Nick Popescu batted .312 with 26 doubles, seven home runs and 73 RBI in his Tech career

June 8, 2011

TEXAS TECH MLB DRAFT CENTRAL

Photo Gallery | Popescu Highlight Video | Updated Bio | 2011 Game-by-Game Stats

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech had its second player taken in the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Players Draft when senior infielder Nick Popescu (Flower Mound, Texas) was selected in the 33rd round (1,016th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in the third day of the draft on Wednesday.

Popescu joins junior shortstop Kelby Tomlinson as Red Raiders who have been drafted in this year's draft. Tomlinson went in the 12th round (No. 387 overall) to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.

Popescu is the fourth Red Raider to be drafted by the Braves, the first since 1986.

He completed his Red Raider career in 2011 batting .299 (52-for-174) with 27 runs, 10 doubles, one triple and one home run with 32 RBI. Popescu was one of four Red Raiders with a double-figure steals total as he was 10-of-13 in stolen bases.

Popescu's versatility made him an asset to the Red Raiders in 2011 as he made 24 starts at second base, 11 starts in left field and eight as the designated hitter.

In his two-year career at Texas Tech, Popescu batted .312 (113-for-362) in 102 games (93 starts) with 57 runs, 26 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 73 RBI and was 18-of-22 in stolen bases.

In the Big 12 Championship against Texas A&M, Popescu went 4-for-5, which tied the Tech all-time record for most hits in the Big 12 tournament.

Two incoming Texas Tech student-athletes were drafted on Tuesday when the Philadelphia Phillies drafted South Mountain CC shortstop Trey Ford in the 14th round (No. 451 overall) and incoming Tech football prospect Bradley Marquez (Odessa, Texas) was selected with the 492nd overall pick (16th round) by the New York Mets. Marquez is an outfielder on the diamond and a running back on the gridiron.

MLB DRAFT NOTES:
- Popescu is Texas Tech's 120th all-time draft pick/free agent selection in program history.
- Tech now has 11 draft picks between the 31st-40th round all-time.
- Popescu is the 34th Texas Tech infielder (second this year) to be drafted/signed free agent with an MLB organization.
- Head coach Dan Spencer has now coached 16 players at Texas Tech who have been drafted.
- Spencer has coached three infielders at Tech (2 this year) that have been drafted.
- The Atlanta Braves have now drafted four Red Raiders and the first since 1986.