Four FIU players were selected within four rounds of each other in the 2017 MLB Draft Wednesday afternoon.

Catcher/first baseman JC Escarra was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 15^th round. In the 18^th round catcher Zack Soria was taken by the Atlanta Braves and reliever Dominic LoBrutto was drafted by the Boston Red Sox. Shortstop Irving Lopez was taken by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 19^th round.

Escarra belted 15 home runs and had 49 RBI to lead the Panthers in both categories in 2017. The left-handed slugger also led FIU in slugging with a .613 mark. Escarra was third on the team with a .309 average and 56 hits. Three years ago out of Mater Academy, Escarra was drafted by the New York Mets.

Soria started 53 of 55 games and made just one error on the season. Soria threw out 17 of 47 would-be basestealers. The right-handed hitting catcher hit .258 with six home runs and 26 RBI. The six home runs were a career-high for Soria.

After beginning the season as a starter, LoBrutto moved back to the bullpen to lead FIU with five saves in 2017. The junior left-hander was 1-4 with a 4.47 ERA and struck out 58 batters in 58 1/3 innings. He allowed a team-low two home runs.

Lopez started all 56 games for the Panthers and finished second on the team with a .324 average. The switch-hitting shortstop led FIU with 71 hits and four triples as well as a .427 on-base percentage. Lopez hit a career-high six home runs and was second on the team with 43 RBI.

FIU also had several more signees drafted from its No. 1-ranked 2017 signing class.

In the 11^th round, shortstop Justin Connell was selected by the Washington Nationals and left-handed pitcher Jerryell Rivera was taken by the Los Angeles Angels. Outfielder Gabriel Rodriguez was picked by the Minnesota Twins also in the 11^th round.

In the 13^th round, shortstop Abdiel Layer was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers. Right-handed pitcher Christian Santana joins Layer on the Brewers after being taken in the 15^th round.

Left-hander Logan Allen, who threw a no-hitter in the 2017 Florida state high school playoffs, was selected by the same team as Escarra. The Orioles took Allen in the 16^th round.

Outfielder Oraj Anu was drafted in the 28th round by the Red Sox. One round later, outfielder Andres Santana was taken by the Houston Astros.

Through 20 rounds of the MLB Draft, 12 FIU signees have been drafted. Heliot Ramos (Giants, 1st round), MJ Melendez (Royals, 2nd round), Johnathan Rodriguez (Indians, 3rd round) and Wilberto Rivera (Cardinals, 8th round) were taken on the first two days of the draft.