Tag: MLB Draft

Former Notre Dame baseball player hired as Pitt athletic director

Great to see him doing well.

A face familiar to Notre Dame sort of will be reuniting with the Irish in the ACC. [autotag]Allen Greene[/autotag], who played baseball at Notre Dame for three seasons, has been hired as Pittsburgh’s new athletic director, effective Nov. 1. He will leave his current role as chief operating officer and senior deputy athletic director at Tennessee.

From 1996 to 1998, Greene slashed .329/.413/.538 for the Irish, resulting in a .951 OPS. He hit 15 home runs, had 113 RBIs and stole 22 bases. After his final season, the New York Yankees selected him in the ninth round of the MLB draft, but he never got above High-A.

Since then, Greene has worked a seven-year stint at Notre Dame, had two stints at Ole Miss and served as the athletic director at Buffalo and Auburn for a combined eight years. He clearly found his calling after his playing days ended, and it’s great to see him thrive in it:

https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1847260012298600647

Best of luck to Greene in his new role (though not against the Irish).

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on X: @gfclark89

Vance Honeycutt officially signs with Baltimore Orioles

Vance Honeycutt interviews like a seasoned MLB veteran. Can he play like one, too?

It’s difficult to imagine anyone having a better summer than Vance Honeycutt, the former UNC baseball star who is arguably the greatest player in program history.

Way back in May and June, Honeycutt hit a pair of walk-offs to advance the Diamond Heels further in the NCAA Tournament.

Last month – on Sunday, July 14 to be exact – Honeycutt was the Baltimore Orioles’ 22nd overall (first-round) selection in the 2024 MLB Draft. He gives Baltimore yet another young power-hitting, speedy, Gold Glove-caliber outfielder in an already deep farm system.

The Orioles had until 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 1 to sign Honeycutt – and did so moments before the deadline.

“The Orioles agreed to an over-slot deal of $4 million with Honeycutt,” MLB.com staff wrote. The college outfielder sports some of the strongest tools in the class, but needs to cut down his strikeout rate.”

Honeycutt’s summer got even better after his lucrative signing, as he spoke to media in his first interview as a professional player.

Though he’s a young, 22-year-old rookie, I like to think Honeycutt interviewed like a pro. He just signed, so he hasn’t been assigned to one of Baltimore’s minor league affiliates yet, but I’d imagine he starts with the High-A Aberdeen Ironbirds – like his former teammate Mac Horvath.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Former LSU pitcher Thatcher Hurd signs with the Yankees

Despite entering the portal, Thatcher Hurd entered has signed with the New York Yankees for around the slot value.

[autotag]Thatcher Hurd[/autotag] has signed with the [autotag]New York Yankees[/autotag] for around the slot value. The 89th pick of the MLB draft has a slot value of $838,900 and Hurd signed for $837,400 so I’d say that is a pretty fair deal.

Hurd is a talented pitcher who still has a lot of potential. He just hasn’t got it all put together yet. When he is on, he is one of the best pitchers in the country. When he is having a bad day, he is the exact opposite. The Yankees are a historic program that could use some pitching help and they have great coaches who could bring the best out of Hurd.

Hurd will now begin his professional career with the Yankees’ minor league teams, possibly starting in rookie ball and trying to work his way to the Big Apple. Congratulations to Thatcher on starting this new chapter of his baseball career.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Florida two-way star signs with Kansas City Royals for $7.5 million

Jac Caglianone signed for $7.5 million with the Kansas City Royals, who made the Florida product the sixth pick in the 2024 MLB draft.

Jac Caglianone, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals, signed with his new team for $7.5 million according to a team announcement.

Caglianone secured a payday slightly above the slot value of $7.21 million.

The former Florida Gators star is expected to serve as a hitting prospect for the Royals, despite his status as a two-way player while in Gainesville. Most believe Caglianone’s upside resides in his prodigious home run power, especially after he blasted 35 home runs as a junior last year – second only to Georgia slugger Charlie Condon in all of college baseball.

While Caglianone runs his fastball up into the high 90’s, lack of control limits his upside on the mound. With the risk of injury – and now a substantial investment by the team – it makes sense for the Royals to allow the first baseman to focus on improving his bat to ball skills so he can provide more than just home run power at the next level.

Calianone was one of nine SEC players picked in the first round of the MLB draft, a banner day for the conference highlighted by Condon, Arkansas left-hander Hagen Smith, and Caglianone.

Three UNC baseball stars ranked amongst Top 100 2025 MLB Draft prospects

Headlined by three potential 2025 MLB Draft picks, the UNC baseball team is in better shape than you might think next season.

The North Carolina Tar Heels carried one of their most talented baseball rosters into last season – and took full advantage of it.

Headlined by an outfield that includes now-MLB draftees Vance Honeycutt, Casey Cook and Anthony Donofrio, UNC advanced to its 12th College World Series. North Carolina won its opening game against ACC rival Virginia, then lost consecutive contests to ACC power Florida State and eventual CWS champion Tennessee.

A highly-touted freshman class also helped the Tar Heels reach college baseball’s ultimate championship. Luke Stevenson started 63 of 64 games behind the plate, while Folger Boaz showed promise as a freshman ace before his season-ending elbow injury.

You also can’t forget about UNC’s shutdown bullpen, with nearly every relief man able to shutdown the opposition’s batting order. North Carolina sported arguably the best Division-I player in Dalton Pence, who was also rewarded with an MLB Draft selection.

The Diamond Heels have a tough task next season, replacing a good portion of their starters, but a particular bullpen arm and the Stevenson-Boaz should help.

Seven months ahead of the next college baseball season, Stevenson (11), Boaz (30) and reliever Cameron Padgett (94) are all ranked amongst D1Baseball’s Top 100 2025 MLB College Draft Prospects.

Stevenson, an offensive-minded catcher, collected a .284 batting average, hit 14 home runs and drove in 58 runners for UNC this past season. Boaz compiled a 3-1 win-loss record before his elbow injury, while Padgett – from Salisbury, NC like Honeycutt – was 1-0 with 20 strikeouts.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

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.

Former Georgia slugger signs largest draft bonus in MLB history

Georgia Bulldogs third baseman Charlie Condon signed the largest signing bonus in MLB draft history with the Colorado Rockies.

One of college baseball’s most exciting players got himself a nice payday on Friday.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that former Georgia third baseman Charlie Condon signed a deal with a $9.25M signing bonus with the Colorado Rockies, who selected him third overall in the 2024 MLB draft last week.

Condon’s bonus equals the bonus signed by the No. 2 pick, right-handed pitcher Chase Burns out of Wake Forest. It is the biggest draft bonus in MLB history.

Condon was an absolute superstar in 2024, slashing an otherworldly .433/.556/1.009 with 37 home runs, 78 RBI, and 20 doubles – earning SEC Player of the Year honors.

He popped 25 home runs with a .386 batting average his first season with the Bulldogs in 2023, and flashed versatility all over the diamond by playing first base, third base, left field, and right field across his two collegiate seasons.

Condon was one of nine SEC players picked in the first round of the MLB draft, and was joined in the top five by Arkansas left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith.

Auburn RHP Christian Herberholz inks free agent deal with Baltimore Orioles

Herberholz is turning pro after striking out 90 batters over 90 2/3 innings as an Auburn Tiger.

Baltimore has become a hot destination for former Auburn baseball players.

Since 2020, the Orioles organization has either drafted or signed five former Tigers. [autotag]Chase Allsup[/autotag] joined that company earlier this week by being taken in the fourth round of the MLB draft by Baltimore, and his Auburn teammate [autotag]Christian Herberholz[/autotag] is set to join him.

Wednesday, Herberholz signed a free-agent deal with the Baltimore Orioles, joining infielder [autotag]Cooper Weiss[/autotag] by landing an undrafted deal with a Major League club.

Herberholz signed with Auburn after a successful stint in the junior college ranks at nearby Southern Union State Community College, where he struck out 55 batters in 56 1/3 innings as a Bison. At Auburn, he appeared in 33 games in two seasons, where he struck out 90 batters, walked 38, and boasted a 4.76 ERA in 90 2/3 total innings.

The MLB draft period results in five Tigers earning a free agent deal, or being drafted. Auburn RHP’s Chase Allsup (Baltimore Orioles) and [autotag]Will Cannon[/autotag] (Cincinnati Reds), as well as south paw [autotag]Tanner Bauman[/autotag] (New York Yankees) were drafted while Herberholz and Weiss signed free agent deals.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Cooper Weiss signs free agent deal with San Diego Padres

The talented infielder will try his hand at professional baseball after spending last season on the Plains.

After not being selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, former Auburn infielder [autotag]Cooper Weiss[/autotag] has agreed to deal terms with the San Diego Padres.

The dynamic fifth-year player was a key component with the Tigers this season, playing in all but one game while having a solid bat and being a reliable fielder.

In his lone year on the Plains, Weiss posted a .291 batting average with 37 RBI, being relied on as a source of the team’s offensive production in 2024. He was also one of the team’s most patient batters, drawing 34 walks, the second most amongst all Auburn hitters.

Out of the 55 hits that Weiss put up, 20 of those were extra base hits. Eight of those were home runs, as the graduate transfer showed many signs of power while playing with the Tigers. His two long shots in the April 16 wins over Georgia Tech were a highlight of his seasons, displaying his bat in a big way.

In the field, Weiss earned his second-highest fielding percentage of his career at 97.4%, capping off his collegiate playing days with a 95.8% over the five years.

Weiss can simply be described as a player that runs on momentum. His performance over any two games can string together and determine his play for the week that follows.

As a primarily middle infielder, the Padres currently have a lot of players hovering around 30 years old like Xander Bogaerts, Luis Arraez, Ha-Seong Kim and Jake Cronenworth. While it is a tough race against a lot of experience in the Padres’ organization, Weiss is a competitor and can build his way up to being a reserve at the major leagues in due time.

Auburn had three players taken in the MLB Draft in pitchers Chase Allsup, Tanner Bauman and Will Cannon.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Tyler on Twitter @traley34

This SEC program comes away from MLB draft as a big winner

The program will have a loaded roster in 2025.

Coming out of the 2024 MLB draft, there might not be a bigger winner from the SEC than the LSU Tigers, and no, it is not entirely due to the number of players they the program selected earlier this week.

Now yes, the Tigers did see their usual fair share of players selected, which included the likes of Tommy White, Luke Holman, and Gage Jump in round two, as well as Thatcher Hurd in the third.

However, what arguably makes the Tigers a bigger winner is from the names who were not selected, and instead will return to Baton Rouge for the 2025 season. These included star first baseman Jared Jones, as well as others such as shortstop Michael Braswell.

In addition to those two, LSU also a few commitments from top high school seniors that were expected to get drafted highly, but will instead play for the Tigers next season.

A group that started with outfielder Derek Curiel, LSU also saw both William Schmidt and Cade Arrambide announce they would be bypassing the MLB draft, and instead take their talents to Baton Rouge.

Schmidt, who was ranked as the draft’s No. 16 overall prospect according to MLB, is considered as arguably the top high school pitcher in the 2024 class. Out of Catholic High School in Louisiana, Schmidt is now expected to be a major impact player for LSU’s pitching staff as a freshman.

Arrambide however is arguably the top high school catcher in the 2024 class out of Tomball High School in Texas. He could also make a big impact as a freshman as well, as catcher is a position that the Tigers have lost some talent this offseason.

With all three being big moves in their own right, will this group help what was already a loaded Tigers roster return to the College World Series in 2025?