for taking me and believing in me so I appreciate that," Saunier said.
Saunier has the option to join the Rangers organization or remain in Oxford and play baseball for three years for the Rebels. He was grateful to be drafted, but said his mind is made up to stay in Oxford.
"I'm definitely looking forward to being at Ole Miss and staying at Ole Miss and hopefully go out there and help the team win another national championship, that's the goal. I'll be at Ole Miss hopefully the next three years," he said.