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Detroit Tigers pick Roger Clemens’ son Kody Clemens with first pick of 3rd round of Major League Baseball draft

Texas Longhorns infielder Kody Clemens fields a ball during batting practice before the Big 12 Baseball Tournament in Oklahoma City on May 22. The Detroit Tigers selected Clemens, the son of seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, to lead off the second day of the Major League Baseball draft on Tuesday. The younger Clemens was the Big 12 player of the year, and has helped the Longhorns to the NCAA Tournament super regionals. He is hitting a team-leading .346 with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs as one of college baseball's top sluggers. (AP photo)

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.

AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK — Little Rocket led off Day 2 of the Major League Baseball draft.

The Detroit Tigers took Texas second baseman Kody Clemens, the youngest son of seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, with the opening pick of the third round — No. 79 overall — as the draft resumed Tuesday.

The younger Clemens was the Big 12 player of the year and has helped the Longhorns to the NCAA Tournament super regionals. He’s hitting a team-leading .346 with 21 home runs, second-most in school history, and 68 RBIs as one of college baseball’s top sluggers. Clemens is a semifinalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy as the best player in the country.

The Tigers selected Auburn right-hander Casey Mize with the No. 1 overall pick on Monday night.

Kody Clemens was a 35th-round selection of Houston out of high school, but opted to go to his father’s alma mater to play baseball. He spent most of last season as the Longhorns’ designated hitter after having Tommy John surgery, but returned completely healthy this year.

The left-handed Clemens surpassed his two brothers, Koby (Astros, 2005) and Kacy (Blue Jays, 2017), who were eighth-round picks in previous drafts.

Roger Clemens still has draft-day bragging rights on his sons. He was the 19th overall pick by Boston in 1983.

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