Northwestern pitcher Luke Farrell was selected Friday by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round, 174th overall, of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The senior had been projected as a sixth-to-tenth-round pick prior to the draft.

Farrell was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2013 after posting a 2.13 ERA, the second best in the conference and the best for an NU starting pitcher since 1996. He was also named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week twice.

The 6-foot-6 right-hander is the son of Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell and has a brother in the White Sox farm system. Luke Farrell enjoyed a breakout season this year after medical problems limited him during his first three seasons.

Farrell is the highest-drafted Wildcats player since George Kontos was picked in the fifth round of the 2006 draft. Kontos currently pitches for the San Francisco Giants.

The Royals last drafted an NU player in 1995, selecting but not signing pitcher Chad Schroeder in the 19th round.

— Alex Putterman