JB Middleton, Jake Cook Taken during First Day of 2025 MLB Draft
7/13/2025 9:50:00 PM | Baseball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss right-handed pitcher JB Middleton (Yazoo City, Miss.) and center fielder Jake Cook (Madison, Miss.) were each selected during the opening night of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft held in Atlanta, Ga.
Middleton was chosen in the second round by the Colorado Rockies (Pick No. 45) and Cook got taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round (Pick No. 81). It was the first time in the school's history that two of its players came off the board in the opening three rounds.
Middleton, this year's Ferriss Trophy winner for top collegiate baseball player in the state of Mississippi, earned All-America honors by five media outlets, including a first team spot by both the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and Perfect Game, along with being named second team by both D1Baseball.com and ABCA/Rawlings, along with a third-team selection by Baseball America.
The first team All-Sun Belt selection ended the 2025 campaign with a 10-1 record and a 2.31 ERA. He also struck out 122 and walked 25 in 105 1/3 innings, while only allowing 65 hits. He finished No. 2 in the final national rankings in WHIP (0.85), fifth in hits allowed per nine innings (5.55), seventh in strikeouts, ninth in ERA and No. 11 in wins. He was the No. 41 draft prospect by MLB.com.
Middleton became the sixth Golden Eagle taken in the second round and the first Southern Miss player picked by the Rockies since pitcher Hayden Roberts during round 34 of the 2017 draft. It also marked the third highest overall selection ever by a Golden Eagle, trailing only Frank Baker (No. 29 in 1967 to the New York Yankees) and Matt Wallner (No. 39 to the Minnesota Twins).
Cook, a second-team All-Sun Belt pick, played in 60 games with 58 starts and hit a team-best .350 with 13 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 32 RBI in his first full collegiate season as a position player. He tied for the team lead in hits with 83, while ranking No. 26 nationally in toughest to strikeout, fanning just once in every 12.5 at bats. Cook registered 31 infield hits, while enjoying the No. 2 ESPN Play of the Day when he robbed a home run from Arkansas State on May 3, jumping over the wall to make a spectacular catch. He also was the No. 106 ranked draft prospect by MLB.com.
Cook's pick by the Blue Jays made him the first Golden Eagle chosen by the organization since pitcher Conor Fisk in the 24th round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
The MLB Draft concludes Monday with rounds 4-20 taking place starting at 10:30 a.m. Fans can follow the draft at MLB.com.
Middleton was chosen in the second round by the Colorado Rockies (Pick No. 45) and Cook got taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round (Pick No. 81). It was the first time in the school's history that two of its players came off the board in the opening three rounds.
Middleton, this year's Ferriss Trophy winner for top collegiate baseball player in the state of Mississippi, earned All-America honors by five media outlets, including a first team spot by both the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and Perfect Game, along with being named second team by both D1Baseball.com and ABCA/Rawlings, along with a third-team selection by Baseball America.
The first team All-Sun Belt selection ended the 2025 campaign with a 10-1 record and a 2.31 ERA. He also struck out 122 and walked 25 in 105 1/3 innings, while only allowing 65 hits. He finished No. 2 in the final national rankings in WHIP (0.85), fifth in hits allowed per nine innings (5.55), seventh in strikeouts, ninth in ERA and No. 11 in wins. He was the No. 41 draft prospect by MLB.com.
Middleton became the sixth Golden Eagle taken in the second round and the first Southern Miss player picked by the Rockies since pitcher Hayden Roberts during round 34 of the 2017 draft. It also marked the third highest overall selection ever by a Golden Eagle, trailing only Frank Baker (No. 29 in 1967 to the New York Yankees) and Matt Wallner (No. 39 to the Minnesota Twins).
Cook, a second-team All-Sun Belt pick, played in 60 games with 58 starts and hit a team-best .350 with 13 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 32 RBI in his first full collegiate season as a position player. He tied for the team lead in hits with 83, while ranking No. 26 nationally in toughest to strikeout, fanning just once in every 12.5 at bats. Cook registered 31 infield hits, while enjoying the No. 2 ESPN Play of the Day when he robbed a home run from Arkansas State on May 3, jumping over the wall to make a spectacular catch. He also was the No. 106 ranked draft prospect by MLB.com.
Cook's pick by the Blue Jays made him the first Golden Eagle chosen by the organization since pitcher Conor Fisk in the 24th round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
The MLB Draft concludes Monday with rounds 4-20 taking place starting at 10:30 a.m. Fans can follow the draft at MLB.com.
Players Mentioned
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