Illinois saw four players selected over the weekend in the 40-round MLB First-Year Player Draft.

Big Ten Player of the Year Justin Parr was the first selected, going in the eighth round Friday to the Philadelphia Phillies. Next off the board for Illinois was Parr’s twin brother Jordan, a junior, who went Saturday in the 15th round to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Junior Thomas Lindauer was selected in the 23rd round by the Houston Astros, and Kevin Johnson was selected one round later by the Oakland Athletics.

An Illinois signee, outfielder Alex Greer, was selected in the 29th round by the Cincinnati Reds. Additionally, an Illinois football signee, Michael Hermosillo, was taken in the 28th round by the Los Angeles Angels and has put plans of attending Illinois on hold in favor of pursuing a baseball career as a center fielder. He would be eligible for NCAA football — but not baseball — should he choose to return.

Justin Parr touted the most accolades of any Illinois player, as he benefited from playing more of a leadership role as a senior and moving to center field after going undrafted last June. He hit .398, which was kept up in large thanks to a 33-game hitting streak that lasted through most of the season.

“I just feel really blessed to be drafted,” Justin Parr said. “Obviously, it’s a great opportunity for all of us, and personally, I’m just really glad I get to share this experience with Jordan Parr this year and go out in the same draft as him and just keep playing and keep continuing my career.”

He and Jordan Parr both manned the outfield this season, as Jordan Parr moved from first base to play left field — which Justin Parr had left vacant.

Jordan Parr was selected by the Diamondbacks as a third baseman.

“I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity the Diamondbacks organization is giving me, and I’m really looking forward to playing third base, especially in that system,” Jordan Parr said.

For he and Johnson, it was the second time being selected after both players got tabbed in 26th and 31st rounds, respectively.

Both players returned to Illinois, not happy with how low they were selected.

“I think for both of us, last year was a little bit of a disappointment going where we went,” Johnson said. “So I’m ecstatic, and I know Jordan is, to go a little bit higher, because it just helps you out I think in the long run in the pro system, to be drafted a little bit higher. You maybe get a little bit more opportunity.”

Lindauer’s stock rose this season when his defensive prowess was buoyed by a surge of power that helped him lead the team in home runs. He played shortstop for Illinois and was drafted as one, and he said the Astros have no intentions of moving him from that position.

Johnson, who thought in 2012 he should have been drafted in the top 15 rounds, was more content with his position in this year’s draft and even appreciative that a team would select him despite him missing the last month of the season with a forearm injury.

While Johnson and Justin Parr will enter farm systems with hopes of moving up, Lindauer and Jordan Parr have the ability to return to Illinois if they so choose. The deadline for the juniors to sign with their major league clubs is July 15.

Both seemed ready to make the jump, however.

“I’ve grown a lot at Illinois. It’s prepared me for this, and I think I’m ready,” Lindauer said. “Whatever happens in the future, I’m excited, but I’ll always stay true to the orange and blue.”

“Getting drafted twice is obviously a good experience, and I’m just kinda thankful that I’m definitely in a better spot than I was a year ago, and I think the offer will reflect that,” Jordan Parr said.

All four players were vehemently thankful to the Illini coaching staff of Dan Hartleb, Eric Snider and Drew Dickinson for their efforts in preparing the players for the next level. Each also indicated that playing for Illinois had been a special pleasure.

“Playing at Illinois, it was always my dream as a kid,” Jordan said. “I didn’t get that opportunity out of high school, I just really thank Hartleb for giving me that chance out of junior college, giving me another look, and giving me an opportunity to put on the orange and blue. It means so much, you can’t really put it into words. It’s been great to be a part of the family.”

Eliot can be reached at [email protected] and @EliotTweet.