HUNTINGTON — Marshall junior infielder Tyler Ratliff was selected with the 524th pick in the 17th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Texas Rangers on Wednesday afternoon. “Tyler [Ratliff] is one of the best positional players that we’ve had in the program,” head coach Jeff Waggoner said. “He has helped elevate the program to new heights. I’m so excited for him to have the opportunity to play professionally or to return for his senior season.”
Ratliff became the ninth highest draft selection in program history. The Alexandria, Va., product joins Aaron Blair (2013, first round, 36 overall), Joe Goddard (1971, eighth round, 175 overall), Kansas City Royals HOF reliever Jeff Montgomery (1983, ninth round, 212 overall), John McKinney (1985, 11th round, 278 overall), Greg Williams (2011, 12th round, 384 overall), John Chafin (1988, 18th round, 457 overall), Isaac Ballou (2013, 15th round, 466 overall) and Joe Church (2012, 17th round, 525 overall) as the 10th Herd player to be selected in the first 20 rounds of the draft.