MLB Draft Tracker

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois senior relievers Nick Blackburn and J.D. Nielsen were selected Saturday on the third and final day of the 2016 MLB Draft. Four Illini players have been selected in this year's draft after a program-record nine were selected in 2015. Cody Sedlock (1st round, No. 27 overall) and Jason Goldstein (9th round) were picked during the first two days.

Illinois tied for third in the Big Ten with four draft picks. Only Ohio State (6) and Michigan (5) had more than the Fighting Illini.

The MLB Draft does not have slot values assigned after the 10th round. A player can sign for any amount under $100,000 without counting against the team's bonus pool assigned to rounds 1-10.

Nick Blackburn - 16th round - Arizona Diamondbacks
Senior reliever Nick Blackburn was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 16th round (No. 479 overall) Saturday in the 2016 MLB Draft. It is the second straight year Blackburn has been drafted, after he elected to return to school following a 22nd round selection by the New York Mets last year.

Blackburn, who features a fastball that sits in the low to mid-90's, saved 11 games in 2016, the third most in a single-season in Illinois history. He went 1-3 with a 3.73 ERA in 31 1/3 innings over 24 appearances in 2016 after going 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in 21 1/3 innings in 2015.

Blackburn's 72 career appearances are the fifth-most in program history.

Blackburn majored in business and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.

.@NickBlackburn8 is the third #Illini selected, a 16th-round pick of the @Dbacks » https://t.co/nN5CKQVrVp pic.twitter.com/p4gZvBWdPx

— Illini Baseball (@IlliniBaseball) June 11, 2016

J.D. Nielsen - 34th round - Los Angeles Angels
Senior reliever J.D. Nielsen was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 34th round (No. 1026 overall) of the 2016 MLB Draft. It is the first time the 6-6 reliever has been drafted.

Nielsen projects as a tough lefty-lefty matchup at the next level thanks to his sidearm delivery that is rarely seen from a left-hander with his size. Nielsen was second on the Illini in saves in 2016 with six and led the team with 29 appearances. He also picked up five wins in relief, good for tied for second on the team.

The Winterset, Iowa, native was one of the most used relievers in Fighting Illini history during his four-year career. He made 79 career appearances, the fourth most in Illinois history, including 32 during Big Ten games. Nielsen led the conference in Big Ten appearances with 14 this season.

Nielsen majored in recreation, sport and tourism with a concentration in sports management. He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection and was nominated for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

.@jd_nielsen22 picked in the 34th round by @Angels » https://t.co/nN5CKRd2MX#MLBDraft #Illini pic.twitter.com/uutFy4Foi0

— Illini Baseball (@IlliniBaseball) June 11, 2016