University of South Florida pitcher Brandon Lawson (Brooksville, Fla.) was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 12th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft on Saturday. Lawson joins Tommy Eveld as member of the 2016 MLB Draft class. Eveld was picked up in the ninth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Lawson went 5-5 with a 2.50 ERA this season, the lowest of any USF starting pitcher. In his 15 appearances (14 starts), the junior delivered a team-best 12 quality starts. He struck out a career-high 11 batters against

Eastern Michigan (Feb. 27) and Holy Cross (March 12), and also led the American Athletic Conference with 103 strikeouts this regular season.

The right-hander was named to the 2016 American Athletic Conference Second Team and was recognized on The American’s Weekly Honor Roll on March 21.

Lawson pitched three years for the Bulls, totaling nine wins, a 3.70 earned run average and 185 strikeouts.

Article provided by USF Athletic Communications Dept.