By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For the third consecutive year, a member of the Tennessee Tech baseball team signed a professional contract to continue their playing career as two-time All-OVC First Team catcher Hayden Gilliland inked a free-agent deal with the Toronto Blue Jays organization Tuesday evening following the conclusion of the 2024 MLB Draft.
One of the most decorated and successful backstops in program history, Gilliland became just the second Golden Eagle to sign with the Blue Jays, joining former Tech hurler Bubbie Buzachero. He represented the first TTU catcher to sign with a Major League organization since Brennon Kaleiwahea was picked up as a free agent by the Chicago Cubs following the 2018 MLB Draft.
This season, Gilliland became the first Golden Eagle to collect All-Region honors since Jason Hinchman and Ed Johnson were named to the First Team in 2022. He also became the first member of the Tech baseball team to collect All-Region recognition at the catcher position.
Gilliland joined Eric Brown (1970 & 1973) and Mac Coley (1974 & 1975) as the only Tech catchers to earn All-OVC First Team honors from the OVC two times in their career. Closing out a remarkable career, the senior hit .325 with team highs of 13 home runs and 56 RBI, finishing with 38 walks and a .433 on-base percentage.
The Maryville, Tenn. native wrapped up his final season donning the purple and gold with his name littered across the program's career charts in a number of categories. Gilliland finished second in runner caught stealing (51), seventh in walks (121), 10th in games played (192), tied for 12th in home runs (30), 15th in on-base percentage (.429), 17th in RBI (131), tied for 19th in hits (196), and 23rd in runs (122).
The veteran ended his career with the third-most starts behind the dish, racking up 136 as Tech's starting catcher. He also tied for the second most starts as the team's backstop in a single season, matching Brian Lee's effort of 54 games in 1997.
On the year, he took home OVC Player of the Week honors and became the program's positional leader in both single-season and career long balls among catchers.
With his signing, Gilliland became the 40th Golden Eagle player to sign a professional contract during head coach Matt Bragga's tenure with the program. He's the third since Bragga's return for his second stint in Cookeville, joining 2022 free agent signee Jason Hinchman and 2023 draftee Hunter Mann, both of whom entered the Colorado Rockies' system.
Photo by Jim Dillon
