2024 MLB Draft ends with 12 CAA players selected in three days

2024 MLB Draft ends with 12 CAA players selected in three days

16-07-2024 19:53:07 hours

Rob Wasburn

RICHMOND, Va. (July 16, 2024) The 2024 Major League Baseball Draft concluded Tuesday with the selection of two more CAA players, bringing the total number of players in the league to 12.

Campbell Pitcher Cole Peschl was a 15^e-round pick (458)^e (overall) of the Minnesota Twins and UNCW pitcher Jacob Schuurman was a 17^e-round pick (521^st (total) of the Atlanta Braves.

It was a historic MLB Draft for CAA baseball, as the conference made 10 selections in the first 10 rounds, the most selections ever for the league, breaking the previous record of seven.

Charleston Infielder Cole Mathis was selected by the Chicago Cubs with the 54th overall pick in the second round of the MLB Draft on Sunday night. He was joined by nine other players on Monday.

Monday, Northeastern outfielder Mike Sirota was taken in the third round (87^e (generally) by the Cincinnati Reds and William & Mary pitcher Nate Knowles followed in the fourth round (124^e generally) to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Campbell catcher Award of Clipping was chosen in the sixth round (183^rd overall) by the Seattle Mariners. A pair of pitchers went in the seventh round as Northeasterns Dennis Collaran (197^e (overall) was chosen by the Kansas City Royals and UNCWs Lucas Craig (224^e (overall) was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks have added another CAA pitcher in the 8^e round with William & Marys Travis Garnett (254^e general). North Carolina A&T catcher Canyon Brown was elected in the 9^e round (257)^e generally) by the Kansas City Royals. In the 10^e round, UNCW thrower RJ Sales (296^e (overall) was selected by the Detroit Tigers and William & Mary outfielder Joe Delossantos (301^st (overall) was selected by the New York Yankees.

Mathis is the highest draft pick in Charleston baseball history. He earned first-team All-CAA honors this season after hitting .335 with 17 doubles, 14 home runs, 57 RBIs and 63 runs scored as the Cougars went 41-14. He also stole 14 bases. In 2023, Mathis made the NCBWA All-America second team after hitting .330 with 20 doubles and 51 RBIs. He also contributed on the mound with a 5-1 record and a 3.45 ERA.

Sirota was Northeastern's highest draft pick since 2006. He batted .298 with seven homers, 37 RBIs and 58 runs scored this season. He also drew a team-high 59 walks and stole 19 bases. Sirota was a first-team All-CAA and third-team All-American in 2023 after batting .346 with 18 HRs and 54 RBIs.

Knowles was the fifth-highest draft pick in W&M history. The 2024 CAA Pitcher of the Year and a third-team All-American went 8-3 with a CAA-best 2.48 ERA and led the league with 112 strikeouts in 80.0 innings.

Knipp earned first-team All-CAA honors after batting .402 with 18 homers and 46 RBIs in just 29 games. Colleran was 0-1 with one save in 20 appearances for the Huskies, striking out 46 batters in 40.2 innings. Craig was a first-team All-CAA honoree after going 4-1 with a team-high seven saves and a 2.13 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 55.0 innings.

Garnett was 5-0 with a 4.61 ERA and struck out 45 batters in 27.1 innings. Brown made the All-CAA first team after batting .310 with six homers and 49 RBIs. Sales was a league-best 11-3 with a 3.41 ERA and struck out 93 batters in 95.0 innings to earn first-team All-CAA honors. Delossantos hit .330 with 14 homers, 67 RBIs and 17 stolen bases to earn a spot on the All-CAA second team.

Peschl made a team-high 13 starts for Campbell, going 3-3 with a 5.48 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 69.0 innings. Shafer started 16 games for UNCW, going 4-6 with a 5.99 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 76.2 frames.

CAA PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE 2024 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DRAFT

Cole Mathis, IF, Charleston 2^nd round (54^e general) Chicago Cubs
Mike Sirota, OF, Northeast 3^rd round (87th overall) Cincinnati Reds
Nate Knowles, P., William & Mary 4^e round (124^e general) Tampa Bay Rays
Grant Knipp, C, Campbell 6^e round (183)^rd general) Seattle Mariners
Dennis Colleran, P, Northeast 7^e round (197)^e general) Kansas City Royals
Luke Craig, P, UNCW 7^e round (224^e general) Arizona Diamondbacks
Travis Garnett, P., William & Mary 8^e round (254^e general) Arizona Diamondbacks
Canyon Brown, C, North Carolina A&T 9^e round (257)^e general) Kansas City Royals
RJ Sales, P, UNCW 10^e round (296^e general) Detroit Tigers
Joe Delossantos, OF, William & Mary 10^e round (301^st general) New York Yankees
Cole Peschl, P, Campbell 15^e round (458)^e (general) – Minnesota Twins
Jacob Shafer, P, UNCW 17^e round (521)^st general) Atlanta Braves