Two players from Alabama high schools and colleges were chosen on the opening night of the MLB First-Year Player Draft in Seattle. Three other players who could have had that designation were picked, too.

Alabama and Auburn lost top recruits from their baseball commitments in the first 37 selections of this year’s draft:

· At No. 16, the San Francisco Giants selected Alabama prospect Bryce Eldridge, a pitcher and first baseman for James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia.

· At No. 22, the Seattle Mariners selected Auburn prospect Colt Emerson, a shortstop for John Glenn High School in Cambridge, Ohio.

· At No. 37, the Detroit Tigers chose Auburn prospect Kevin McGonigle, a shortstop for Monsignor Bonner High School in Aldan, Pennsylvania.

The players from Alabama high schools and colleges among the 69 selections on Sunday night were LSU pitcher Grant Taylor (Florence) by the Chicago White Sox at No. 51 and Mississippi State outfielder Colton Ledbetter (Spain Park, Samford) by the Tampa Bay Rays at No. 55. Both picks came in the second round.

Taylor was the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 7A Player of the Year for Florence High School in 2021. The White Sox chose the right-hander even though an elbow injury caused him to miss the 2023 season.

In his only season at Mississippi State, Ledbetter batted .320 with 52 runs and 52 RBIs in 53 games in 2023. He had 17 stolen bases, 12 home runs and 11 more walks than strikeouts.

Ledbetter had been a two-time All-State selection at Spain Park High School before playing two seasons at Samford.

The Pittsburgh Pirates opened the draft by picking LSU pitcher Paul Skenes after he set an SEC single-season record in 2023 with 209 strikeouts. The No. 2 pick came from LSU, too, as the Washington Nationals chose outfielder Dylan Crews. It marked the first time that teammates had been the first two picks in the draft.

The third through 10th rounds of the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft are set for Monday starting at 1 p.m. CDT, and the 11th through 20th rounds starting at 1 p.m. Tuesday will conclude this year’s draft.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.