NEW YORK --- Tusculum College pitcher Devan Watts has been selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 17th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft announced officials Saturday. Watts was the 499th overall selection.

Watts is the 26th player during the Coach Doug Jones' era to be drafted or sign professionally and the second in as many days. Consensus national pitcher of the year Placido Torres was selected in the eighth round on Friday by the New York Mets.

In Watts' two seasons at Tusculum, the 2015 All-Region and All-South Atlantic Conference choice has recorded 14 saves and a 6-7 record in his 99.2 innings of work in his 43 relief appearances. He has a 2.98 career earned run average with 121 strikeouts and 25 walks. His 14 saves are currently the fourth most in Tusculum history.

This past spring, the Mooresville, North Carolina junior accounted for six saves (T7th in TC history) and a 3.10 ERA in his 20 relief outings. He tossed 49.1 innings with 62 strikeouts and tallied a 2-4 worksheet. He earned a spot on the SAC All-Tournament Team in April. Watts came through with two victories in two appearances during the SAC Championship, including the win in Tusculum's 6-5 rain-shortened victory over Catawba resulting in co-champions being named. Watts threw 8.1 innings in his two appearances, allowing seven hits while striking out five. Watts also earned the win in the Pioneers' extra-inning victory over Wingate with 5.1 scoreless innings of relief work in an elimination game.

In 2015, he led the SAC with eight saves (31st in NCAA II) and finished his inaugural TC campaign with a 1.79 ERA and led the Pioneers with his 23 relief appearances and finished with a 4-3 record in his 50.1 innings on the mound. He did not allow an earned run in his first 25 innings, covering a span of almost 10 games. He pitched 8.2 shutout innings of relief in Tusculum's 13-inning win over Carson-Newman and for his efforts, was named the SAC Pitcher of the Week and Tennessee Sports Writers Association College Pitcher of the Week.

Tusculum finished the year with a 38-18 overall record, including wins in five of its last seven games. The Pioneers captured a share of the SAC Tournament title for the program's fourth league postseason crown. TC earned the program its seventh NCAA II Tournament appearance, which are the second most of any SAC member. The Pioneers have accounted for 16 consecutive winning seasons, including 14 straight 30-win campaigns.

TC posted a 2-2 record at the NCAA II Southeast Regional to claim third place honors. The Pioneers lost its opening game 2-1 to 19th-ranked USC Aiken before bouncing back with wins over Belmont Abbey (7-1) and Mount Olive (3-2) before falling to USC Aiken again in the elimination bracket final.

Since 2004, 26 Pioneers have or are still playing professionally. All-Region shortstop Robbie Bouman signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2004. In 2005, All-SAC pitcher Eric Butler signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2006, four Tusculum players signed professional contracts, including pitcher Brandon Dickson (St. Louis Cardinals), catcher Adam Beacham (Kansas City Royals), All-American pitcher Brent Gabel (Washington Wild Things) and Bobby Darling (Rockford RiverHawks). Two members of the 2007 club signed professional contracts, including Kevin Hammons, who was drafted in the 24th round by the Florida Marlins, while Ben Swaggerty signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Royals and later pitched in the Atlanta Braves organization. In 2008, All-Americans Maikol Gonzalez (Colorado Rockies), Christian Rosa (St. Louis Cardinals) and Carlos Rivera (Rockford RiverHawks) signed professionally, including Gonzalez who was drafted in the 35th round by the Rockies. In 2009, All-American pitcher Rob Currie was drafted in 12th round by the Milwaukee Brewers, while pitcher Tio McLean inked as a free agent with the Houston Astros. All-Region Raymond Ruggles was picked in the 43rd round by the San Francisco Giants. In 2011, All-American catcher Sean Cotten was drafted in the 29th round by the Washington Nationals while teammate and All-American outfielder Alexi Colon was selected in the 32nd round in 2012 by the San Diego Padres.

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