ST. GEORGE, Utah-Thursday, a Dixie State baseball product saw his big league hopes stay alive as he was drafted in the MLB Draft.

Trailblazers senior right-hander Tanner Howell, a Boulder City, Nev. product, was drafted in the 35th round, going #1,024 overall, to the Minnesota Twins.

Howell is the sixth Dixie State baseball player to be drafted since going to NCAA Division II in 2006.

Additionally, he is the 47th overall Dixie State player to be drafted in the MLB since 1976.

Howell was the Trailblazers’ closer this past season, making 18 appearances with two starts.

In save opportunities, he went 3-2, netting six saves, ranking him third in the Pac-West conference. Four of his six saves came in multi-inning outings and he placed third on the staff in strikeouts, posting 39 in 45 innings of work.

He also held opposing hitters to a .262 batting average.

Howell leaves the Dixie State program as the Trailblazers’ all-time leader in appearances (53) and finishes tied for sixth in career saves with nine.

His six saves netted in 2018 rank 10th all-time on Dixie State’s single-season list.

Howell’s selection gives the Trailblazers four draft selections in the past five drafts, thus continuing the program’s tradition of excellence.