Tag: Jonathan Santucci

Duke outfielder Devin Obee set to enter transfer portal

Duke baseball will need to replace a major two-way player after outfielder Devin Obee opted for the transfer portal.

Chris Pollard and his staff will have a new hole to fill on their roster in the coming months.

Senior outfielder Devin Obee opted for the transfer portal and will leave the Duke baseball team after graduating this summer, according to a Tuesday report from D1Baseball’s Kendall Rogers.

His name officially began appearing in the transfer portal database that same day.

The loss is significant for Duke from an on- and off-field perspective, as Obee was a leader amongst the team. As a junior, he was a terrific defender with great instincts and provided some significant power with 16 home runs last year alone. He also batted .309 with 11 doubles and two triples, one of two Blue Devils to reach all four of those numbers in 2024.

Duke has seen many departures from the program this past summer due to graduation, the MLB draft, and other transfers out of the program.

Chase Krewson, a terrific freshman expected to have a significant role in the future, opted to transfer to UCF. At the same time, Ben Miller shocked everyone by announcing his return to the Duke program for one more season. Pitchers Jonathan Santucci, Charlie Beilenson, and others were drafted to the professional ranks this summer.

With Obee on the way out, Duke will need contributions from players who played minor roles or weren’t even on the team last year to supplement guys like Miller, AJ Gracia, Kyle Johnson, and Ben Miller as they attempt to defend their ACC Tournament title and break through to Omaha for the first time in 2025.

Duke pitcher, second-round MLB draft pick Jonathan Santucci signs with New York Mets

Jonathan Santucci reportedly signed with the New York Mets, who took him in the second round of the 2024 MLB draft, for full slot value on Saturday.

Former Duke baseball pitcher [autotag]Jonathan Santucci[/autotag] is, finally and officially, an MLB player.

According to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, Santucci signed with the New York Mets for a little more than $2 million on Saturday night. The contract rewarded the former Blue Devil with full slot value for his status as the 46th overall pick in this month’s MLB draft.

Callis even offered his own small scouting thoughts on the Duke lefty during his report.

“(Intriguing) three-pitch mix (92-96 mph fastball w/carry, low-80s slider w/two-plane break, mid-80s changeup w/fade),” Callis wrote. “(Needs) to throw more strikes & has the athleticism to do so.”

Santucci, the first of five Duke pitchers drafted this month, validated his status as a preseason All-American candidate with an All-ACC season on the mound. He finished with a 3.41 ERA and a 6-1 record in 13 starts, striking out 90 batters in 58.0 innings. He only gave up an opposing batting average of .188, and he didn’t allow a run in five of his appearances.

Santucci missed time with a rib injury late in the season, but he returned to the hill during regional action and shouldn’t be affected at the next level.

100 Duke baseball players have now been drafted into the MLB

With the Los Angeles Angels drafting Fran Oschel III on Tuesday, MLB teams have now drafted 100 former Duke baseball players.

The Duke Blue Devils baseball team, with the Tuesday selection of Fran Oschell III, has now produced 100 MLB draft picks across program history.

Oschell, who went in the 12th round to the Los Angeles Angels, became the fourth pick of the 2024 MLB draft, following Jonathan Santucci (second round to the New York Mets), Charlie Beilenson (fifth round to the Seattle Mariners), and Nick Conte (eighth round to the Kansas City Royals).

Two Duke players have gone in the first round, both of whom left for the MLB within the last 15 years. Marcus Stroman became the first first-round pick in school history back in 2012 when the Toronto Blue Jays took him 22nd overall. Bryce Jarvis repeated the feat when the Diamondbacks took him 18th overall in 2020.

Other notable recent picks include Houston Astros outfielder [autotag]Joey Loperfido[/autotag], a seventh-round pick back in 2021 who finally reached The Show earlier this year, and right-hand pitchers Henry Williams and Marcus Johnson, who went within the first four rounds in 2022.

Outside of an abbreviated 2020 draft, the Blue Devils have now produced at least four MLB draft picks every year since 2018.

Duke baseball coach Chris Pollard reacts to Jonathan Santucci getting drafted

After the New York Mets drafted Duke southpaw Jonathan Santucci in the second round, Chris Pollard had some kind things to say about his star.

The New York Mets got a good one in [autotag]Jonathan Santucci[/autotag] on Sunday.

One of the two MLB franchises in the Big Apple snagged the Duke left-hander in the second round of this year’s draft, and Blue Devils coach Chris Pollard couldn’t be happier for the former All-ACC hurler.

“Special dude,” Pollard wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “Elite combination of physical ability, competitiveness, and work ethic. Elite athlete, but also a grinder. #bluecollar.”

Santucci finished his junior year with a 6-1 record and a 3.41 ERA, striking out 90 batters in 58.0 innings on the hill. He held his opponents to a .188 batting average, and opposing teams managed just a .208 average against him over his entire collegiate career.

His best game from the 2024 season came against Akron in his third start of the year, tossing six innings and allowing a single hit without a run. He struck out 14 batters that night, one of three starts with double-digit strikeouts this year.

Santucci nursed a rib injury during Duke’s run through the ACC Tournament, but the injury isn’t expected to inhibit his first season in the pros after he returned to the mound during the Norman Regional.

Duke closer Charlie Beilenson goes to the Seattle Mariners in fifth round of 2024 MLB draft

Duke’s second draft pick of the 2024 MLB Draft is closer Charlie Beilenson, who’s headed to the West Coast after getting taken in the fifth round.

Duke’s pitching this past season was supposed to be a high mark for the team as it prepared for another year in the ACC, and when it came down to it, the pitching was incredible for the Blue Devils.

One of those pitchers, ace lefty Johnathan Santucci, was taken by the New York Mets in the second round of the 2024 MLB draft. Another one of Duke’s dynamic arms, closer Charlie Beilenson, came off the board next as Duke’s second pick of the draft during the second day of the draft.

Beilenson is headed to the Seattle Mariners after they selected him with the 154th overall pick in the fifth round.

Beilenson was a crucial part of Duke’s team over his time in Durham and has the accolades to prove it. In just 2024 alone, Charlie Beilenson went 7-3 with 12 saves, posting a 2.01 ERA (14 earned runs across 62.2 innings pitched) with 92 strikeouts for Duke. He finished the year as an ABCA/Rawlings, NCBWA, and Perfect Game First Team All-American. He was also an All-ACC First Team Relief Pitcher, one of seven Blue Devils on the all-conference squads.

His durability was displayed in 2023 as he broke the school record for appearances in a single season at 39.

He routinely put out fires or shut the door on opposing teams. His versatility is truly impressive, as he can be a one-inning closer, a multi-inning middle or long reliever, or a set-up man. In short, he’s as versatile a bullpen weapon as a team can wish for, leaving fans and analysts in awe of his skills.

He doesn’t throw hard, but it’s reasonable to believe that under the eyes of major league pitching instruction, he may be able to maximize his potential and add a few more miles to his fastball.

With the way the Mariners develop pitchers as an organization and value pitching (they lead the American League in ERA, WHIP, and average against), it stands to reason they will know exactly what buttons to push to maximize Beilenson’s talent.

Duke pitcher Jonathan Santucci drafted by New York Mets in second round

After an All-ACC First Team junior campaign, Blue Devils southpaw Jonathan Santucci will take his talents to Queens with the New York Mets.

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.

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.

Duke baseball staves off elimination with 6-2 win over Oral Roberts

Duke eliminates Oral Roberts 6-2 to keep season going.

The 2024 Duke Blue Devils baseball team will live to play another day after they survived an elimination game in the Norman Regional on Saturday afternoon, beating Oral Roberts 6-2.

Friday was a bit of shell shock for the Blue Devils, who came into the NCAA Tournament red-hot, especially offensively. After a 16-run performance against Florida State in the ACC Tournament title game, Duke only managed one run on Friday against Big East regular-season champion Connecticut.

UCONN used some situational hitting and terrific pitching to put Duke away 4-1 and force Duke into the loser’s bracket. In a double-elimination system, the Blue Devils woke up knowing they’d be heading back to Durham by nightfall if they didn’t win.

Staff ace Jonathan Santucci received the start against Oral Roberts and pitched for the first time since he was injured in the regular season. He didn’t go long for obvious reasons, as he had been out for a little while, and Duke didn’t want to over-extend him.

He only pitched two innings but gave up no runs while striking out four and walking two. He escaped a jam to keep the scoreboard blank while his offense continued to find its footing.

James Tallon came on to handle the third inning and did so smoothly. He gave up no hits and didn’t walk anyone. In the top of the fourth, Duke finally broke through on a Devin Obee RBI single to score Alex Stone. The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead.

Talented two-way freshman Kyle Johnson relieved Tallon in the bottom of the fourth and started the first of three innings. In the top of the sixth, Duke hit the gas to separate themselves from the Golden Eagles. Alex Stone led off with a double and scored on a one-out double from Chase Krewson. Wallace Clark made sure he made it home after he doubled to the left-center gap to make it 3-0 Duke.

Jimmy Evans connected on a two-run homer for his only hit of the afternoon to make it 5-0 for the Blue Devils in the sixth. ORU would respond with a run in the bottom half of the inning, but Duke quelled any other threats. Devin Obee smoked a solo home run for insurance in the top of the eighth, and Charlie Beilenson nailed down the final inning to end Oral Roberts’ season.

Duke’s bounceback couldn’t have been better, as they needed all hands on deck to make this work. The Blue Devils will play on Sunday afternoon in yet another elimination game. The loser of Oklahoma vs. UCONN will have their backs pushed up against the wall and face elimination. That game will start at 2 p.m. local time and be broadcast on ESPN +.

Duke pitcher Jonathan Santucci throwing in the bullpen during ACC Tournament

The Duke baseball team shared a video of left-handed ace Jonathan Santucci, currently out with a rib injury, getting loose at the ACC Tournament.

Duke baseball fans hoping for a quick recovery for star pitcher [autotag]Jonathan Santucci[/autotag] got some good news on Saturday.

The left-handed ace, who is currently rehabbing from a rib injury on his non-throwing side, warmed up in the bullpen ahead of the Blue Devils’ ACC Tournament semifinal against Miami. The team shared a video of him throwing and talking with teammates on social media before the game, which got pushed back due to a weather delay.

Santucci leads the Blue Devils with 12 starts this season, and his 56.0 innings pitched remain the most on the team despite the fact that he hasn’t thrown a pitch since May 5. His 3.54 ERA is the lowest among Duke pitchers with at least five starts and the third-lowest of any Blue Devil with 30 innings on the mound.

He’s struck out 86 batters and allowed 73 combined walks and hits (for a WHIP of 1.30), and opponents are batting just .189 against Santucci this season.

The lefty likely won’t play again until regional action, barring an effort for the ACC title game if Duke defeats the Hurricanes. But the warm-ups are a promising sign for his postseason availability.

Duke baseball out of USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll top 10 after Georgia Tech series loss

The USA TODAY Sports Baseball Coaches Poll dropped Duke two spots to 11th after the Blue Devils dropped two of three to the Yellow Jackets.

The Duke baseball team slid down to 11th in Monday’s newest USA TODAY Sports Baseball Coaches Poll after a series loss to Georgia Tech.

The Blue Devils offense put on a show during Saturday’s 14-10 victory over Georgia Tech, but the Yellow Jackets struck more often with an 11-8 win on Friday and an 8-6 victory in the series-deciding Sunday game.

The Blue Devils scored five runs in the top of the seventh on Sunday, surging ahead to a 6-4 lead, but Georgia Tech drove him four runs in the bottom of the frame to retake the lead immediately.

Duke’s showdown with North Carolina next weekend seems even more important now. The Blue Devils might drop from contention to host a regional with a series loss, but the Tar Heels just jumped to No. 5 in the rankings, the highest-ranked team in the ACC.

Head coach Chris Pollard will need to beat UNC without star pitcher Jonathan Santucci. The team announced on Monday that the team ace, who currently sports a 6-1 record and leads the Blue Devils in innings pitched, would miss a week or two with a rib injury on his non-throwing side.

Duke gets a Tuesday night battle with the College of Charleston before the home series against North Carolina begins on Thursday.

Duke ace Jonathan Santucci to miss one or two weeks with rib injury

Jonathan Santucci, Duke’s lead pitcher, will miss a week or two with a rib injury on his non-throwing side, the team announced on Monday.

Jonathan Santucci, Duke baseball’s lead pitcher, will miss a week or two with a rib injury, the team announced on Monday.

Santucci, who has been automatically penciled in as the Blue Devils’ Friday starter all season, leads the team with 56 innings pitched across his 12 starts. He sports a 6-1 record with an ERA of 3.54, and he’s struck out 86 batters in his work against just 73 combined hits and walks.

The Blue Devil didn’t allow a run in his first three appearances of the season, a scoreless stretch that spanned 17 total innings. He struck out 14 batters in six innings against Akron, he struck out 11 Clemson Tigers in five innings, and he retired 10 Northwestern batters by strikeout in his second start of the year. He’s struck out at least six batters in nine of his 12 starts.

In Santucci’s last appearance, a two-inning start against Longwood on May 5th, he struck out three batters and only surrendered one hit.

The injury’s timeline means Santucci will likely miss this weekend’s series against North Carolina, the final three games of Duke’s regular season.

The injury is on Santucci’s non-throwing side, according to the team announcement. The estimated timeline means he’ll likely be ready to go for postseason action, assuredly back on the mound for Duke’s regional games.