Illinois Draft History | Top 10 Round Pick Values

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Illinois junior Bren Spillane was drafted in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds with the 82nd overall selection. The slot value for the pick is $716,000.

"It's truly an honor," said Spillane. "It's something you dream of when you come to the University of Illinois. To go down as one of the highest drafted players is something that's really cool."

Spillane, who was picked as a right fielder, is the highest drafted position player in Illinois history. Catcher Chris Robinson, who was picked in the third round with the 90th overall pick by the Tigers in 2005, was the previous highest selected position player in program history.

Spillane had one of the most productive seasons at the plate in Illinois' 139-year history of baseball. The junior was named Collegiate Baseball's National Player of the Year, Big Ten Player of the Year and one of 25 Golden Spikes Award semifinalists. He is the first player in program history to win a national player of the year award and the first Big Ten player drafted in 2018.

Spillane hit .389 with 23 home runs, 60 RBIs and 16 stolen bases and was the first player in Division I to slug over .900 in a season since 2009. Spillane's rare combo of speed and power helped him become the first player in Illinois history to have 15 homers and 15 steals in a single season.

Spillane Stats and Notes

• 2018 Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year
• 2018 Baseball America All-America First Team
• 2018 Big Ten Player of the Year
• 2018 Big Ten regular season triple crown (.407, 22 HR, 57 RBIs)
• 2018 Unanimous First Team All-Big Ten
• Leads the nation in slugging percentage (.903)
• Leads the nation in OPS (1.401)
• Leads the nation in home runs per game (0.46)
• Leads the nation in weighted on-base average (.569)
• Ranks second in the nation in home runs (23), fifth in total bases (158), ninth in on-base percentage (.498), 14th in RBIs per game (1.20) and 18th in batting average (.389)
• Only player in the nation with 20+ homers and 15+ stolen bases
• Only Division I player in history to slug over .900 in the BBCOR era
• First player in Division I to slug over .900 for a season since 2009 (Bryce Brentz, Middle Tennessee State, .930)
• First Power 5 player to lead the nation in slugging at over .900 since Pat Burrell (.948) for Miami (Fla.) in 1996
• No. 2 in Big Ten history in slugging percentage for a season (Darrin Fletcher, Illinois, 1987, .913)
• No. 1 in the nation in career slugging percentage among active players with two or more seasons (.723)
• No. 1 in Illinois history in career slugging percentage (.723)
• First player in Big Ten history to win three straight Big Ten Player of the Week awards (3/19-4/2/18)
• First player in Illinois history to win national player of the week honors twice
• Led the Big Ten in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, OPS, home runs, RBIs and total bases
• Illinois single-season ranks include second in slugging (.903), second in home runs (23), second in Big Ten home runs (10), tied for fourth in total bases (158), tied for fourth in Big Ten total bases (67) and fifth in on-base percentage (.498)

Highest Drafted Position Players in Illinois History

Round 3, Overall 82 - Bren Spillane, RF, Cincinnati Reds, 2018
Round 3, Overall 90 - Chris Robinson, C, Detroit Tigers, 2005
Round 3, Overall 102 - Lars Davis, C, Colorado Rockies, 2007
Round 4, Overall 107 - Sean Mulligan, C, San Diego Padres, 1991
Round 4, Overall 116 - Kyle Hudson, OF, Baltimore Orioles, 2008
Round 6, Overall 145 - Darrin Fletcher, C, Los Angeles Dodgers, 1987
Round 6, Overall 145 - Gary Borg, OF, Minnesota Twins, 1985
Round 8, Overall 145 - Jerry Szukala, 1B, Chicago Cubs, 1966
Round 5, Overall 161 - Brandon Wikoff, SS, Houston Astros, 2009
Round 6, Overall 181 - Scott Spiezio, 1B, Oakland A's, 1993