Clemson junior pitcher Paul Campbell was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 21st round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday. Campbell was selected 619th overall and was the fourth Tiger taken in the draft after Charlie Barnes (4th round, Twins), Chase Pinder (7th round, Cardinals), and Alex Eubanks (14th round, Rangers) were selected over the final two days of the event.
In three seasons with the Tigers, Campbell has pitched 39 innings as a spot starter and long reliever. He has a career earned run average of 7.85, but his numbers in 2017 were much better than the previous two. In five appearances, including two starts, the Massachusetts native sported a 5.19 ERA over 8.2 innings pitched. He has struck out 46 batters over his 39 innings of work.
The Rays’ farm system is full of projectable arms, especially from the right side. Eleven of Tampa’s first 22 selections in the draft—including Campbell—were right-handed pitchers.