GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG Baseball had a trio of players drafted in the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Saturday afternoon.  L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College), Hunter Smith (Whiteville, N.C./Whiteville) and Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) were selected in the 21^st, 24^th, and 38^th rounds, respectively.   The three draft picks matches the most Spartans picked in the same draft in school history.  UNCG had three players drafted in 2007 and 1994. 

Kalawaia was selected in the 21^st round at pick number 636 to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  He is the second Spartan taken by the Angels organization, joining Cambric Moye who was taken in the 30^th round of the 2013 draft.  Kalawaia stayed in Greensboro for three years after transferring from Ohlone College.  After playing in 38 games as a junior, Kalawaia redshirted due to an injury before having one of the best seasons in UNCG history.  In his final season, Kalawaia earned First Team All Southern Conference honors after hitting for a .396 average, with 89 hits, scoring 62 runs, and droving in 65.  He also hit 11 doubles, six triples, six home runs, all while stealing 23 bases.  Kalawaia ranks in the top 10 of single season records in batting average, runs, hits, triples, RBI, and on-base percentage

Smith was dtafted in the 24^th round, pick number 718 to the Boston Red Sox and is the second Spartan taken by the Red Sox, joining Lance Surridge who was taken in the 1998 season.  Smith served as the opening day starter for UNCG in 2016, and started the first game of every series throughout the season.  This was his second season in Greensboro but the first with playing time, having sat out the 2015 season due to NCAA transfer rules.  Smith was taken in the 24^th round at pick number 718.  He earned a 6-5 record and led the Spartans with 88.2 innings pitched, and struck out 72 batters throughout the 2016 season. 

Woody was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 38^th round, at pick 1141.  He is the second Spartan to be taken by the Orioles, joining Lance Surridge who was drafted in the 1997 draft, but did not sign with the Orioles.  Woody started 109 games in two seasons in Greensboro.  The Tampa, Fla. native started 108 of those games at third base and was a 2016 First Team All Southern Conference selection.  2016 was monumental season for Woody.  The third baseman hit for a  .349 average in 59 games.  Woody led the Spartans with 23 doubles, hit 10 home runs, drove in a team-high 66 runs and led the nation with 11 sacrifice flies.  He also worked 30.0 innings on the mound, striking out 23 batters and earning a 3.60 Earned Run Average.  His 23 doubles ties for the second in single season school history, while the 66 RBI are a single season third best. 

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