South Alabama’s Turner, Sullivan selected in MLB draft

South Alabama outfielders Will Turner and Joseph Sullivan were both selected in the seventh round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday.

Turner, the Jaguars’ starting center fielder the last three seasons, went to the Boston Red Sox with the 207th overall pick. He is an Auburn High School graduate.

Sullivan, the Jaguars’ starting left fielder the last two seasons, went to the Houston Astros with the 223rd overall pick. A Vestavia Hills High School graduate, he is the grandson of the late Auburn Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan.

Turner batted .218/.409/.421 with nine home runs, 24 runs batted in and 12 stolen bases as the Jaguars’ primary leadoff hitter in 2024. An outstanding defensive center fielder, he was second in the Sun Belt Conference and finished in the Top 20 nationally with 56 walks in 56 games.

Sullivan batted .266/.442/.531 with nine home runs, 32 RBIs and 14 steals in 38 games at South Alabama this season. He tied for the team lead in home runs and was second in RBIs and steals despite missing 18 games with a wrist injury.

South Alabama pitchers Grant Wood and Carson Swilling could also be selected before the draft concludes on Monday.

South Alabama left fielder Joseph Sullivan was selected by the Houston Astros in the seventh round of the 2024 MLB draft on Monday. He is the grandson of Auburn Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com)

Mike Kittrell/AL.com