SECAUCUS, N. J. (June 5, 2019) – Lubbock Christian University catcher Andrew Pratt was selected in the 10^th round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday afternoon, heading to the Washington Nationals with the 303^rd overall pick.
 
The selection makes Pratt the 40^th player in Chap baseball history to be selected by an MLB team and the first since 2014 when catcher Wigberto Nevarez went to the Atlanta Braves in the 20^th round. Only three players in LCU history have ever been drafted higher than Pratt in pitcher Bob Hinson (1983, 5^th round), first basemen Craig Clow (1990, 9^th round) and fellow catcher Joe Staley (2008, 8^th round).
 
Pratt played at Lubbock Christian for two seasons after transferring from the University of New Mexico. In his junior and senior seasons, the Albuquerque native started 105 games, mostly behind the plate. He hit .370 in that time with 25 home runs and a .663 slugging percentage. He added in 33 doubles over two years, tying for the team lead in each season. Pitchers were careful with him as a senior, and Pratt took advantage by more than doubling his walk total. To close out his final collegiate season, Pratt reached base in 31 straight games, marking the longest streak by a Chap since 2013.
 
An All-Heartland Conference First Team selection in both 2018 and 2019, Pratt was also an ABCA All-South Central Region Second Team selection in 2018 and a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-American in 2019. He was twice named the Heartland Conference Hitter of the Week during the 2019 season.
 
Washington, which drafted Pratt, currently sits at 27-33 just over a third of the way through the 2019 MLB season. The Nationals' minor league system currently includes the GCL Nationals (Rookie League), the Auburn Doubledays (Class A Short Season), the Hagerstown Suns (Class A), the Potomac Nationals (Class A-Advanced), the Harrisburg Senators (Double-A) and the Fresno Grizzlies (Triple-A).
 
The MLB draft will continue on Wednesday with the 30 teams selecting players from both the high school and collegiate ranks for another 30 rounds and several other Chaps still eligible for selection.