Southland pitcher of year picked by Mariners

The Mariners took left-handed pitcher Taylor Byrd (Petal, Miss.) out of Nicholls State in the seventh round -- 201st overall -- in Friday's Day 2 of the MLB First-Year Player Draft.

As a senior this season, Byrd went 8-3 with a 1.92 ERA in 14 starts over 89 innings, earning Southland Conference pitcher of the year honors. He fanned 80 and walked 27 while holding opponents to a .246 batting average, but was ruled academically ineligible for the Southland Conference Tournament before the Colonels went two-and-out.

The Draft concludes Saturday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 10 a.m. PT.