Bailey Horn completes a trio of Auburn pitchers to be drafted after joining the team last season.
Horn was drafted to the Chicago White Socks as the 142nd pick in the 5th round. Horn had just joined Auburn in 2019 as a redshirt sophomore after a serious Tommy John surgery the season before. Even still Horn had five starts over his 18 appearances on the field his first season with the Tigers.
This is the first time since 1997 that two pitchers have been taken within the first five rounds, as well as the third time in Auburn’s program history.
“To be drafted in general was a huge blessing,” Horn said. “It wouldn’t have been possible without being blessed with the opportunity to play at Auburn having the resources I’ve had there, learned there and developed there. It wouldn’t have happened without being an Auburn Tiger first so being drafted anywhere was a huge accomplishment.”
Prior to being drafted, Horns had a 5.97 ERA in 2019. He pitched multiple scoreless innings including his start in a Tigers uniform versus Georgia Southern which earned him back-to-back starts. The game featured a rain delay that wouldn’t slow Horn down ending in that Thompson called a “huge night that propelled” the Tigers.
“He was worth the risk,” said head coach Butch Thompson. “We threw him out there before he was ready last year. We needed the hitters. We needed the developers, but right there at the end we thought we needed him and we were right.”
Horn went through a long process to get drafted after the shortened 2020 season where he planned on really showing up for the Tigers. Horn also had plans to help send his team into the post-season again to round out his redshirt junior year.
“Having the season come to an end was the worst down of the season,” Horn said. “I know every guy on the team wanted to see this season through. Getting drafted was great, but I would have much rather seen our season play through. I firmly believe we would have been back in Omaha.”
Despite that short season, Horn continued to put a 2.08 ERA. He struck out a total of 27 batters, pitched 15 scoreless innings, and started in three of Auburn’s shutouts. His final start for Auburn featured his career-high for innings pitched at six and career-high batters struck out in a game with 11.
“[Horn] was ready,” Thompson said. “[Horn] is a guy that has his degree and was ready to go out. He’s so strong and there’s just not a lot of guys walking around like [him] out there with the talent being left-handed and the power potential that he has.”
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Original Post: https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2020/06/draftee-bailey-horn-ready-for-big-leagues-after-productive-collegiate-career
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