Rangers take Razorbacks’ Biggers in eighth round

FAYETTEVILLE —Junior infielder Jax Biggers was the fourth Razorback taken in the 2018 Major League Baseball first-year player draft, chosen in the eighth round, 239th overall, by the Texas Rangers on Tuesday afternoon.

Biggers becomes the 13th shortstop in school history to be selected in the draft and first since Michael Bernal went to the Giants in 2016.

With Biggers’ selection, it marks the second-straight season the Razorbacks have had four or more players drafted in the first 10 rounds and fourth time since 2000.

The Missouri City, Texas native has received high marks since taking over the shortstop position for the Razorbacks last year after transferring in from Cisco Junior College.

Last year, Biggers hit .338, which led all Arkansas hitters and shortstops in the SEC. It was also the highest batting average by a Razorback shortstop since Scott Hode hit .309 in 2005.

Biggers went on to be named to the All-SEC Second Team and was named a Brooks Wallace Award semifinalist, an honor for the nation’s top shortstops.

This year, the junior has hit .281 in 53 games with nine doubles, four home runs, and 22 RBIs. His .388 on-base percentage is attributed to his 33 walks, the fourth-highest total on the team.

Biggers suffered a fractured finger on his left hand at the beginning of the Texas A&M series last month, but since coming back from that injury (May 25), he’s hit .333 (5-for-15) with two multi-hit games and one home run.

Defensively, Biggers has only made 17 errors in 420 chances for a .960 combined fielding percentage over the last two years. He’s also helped turn 30 of Arkansas’ conference-leading 56 double plays this year.

Day two of the draft continues today on MLB.com. Rounds 3-10 will be conducted today. Wednesday will be the final day of the draft and will include rounds 11-40 starting at 11 a.m. All selections can be followed on MLB.com.

Biggers and the Razorbacks will resume action this weekend at the NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional against league foe South Carolina. Game one is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.