Atlanta Braves draft Blake Burkhalter with 76th overall selection

The SEC’s saves leader from 2022 is staying close to home.Late Sunday night, Auburn RHP Blake Burkhalter was selected in the second round of the Major League Baseball first-year-player draft by the nearby Atlanta Braves, going 76th overall.

Burkhalter joins an elite company, as he is Auburn’s highest drafted relief pitcher since 1993 when Scott Sullivan was drafted with the No. 62 overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds. He is also the third-highest relief pitcher drafted behind Sullivan and Gregg Olson, who went No. 4 overall to the Baltimore Orioles in 1988.

Burkhalter was one of the most dominant pitchers in SEC Baseball during the 2022 season. In 30 appearances, Burkhalter struck out 71…