Tampa Bay selects FAU shortstop in 2nd round

Former American HeritageDelray star Tyler Frank was taken by the Rays with the 56th overall pick in Monday’s MLB draft.

BOCA RATON — John McCormack couldn’t hold the secret any longer, especially not with star shortstop Tyler Frank about to face the media after Florida Atlantic’s 5-2 loss to No. 1 overall Florida on Monday night.

“Last night, I knew Tyler was drafted and I didn’t tell him,” the coach said Tuesday. “As we were walking to the press conference, I said to him ... ‘Hey, just so you know, you were drafted a couple hours ago in the second round.’”

Frank, 21, was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 56th overall pick in Monday’s MLB draft. A former star at American Heritage-Delray who went undrafted out of high school, Frank went from an emergency starting catcher as a true freshman to an All-Conference USA shortstop by his junior year, nearly helping the Owls to their first Super Regional appearance since 2002.

Frank hit .310 with 25 home runs, 105 RBIs, 43 doubles, and 120 walks to 86 strikeouts in 165 games with the Owls. Despite a slow start through the first three weeks, he finished this season with career-highs in runs (70), doubles (20), home runs (13), and walks (52).

“Just happy,” Frank said of his emotions. “(It’s a) dream come true for sure. ... It’s one of the worst feelings (in losing to Florida) I’ve ever felt and one of the best feelings (in being drafted) at the same time. You can only imagine what that feels like.”

The 2018 C-USA defensive player of the year, Frank said being taken so high was a testament to FAU’s baseball program, which has seen 25 Owls drafted since McCormack became head coach in 2009. Former Owls shortstop C.J. Chatham, who Frank replaced after the 2016 season, was taken with the 51st overall pick two seasons ago by the Boston Red Sox.

Frank wasn’t the only former Stallion taken Monday night, as former teammate and Gators third baseman Jonathan India went fifth overall to Cincinnati.