Texas Longhorns RHP Bryce Elder drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 5th round

The Atlanta Braves have selected Texas pitcher Bryce Elder 156th overall in the fifth and final round of the 2020 MLB Draft.

Elder is the first upperclassmen to be selected and joins four other Longhorn signees to hear their name called. After earning second-team All-Big 12 honors for his stellar sophomore campaign, Elder was named to the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper All-America second team for the shortened 2020 season.

The right-handed pitcher from Decatur, Texas started four games in 2020 and finished 2-1 with a career low ERA of 2.08. Overall, Elder pitched 26 innings while striking out 32 batters and allowing only 6 runs total. Elder reached the 6th inning in all of his appearances and his lone loss came at the hands of LSU in a 4-3 defeat.

The approximate pick value for the No. 156 slot is estimated to be around $330,100.

Elders departure would leave Ty Madden and Pete Hansen as the 1-2 starters for David Pierce’s squad in 2021.