Buck Farmer, Brandon Thomas Returning For Senior Seasons

Georgia Tech baseball coach Danny Hall received a boost for the 2013 season on Friday when he learned that both Brandon Thomas and Buck Farmer would be returning for their senior seasons. The deadline for players picked in the MLB Draft to sign was 5 p.m. on Friday.

Thomas was a fourth-round selection of the Pirates and Farmer was picked in the 15th round by Milwaukee. Thomas led the Jackets with a .360 average and also had five homers and 44 RBIs. Farmer started 16 games in 2012 and went 8-4 with a 3.54 ERA. Their return will give Hall the benefit of having two experienced players that he won't have to replace for the 2013 season.

The Yellow Jackets also learned that incoming freshman Matt Gonzalez will be on campus next season after deciding not to sign with Oakland who drafted him in the 11th round.

For more on Georgia Tech baseball check out From The Rumble Seat and stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta.

Georgia Tech Baseball Offseason: Danny Hall Fires Pitching Coach Tom

Georgia Tech head baseball coach Danny Hall called the decision to dismiss long time pitching coach Tom Kinkelaar "gut wrenching" but "necessary" for the long term success of his program.

"Tom is a great friend, a very good coach and was a key part of our staff at Georgia Tech. Sometimes you just need a fresh start, a change in philosophy both on the field and in recruiting. It doesn't mean you're necessarily doing anything wrong, you just need a change in direction. We had reached that point."

A change in recruiting strategy could have been most responsible as Hall used the University of Florida as an example of where his program has to get to be regarded nationally. Tech missed out on a couple of local recruits that picked up wins against the Yellow Jackets in the NCAA Regional.

Hall said the search for a replacement will begin immediately and that any candidate would have to be "tireless workers."

For more on Georgia Tech baseball check out From The Rumble Seat and stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta.

Georgia Tech Baseball Offseason: Brandon Thomas, Buck Farmer Selected In Draft

Georgia Tech Baseball could be taking a major hit after seeing five key members (four underclassmen) selected in the 2012 MLB Draft.

Luke Bard was selected in the supplemental first round by the Minnesota Twins and junior outfielder Brandon Thomas was picked in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Buck Farmer lasted until the 15th round when the Milwaukee Brewers snatched him up. Sophomore Kyle Wren lasted until the Cincinnati Reds picked him in the 30th round.

Its highly unlikely that either Bard or Brandon Thomas decide to return to school but both Farmer and Wren could at least consider it.

Senior Jake Davies was picked in the 21st round by the Boston Red Sox. Davies hit .326 with 14 home runs and 73 RBIs. He was selected as a first baseman and not a pitcher after pulling double duty there while playing for the Yellow Jackets.

For more on Georgia Tech baseball check out From The Rumble Seat and stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta.

2012 MLB Draft: Kyle Wren, Son Of Braves GM, Drafted By Cincinnati Reds

Part of the fun during the third day of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft is keeping an eye out for familiar last names -- sons of either former players or personnel.

If you checked out the 30th round, you'd see Kyle Wren, a sophomore OF from Georgia Tech, was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. If Braves fans out there were wondering if there's any relation to Frank Wren, the general manager of the Atlanta Braves, well, wonder no more:

#Braves GM Frank Wren said he is "happy and proud of Kyle" who was drafted by Reds in 30th round. Kyle Wren is only a sophomore at Ga Tech

— David O'Brien (@ajcbraves) June 6, 2012

Since Kyle is only a sophomore, he does have some leverage in contract talks, and can return to school to try to bolster his draft stock during his junior season.

As a sophomore at Georgia Tech, Wren hit .256/.346/.364, and added two home runs while stealing 16 bases.

For more on the Atlanta Braves, be sure to head over to Talking Chop and join the discussion.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Victor Roache Headed To Brewers, Luke Bard, Matt Olson Picked In Supplemental Round

Slugging Georgia Southern outfielder Victor Roache was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 28th pick of the first round. Roache was out of action much of the year with a broken wrist but could have gone much higher if not for the injury after slugging 30 homers as a sophomore.

Georgia Tech's Luke Bard is another in-state college player that spent part of the year on the sideline with an injury. Bard was picked with the 42nd pick in the supplemental round by the Minnesota Twins. Bard made only 11 appearances this season because of a lat injury and finished with a 0.99 ERA and three saves. He recently began throwing again and could have been available had the Yellow Jackets reached the College World Series.

The Oakland Athletics took Parkview High's slugging first baseman Matt Olson with the 47th pick. Olson is a Vanderbilt signee that stands at 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds. He has shown the ability to hit for both average and power in high school and one who A's scouting director Eric Kubota called "one of the best high school bats in the country."

For more on the Braves check out Talking Chop. Be sure to visit the SB Nation Atlanta StoryStream for continued draft updates throughout the week.