Many college and prep baseball players are hoping to hear their names called beginning Sunday, when the 2024 MLB Draft kicks off at 7 p.m. in Fort Worth, Texas.
The MLB draft will conclude Tuesday. There will be 600 selections over 20 rounds.
Here are some of the commonwealth’s top players who have a chance to be selected:
College: Kentucky
Position: Outfielder
2024 stats: Ryan Waldschmidt was named second-team All-SEC after batting .333 with 14 home runs and 25 steals.
College: Kentucky
Position: Second baseman
2024 stats: Émilien Pitre was named a third-team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association and made the SEC All-Defensive team. At the plate, Pitre hit .301 with 10 home runs and recorded 26 steals.
College: Louisville
Position: Outfielder
2024 stats: JT Benson, who played at South Oldham High School, had a career year in 2024 for the Cardinals. He led the ACC and ranked seventh nationally with 34 stolen bases. He hit .302 with 13 doubles, nine home runs, and 41 RBIs.
College: Louisville
Position: Outfielder
2024 stats: Eddie King Jr. led the Cardinals in home runs (14) and RBIs (43), finishing the season with a .322 batting average.
College: Western Kentucky
Position: Pitcher
2024 stats: Mason Burns finished second nationally with 15 saves in 28 appearances and broke the Hilltoppers’ single-season record for saves. In 36 innings, he recorded a 4.00 ERA with 52 strikeouts. Burns was named a third-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
College: Bellarmine
Position: First baseman
2024 stats: Casey Sorg was named first-team All-ASUN and led the Knights in almost every hitting category. He hit .348 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs.
College: Kentucky
Position: Infielder
2024 stats: In his first year with the Wildcats, Ryan Nicholson, who played for St. Xavier High School, led the team with 23 home runs. He batted .306 and led the team with 63 RBIs.
College: Kentucky
Position: Designated hitter
2024 stats: Nick Lopez had the highest batting average (.345) on the Wildcats and recorded 79 hits. Lopez made first-team All-SEC and was named an All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
College: Louisville
Position: Pitcher
2024 stats: Evan Webster earned second-team All-ACC honors and recorded the best ERA (4.18) and WHIP (1.34) of all Cardinals pitchers who made at least five starts.
College: Louisville
Position: Pitcher
2024 stats: Sebastian Gongora recorded a 6.14 ERA in 77 ⅔ Innings and struck out 89 batters.
College: Kentucky
Position: Pitcher
2024 stats: Travis Smith, who is from Walton, went 3-4 in 37 ⅔ innings and posted a 6.21 ERA.
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
Source link : https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/2024/07/11/kentucky-baseball-2024-mlb-draft-ryan-waldschmidt-jt-benson/74315702007/
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Publish date : 2024-07-11 05:16:05
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