Marsh, August and Swink Selected on Day 2 of MLB Draft
7/12/2026 7:36:00 PM | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, VA. - Liberty Flames shortstop Tanner Marsh and pitchers Tyler August and Josh Swink were chosen during Day 2 of the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft this afternoon.
Marsh was selected in the ninth round (261st pick overall) and August in the 16th round (494th pick) by the Athletics. Swink was taken in the 17th round (494th overall pick) by the Colorado Rockies.
With pitcher Ben Blair's pick in the second round by the Tampa Bay Rays of the MLB Draft yesterday and three selections this afternoon, Liberty has now had 83 players taken in the MLB Draft during the 53-year history of its program. The Flames have had at least one player chosen in each draft since 2000, except for the 2020 draft, which was limited to five rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marsh, the 2026 CUSA Player of the Year, was one of the nation's 50 best shortstops named a 2026 Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist by the College Baseball Foundation. The top 50 shortstops were selected based on both their offensive and defensive production during the 2026 season.
Also selected the 2026 CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, Marsh led the Flames with a .336 batting average, 89 hits and a school-record 70 runs scored. Liberty's leadoff hitter also led the team with 18 doubles, five triples, 23 stolen bases and 24 multi-hit games. The junior finished the year with 44 RBI, a .498 slugging percentage, a .420 on-base percentage and 40 walks.
Defensively, Marsh committed seven errors in 259 chances for a .969 fielding percentage this past season. The Asheboro, N.C., native had 153 assists.
Marsh finished the year among the national leaders in runs scored (24th) and hits (19th). Defensively, he finished the year fifth nationally with 14.31 defensive runs saved.
The shortstop finished 2026 leading CUSA in runs scored, hits and defensive assists. Marsh was also among the CUSA leaders in batting average (7th), triples (2nd), walks (8th) and stolen bases (4th).
Marsh set a new program record for runs scored in a season with 70. In addition, his season hit total of 89 ties him for eighth on the single-season list.
He became the 22nd player in Liberty history to record 200 or more hits for his career. Marsh finished 2026 with 215 career hits. In addition, he scored 162 career runs, placing him eighth on the program's all-time list.
Marsh, who started every game of his Liberty career, hit .303 with 46 doubles, seven triples and 11 home runs over 178 games. He had 86 RBI and 45 stolen bases. In the field, he posted a .949 fielding percentage.
August posted his best season as a Flame in 2026. The right-hander posted a 7-0 record with a 3.47 ERA and one save during a team-high 28 appearances. The junior held opponents to a .209 batting average over 46 2/3 innings, striking out 60 and walking 26. In addition, he posted an 11.59 strikeouts per nine innings average.
August finished the year third in CUSA in appearances and tied for fifth in wins. The New Castle, Del., native was considered one of the top relievers in the nation, ranking among the top 30 in D1Baseball.com's position rankings throughout the year.
In two seasons at Liberty after transferring from Delaware, August posted a 9-2 record with a 3.68 ERA and three saves in 47 games, all in relief. The right-hander struck out 95 and walked 31 over 46 1/3 innings.
Swink went 3-3 with a 4.15 ERA over 21 appearances, five of which were starts, in 2026. The junior left-hander struck out 60 and walked 24 over 56 1/3 innings, holding opponents to a .257 batting average. He earned his second CSC Baseball Academic All-District Team ® honor this season.
In three seasons on Liberty Mountain, the Newton, N.C., native posted a 7-8 record with a 4.82 ERA over 57 career appearances, 13 of which were starts. He struck out 105 and walked 57 over 117 2/3 innings. The left-hander held opponents to a .276 batting average.
Marsh, August and Swink joined Blair in helping Liberty tie the program record for wins in a season, posting a 43-21 record and receiving an at-large selection to the NCAA Athens, Ga., Regional. The Flames advanced to their third regional final before being eliminated by College World Series-bound Georgia.
Marsh was selected in the ninth round (261st pick overall) and August in the 16th round (494th pick) by the Athletics. Swink was taken in the 17th round (494th overall pick) by the Colorado Rockies.
With pitcher Ben Blair's pick in the second round by the Tampa Bay Rays of the MLB Draft yesterday and three selections this afternoon, Liberty has now had 83 players taken in the MLB Draft during the 53-year history of its program. The Flames have had at least one player chosen in each draft since 2000, except for the 2020 draft, which was limited to five rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marsh, the 2026 CUSA Player of the Year, was one of the nation's 50 best shortstops named a 2026 Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist by the College Baseball Foundation. The top 50 shortstops were selected based on both their offensive and defensive production during the 2026 season.
Also selected the 2026 CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, Marsh led the Flames with a .336 batting average, 89 hits and a school-record 70 runs scored. Liberty's leadoff hitter also led the team with 18 doubles, five triples, 23 stolen bases and 24 multi-hit games. The junior finished the year with 44 RBI, a .498 slugging percentage, a .420 on-base percentage and 40 walks.
Defensively, Marsh committed seven errors in 259 chances for a .969 fielding percentage this past season. The Asheboro, N.C., native had 153 assists.
Marsh finished the year among the national leaders in runs scored (24th) and hits (19th). Defensively, he finished the year fifth nationally with 14.31 defensive runs saved.
The shortstop finished 2026 leading CUSA in runs scored, hits and defensive assists. Marsh was also among the CUSA leaders in batting average (7th), triples (2nd), walks (8th) and stolen bases (4th).
Marsh set a new program record for runs scored in a season with 70. In addition, his season hit total of 89 ties him for eighth on the single-season list.
He became the 22nd player in Liberty history to record 200 or more hits for his career. Marsh finished 2026 with 215 career hits. In addition, he scored 162 career runs, placing him eighth on the program's all-time list.
Marsh, who started every game of his Liberty career, hit .303 with 46 doubles, seven triples and 11 home runs over 178 games. He had 86 RBI and 45 stolen bases. In the field, he posted a .949 fielding percentage.
August posted his best season as a Flame in 2026. The right-hander posted a 7-0 record with a 3.47 ERA and one save during a team-high 28 appearances. The junior held opponents to a .209 batting average over 46 2/3 innings, striking out 60 and walking 26. In addition, he posted an 11.59 strikeouts per nine innings average.
August finished the year third in CUSA in appearances and tied for fifth in wins. The New Castle, Del., native was considered one of the top relievers in the nation, ranking among the top 30 in D1Baseball.com's position rankings throughout the year.
In two seasons at Liberty after transferring from Delaware, August posted a 9-2 record with a 3.68 ERA and three saves in 47 games, all in relief. The right-hander struck out 95 and walked 31 over 46 1/3 innings.
Swink went 3-3 with a 4.15 ERA over 21 appearances, five of which were starts, in 2026. The junior left-hander struck out 60 and walked 24 over 56 1/3 innings, holding opponents to a .257 batting average. He earned his second CSC Baseball Academic All-District Team ® honor this season.
In three seasons on Liberty Mountain, the Newton, N.C., native posted a 7-8 record with a 4.82 ERA over 57 career appearances, 13 of which were starts. He struck out 105 and walked 57 over 117 2/3 innings. The left-hander held opponents to a .276 batting average.
Marsh, August and Swink joined Blair in helping Liberty tie the program record for wins in a season, posting a 43-21 record and receiving an at-large selection to the NCAA Athens, Ga., Regional. The Flames advanced to their third regional final before being eliminated by College World Series-bound Georgia.
Players Mentioned
Friday, June 26
Friday, June 19
Monday, June 01
Sunday, May 31