TU’s Palacios taken by Indians in third round of MLB Draft
Junior shortstop becomes the highest position player drafted in program history
By Towson University Athletics on June 5, 2018
Towson University shortstop Richie Palacios became the highest position player drafted in program history when he was selected
in the third round (103rd overall) by the Cleveland Indians in the 2018 Major League
Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday.
Palacios is the third-highest player drafted in TU history. Left-hander Chris Nabholz
is the highest-drafted player, going in the second round (49th overall) to the Montreal Expos in 1988, while left-hander Chris Russ was taken by
the Texas Rangers in the third round (94th overall) in 2000.
"My phone blew up more than it has before," Palacios said while laughing at the memory. "It took me a couple hours to respond to everybody who reached out to me. Everything has been pretty hectic, but it's been a lot of fun. This is a big step in my journey and seeing my name on the board was pretty awesome. I went speechless for a while."
Palacios was a second team All-CAA selection after hitting .301 with 18 doubles, eight
home runs, 31 RBIs and 56 runs scored. He also walked 52 times and stole 25 bases.
He is one of two players in Division I baseball with 50 walks, 50 runs scored and
25 stolen bases in 2018.
In his three seasons in a Tiger uniform, Palacios hit .323 with 38 doubles, eight triples, 19 home runs and 98 RBIs. He added 154 runs scored and stole 76 bases. He became the first player in school history to reach 200 hits in his junior season.
Palacios has been a threat on the base paths his entire career, setting the single-season record for stolen bases in a season with 32 as a freshman. His 76 career stolen bases are also the most in program history.
During his time with the Tigers, Palacios has collected multiple honors. During his freshman year in 2016, the Brooklyn, New York, native was named CAA Rookie of the Year, a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, a second team Freshman All-American by Baseball America and a first team Freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Palacios also has a Major League Baseball pedigree — his father Richie reached the AAA level with the Detroit Tigers, while his uncle Rey played for the Kansas City Royals.