Loftin selected 32nd overall by Kansas City in 2020 MLB Draft

WACO, Texas – Junior shortstop Nick Loftin was selected 32nd overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2020 MLB Draft, announced Wednesday evening.

Loftin, the 32nd overall pick in the first round competitive balance A, is the 13th Bear overall to be selected in the first round. For the second-time in program history, Bears were selected in the first round in back-to-back seasons as Loftin’s former teammates Shea Langeliers and Davis Wendzel were first round selections a year ago. The only other time the Bears had first round selections in back-to-back years came when Kip Wells was taken 16th overall in 1998 and Jason Jennings followed suit as the 16th overall pick in 1999.

Loftin is just the fifth Bear to be selected by the Kansas City Royals in program history and the only one taken in the first round. The last to be selected by the Royals was Zane Carlson in the 27th round of the 2004 draft. Other Baylor draft selections of the Royals include Justin Taylor (38th round, 2002), Eric Nelson (8th round, 1999) and Jeremy Dodson (7th round, 1998).

A difference maker for the Bears since he stepped on campus, Loftin was a Freshman All-American in 2018, batting .306 as he started 53 of 55 games on the year, driving home 36 runs with 12 doubles and six home runs. As a junior in 2019, he batted a career-best .323 in 53 starts with 18 doubles, six home runs and 41 RBI, earning First Team All-Big 12 honors. In the shortened 2020 season due to COVID 19, Loftin was a Preseason All-American and the preseason pick for Big 12 Player of the Year. He batted .298 through 14 games and showed more power in the small sample size, with two home runs, two triples, four doubles and 15 RBI.

A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Loftin finished his career slashing .313/.371/.481 in 122 games played, starting 120 of those. He tallied 161 hits, 34 doubles, five triples and 14 home runs. He drove home 92 runs and scored 114. He also made four appearances on the mound for the Bears and fielded .945.

For Baylor head coach Steve Rodriguez, Loftin is the 58th draft pick he has coached in his 17-year career and is his 11th player drafted during his time at the helm in Waco.

Baylor has now had at least one player selected in 43 of 45 drafts since 1976. The selection of Loftin gives the Bears 147 total draft picks in program history.