F

ive Florida Atlantic baseball players were selected during the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft.

Junior shortstop C.J. Chatham was the first player to be taken.

The Boston Red Sox selected him 51st overall — the highest-drafted player in program history. Chatham earned All-American honors and won the Conference USA Player of the Year, as well as its defensive player of the year award.

That feeling when your hard work has paid off. Thank you @CjChatham for all you’ve given to @FAU_Baseball. #FAU pic.twitter.com/JwLyirjhZv

— FAU Baseball (@FAU_Baseball) June 10, 2016

The communication major hit a team-high .357 from the plate while also recording eight home runs and 50 RBIs, both the second most on the team behind redshirt junior first baseman Esteban Puerta.

Redshirt sophomore pitcher David McKay, a business major, was the next FAU player to be selected — the Kansas City Royals took him in the 14th round. He will join former Owls player Roman Collins, who was drafted by the Royals one year ago.

McKay struck out 66 batters and limited his opponents to a .222 batting average, both the best marks among FAU’s starting pitchers.

The 26th round saw two relief pitchers get drafted. The first, junior Colyn O’Connell, was taken by the Detroit Tigers.

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected senior pitcher Robbie Coursel 20 picks later.

O’Connell and Coursel were two of five bullpen pitchers who held an ERA under 3.00.

The last Owl to be picked was senior center fielder Billy Endris. Endris, who was drafted by the Royals in the 39th round in 2015 before returning to school for his senior season, will be headed to the Arizona Diamondbacks after being selected in the 35th round.

Chatham, McKay and O’Connell will have until July 15 to either sign their respective contracts or return to FAU for another season of college baseball.

Brendan Feeney is the sports editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @feeney42.