Tag: MLB Draft

Jack Findlay of Notre Dame baseball gets taken in the 8th round of the MLB draft

Another member of the Irish off the board

Notre Dame baseball made its mark in the MLB draft on Monday, with two players getting selected by the eighth round.

First it was infielder Jack Penney getting taken in the fifth round by the Detroit Tigers. It was pitcher [autotag]Jack Findlay[/autotag]’s turn as he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the eight round.

The lefty missed this past season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, which is a bit of a risk for the Cardinals. They liked what they saw during his previous two seasons, and must have believed that he’ll make a full recovery. It will be interesting to see what their plan is for him.

Either way, congrats to Jack on accomplishing a huge milestone. We look forward to watching a prosperous MLB career.

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Aaron Combs selected by Chicago in eighth-round

Former Tennessee baseball pitcher Aaron Combs selected by Chicago in the eighth-round of the 2024 MLB draft.

Day No. 2 of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft is taking place on Monday in Fort Worth, Texas. The draft is being held in conjunction with MLB’s All-Star Game on Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Former Tennessee pitcher Aaron Combs was selected by the White Sox in the eighth-round (No. 229 overall).

Combs appeared in 50 games, including two starts, for the Vols from 2023-24. He recorded 105 strikeouts and a 3.24 ERA. Combs and the Vols won the national championship, SEC Tournament and the SEC regular-season title in 2024.

The MLB draft will conclude on Tuesday with rounds 11-20.

PHOTOS: Tennessee baseball celebrates winning national championship

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Chase Allsup selected by Orioles in MLB Draft

Allsup is the first Auburn Tiger off the board in the 2024 MLB draft.

Former Auburn right-hander [autotag]Chase Allsup[/autotag] was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Monday afternoon. The three-year Tiger pitcher joins the Orioles after posting a 6-5 record and 5.11 earned run average over 56 career games on the Plains.

Although Allsup was never quite able to capture dominance on the mound over his collegiate career, the Dothan, Alabama native continuously flashed an above-average, high-velocity fastball, and devastating slider that helped him accumulate a 10.1 SO/9 during his time as a Tiger.

While Baltimore’s major league rotation is fairly set with American League All-Star starter Corbin Burnes leading the pack, Allsup’s live arm could allow him to rise quickly up the minor league ladder as a bullpen arm. If the former Tiger is able to develop other offerings on the mound he could challenge for a spot at the back end of the Orioles rotation as soon as 2025.

Allsup is the sixth Tiger over the last six seasons to be drafted within the first five rounds of the MLB draft. He joins [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag], [autotag]Trace Bright[/autotag], [autotag]Mason Barnett[/autotag], [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag] (2022), and [autotag]Cole Foster[/autotag] (2023). The slot value at No. 127 overall is $562,000.

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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.

Royals select AJ Causey in 2024 MLB draft

Former Tennessee baseball pitcher AJ Causey drafted by the Kansas City Royals.

Day No. 2 of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft is taking place on Monday in Fort Worth, Texas. The draft is being held in conjunction with MLB’s All-Star Game on Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Former Tennessee pitcher AJ Causey was selected by Kansas City in the fifth-round (No. 138 overall).

Causey (13-3) played at Tennessee for one season in 2024 after transferring from Jacksonville State. He appeared in 19 games, including six starts, for the Vols last season. Causey recorded 125 strikeouts and a 4.43 ERA in 91.1 innings pitched.

The MLB draft will conclude on Tuesday with rounds 11-20.

PHOTOS: Tennessee baseball celebrates winning national championship

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Padres select Kavares Tears in 2024 MLB draft

San Diego selects former Vol Kavares Tears in the 2024 MLB draft.

Day No. 2 of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft is taking place on Monday in Fort Worth, Texas. The draft is being held in conjunction with MLB’s All-Star Game on Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Former Vol outfielder Kavares Tears was selected by San Diego (No. 134 overall) in the fourth-round.

Tears appeared in 100 games, including 83 starts, from 2023-24 at Tennessee. He redshirted during the 2022 season. The 6-foot, 200-pound outfielder recorded a .320 batting average, 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, 85 runs, 52 walks and four stolen bases.

Tears and the Vols won the national championship in 2024.

The MLB draft will conclude on Tuesday with rounds 11-20.

PHOTOS: Tennessee baseball celebrates winning national championship

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Former Husker Josh Caron selected by Seattle Mariners in the fourth round

The Seattle Mariners, with the 121st overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, selected catcher Josh Caron in the fourth round.

A former Nebraska baseball player was taken in the MLB draft on Monday afternoon. The Seattle Mariners, with the 121st overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, selected catcher Josh Caron in the fourth round.

Caron is the seventh Husker in school history to be picked in the fourth round. He is the second highest-taken catcher in school behind Bill McGuire, who was taken in the 1985 draft with the 27th overall pick.

Caron also helped continue Nebraska’s streak. They have had at least one draft selection in 30 of the last 31 drafts since 1992, outside the shortened draft in 2020 due to COVID-19. The Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is the tenth Husker to be selected by the Seattle Mariners in the draft.

Caron put together a stellar junior year for Nebraska, finishing with a .308 batting average, 16 home runs, and 65 RBIs. He was one of only two catchers to exceed .300, 15-plus home runs, and 65 RBIs this season.

During Nebraska’s championship run in the Big Ten Tournament, Caron delivered six home runs, setting a new tournament record. He also set the Big Ten Tournament total bases record with 28.

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Notre Dame baseball star 3B Jack Penney gets drafted in the 5th round

Congrats Jack!

Notre Dame baseball’s team has had some recent success with getting its players drafted into the MLB.

The 2024 draft took a bit longer than normal for a member of the Irish team to hear his name being called, but it finally happened in the fifth round. Infielder [autotag]Jack Penney[/autotag] was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the 147th overall pick.

During this past season, Penney hit .269 with 4 homers and 34 RBI, while getting on base 32.4% of the time. His calling card was his defense, as he handled 204 attempts, and made just 4 errors on the season. Penney stared 37 double plays as well.

We wish Jack the best while he begins his MLB journey.

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These SEC players were selected in first round of 2024 MLB draft

The SEC saw numerous players selected in the first round Sunday night.

As expected, the SEC as a whole was well represented during the first round of the 2024 MLB draft on Sunday night, seeing nine players selected across the 30 total picks, along with the nine incentive and compensation picks.

The first of those players selected was Georgia Bulldogs star third baseman Charlie Condon, as the 2024 SEC Player of the Year went No. 3 overall to the Colorado Rockies. Condon was also joined by Arkansas Razorbacks left-hander Hagen Smith, the 2024 SEC Pitcher of the Year, in the top five picks, with the southpaw going No. 5 overall to the Chicago White Sox.

Also joining those two in the Top 10 were Florida’s Jac Caglianone at No. 6 to the Kansas City Royals and Tennessee’s Christian Moore at No. 8 to the Los Angeles Angels.

Rounding out the first round was Texas A&M’s Braden Montgomery (No. 12 to Boston Red Sox), Mississippi State’s Jurrangelo Cijntje (No. 15 to Seattle Mariners), Alabama’s Ben Hess (No. 26 to New York Yankees), Kentucky’s Ryan Waldschmidt (No. 31 to Arizona Diamondbacks), and Tennessee’s Blake Burke (No. 34 to Milwaukee Brewers).

In addition to this group, numerous other SEC players came off the board in the second round on Sunday night such as LSU’s Tommy White and Texas A&M’s Chris Cortez, among others. The third round also began Monday afternoon.

Oklahoma OF John Spikerman drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies

Oklahoma’s John Spikerman selected 100th overall in 2024 MLB Draft.

While the SEC Media Days dominate the new cycles in the Oklahoma sports community this week, Major League Baseball is also having its 2024 draft, and a Sooner is making his way to the MLB.

Despite Oklahoma’s season ending sooner than expected, it’s important to note that the team needed more talent. Their journey may have been cut short, but it’s a testament to the potential and skill that one of their key players saw his name go off the board on Monday afternoon.

Over the last three seasons, John Spikerman, Oklahoma’s switch-hitting starting centerfielder, has been a shining star. His journey from the Sooners to the Phillies, where he was selected with the 100th overall pick, is a testament to his hard work and the pride of the Oklahoma sports community.

Spikerman has been a mainstay in the Sooners baseball program since he was a spark on the OU baseball team that reached the championship series against Ole Miss in 2022.

Spikerman’s exceptional speed and defensive skills are exciting and intriguing. His ability to steal 50 bases in three seasons in Norman, combined with his reputation as a plus defender, could make him a long-term player in the MLB. The only surprise was the Phillies’ announcement of his pick as a shortstop.

This past season, Spikerman made 42 appearances, including 40 starts. He recorded a career-high .367 batting average while racking up 32 RBIs and three home runs. In the field, Spikerman notched 86 putouts and a .978 fielding percentage. His injury history has kept him from playing as much as he and Skip Johnson might have liked, but the talent is evident in Spikerman.

Spikerman hasn’t played in the infield since high school. Do the Phillies plan on moving him to shortstop in the minors? He doesn’t have the arm or bat most MLB scouts covet from the shortstop position, but he has the athleticism to be a terrific defender. In the long term, it’s possible to see Spikerman play a utility role in which he can play infield and outfield while providing excellent speed to cause havoc at the topic or bottom of lineups as a table setter.

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