Robert Hassell III picked No. 8 overall by San Diego Padres in the 2020 MLB Draft

Vanderbilt signee Robert Hassell III has gone from Little League World Series participant to major league baseball first-round draft pick.

Hassell, an outfielder and recent Independence graduate, was picked eighth overall Wednesday by the San Diego Padres.

He was the first high school player picked in this year's draft.

Hassell, a two-time Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year, hit .423 as a junior with 14 home runs, eight doubles and 36 RBIs. Independence played just two games in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the Eagles' season.

"He is a favorite of scouts. I think I may be higher on him than any other publication," ESPN's Kiley McDaniel said during the draft broadcast Wednesday. "Guys were telling me he's the best bat with the best swing in the prep end of the draft."

Hassell was The Tennessean's 2019 Baseball Player of the Year.

Hassell joins former Loretto standout Ryan Weathers (2018) and former Tullahoma standout Justus Sheffield (2014) as Middle Tennessee first-round draft picks out of high school.

However, both Weathers and Sheffield were pitchers.

Hassell is the first position player from Middle Tennessee to be drafted in the first round out of high school since Loretto’s Johnny Jones in 1967. Jones, a catcher, was picked fifth overall by the Washington Senators.

Hassell is also the first Tennessee high school position player to be drafted since Ooltewah graduate Kyler Burke was picked No. 35 overall in the first round by the Padres in 2006. Burke was drafted as an outfielder. He later turned to pitching.

Like Hassell, Weathers was drafted by the Padres in the top 10 at seventh overall.

And like Weathers, Hassell must now decide whether to start his professional career or play at Vanderbilt.

"Vandy is a really legitimate baseball school and school in general," Hassell said during an ESPN interview. "It definitely made it a tough decision. (Coach Tim) Corbin and what he does over there and his coaching staff and the players with how disciplined they are and how hard they work. And it's right down the (road) from me.

"I got to go over there and see them practice a lot and see how they do things. Obviously, with the Padres, I'm looking forward to that next step, looking forward to working hard and getting where I want to be. I'm ready for it."

Hassell played twice in the Little League World Series in 2013 and 2014.

This past summer, Hassell represented the United States' 18-Under National Team in the Baseball World Cup in South Korea. Hassell led the U.S. team in batting average (.514), hits (18), runs (14), doubles (five), home runs (two) and RBIs (14). His RBIs, total hits and runs scored led the event, while his home run total was tied for the event lead. 

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.