Cougars' Cluff and Three Signees Taken in MLB Draft

PROVO, Utah - BYU sophomore infielder Jackson Cluff and three Cougar baseball signees were selected in the MLB Draft held June 3-5.

Cluff was chosen in the sixth round with the 183rd pick by the Washington Nationals on the second day of the draft Tuesday. On Thursday, three prep stars who signed with the Cougars to play in Provo starting this fall were also drafted, including Cutter Clawson, picked in the 33rd round by Washington; Tyson Heaton, picked in the 40th round by the Los Angeles Angels; and Cy Nielson, also picked in the 40th round by the Cleveland Indians.

An All-West Coast Conference First Team selection, Cluff led BYU in 2019 with 57 runs, 20 doubles, three triples, 56 RBIs, 37 walks and 12 stolen bases while adding 65 hits on a .327 batting average and .458 on base percentage.

An outstanding defensive infielder, the Meridian, Idaho, native started at second and third base this past season before settling in for the majority of the year at shortstop. He’s the highest Cougar draft pick since 2013 when Jacob Hannemann was taken in the third round with the 75th pick by the Chicago Cubs.

“Jackson proved great things can be accomplished through hard work, dedication, personal accountability and being a great teammate,” BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. “He set the bar high for himself and his teammates and I’m happy the Nationals recognize his value.”

Cluff’s father, Paul, was a two-time All-American at BYU before being also being drafted in the fourth round with the 87th pick in the 1989 draft by the Boise Hawks when independent minor league clubs participated in the MLB Draft.

Cluff is the 13th Cougar to be picked under Littlewood and the 118th draftee in BYU history.