Duke pitcher [autotag]Jonathan Santucci[/autotag]’s professional career finally began on Sunday night when the New York Mets took him in the second round of the 2024 MLB draft.
Santucci, a 6-foot-2 left-hander who made the All-ACC First Team this past season, became the first Blue Devil off the board.
After earning some preseason All-American honors, the third-year star finished 2024 with a career-best 3.41 ERA and a 6-1 record. He struck out 90 batters in 58.0 innings on the bump, giving him a stunning nine-inning split of 13.97, and he surrendered just 1.31 walks and hits per inning pitched.
He got off to a sterling start, not allowing an earned run through his first three appearances (17.0 innings pitched), and only 10 of his 40 hits went for extra bases.
Santucci missed some time near the end of the Duke season, sitting out for the North Carolina series and for the Blue Devils’ victorious ACC Tournament run with a rib injury on his non-throwing side. He returned for Duke’s regional game against Oral Roberts, allowing one hit and two walks in two scoreless innings of an elimination game.
With the 46th overall pick in the #MLBDraft, we’ve selected LHP Jonathan Santucci from Duke. pic.twitter.com/UWixFjVbEm
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 15, 2024
Six other Duke baseball players joined Santucci on the all-conference team for 2024, and with the third round of the draft resuming on Monday, more Blue Devils may hear their names called alongside him.