It was a very exciting year of baseball in the AAC, and with the great competition came 14 players who would hear their names called in the 2024 MLB Draft. Here’s some background information about each player from the conference taken, and what they have to offer their new organizations.
Round 1, Pick 20: Toronto Blue Jays – Trey Yesavage RHP (East Carolina)
The Blue Jays got a gift at the 20th overall pick, landing the third best pitcher in the 2024 draft class. Yesavage, despite suffering a lung injury, had a very good and consistent 2024 season for East Carolina en route to them hosting a Regional in Greenville. In 15 starts across 93.1 innings pitched, Yesavage recorded an ERA of 2.03, with a 14.0 K/9 rate. His strikeout to walk numbers were ridiculous, striking out over 40% of his batters while walking just under 9% of batters faced. The Blue Jays just got themselves a workhorse starter, who should fill in the middle or back end of their rotation for years to come in Toronto.
Round 4, Pick 131: Houston Astros – Parker Smith RHP (Rice)
The lone draft pick out of Rice, Parker Smith was taken in the fourth round by the Houston Astros. Through 15 starts and 89.1 innings pitched for Rice, Smith recorded an ERA of 4.23, with a K/9 rate of 7.9. While the numbers don’t exactly jump out on paper, especially after looking at someone like Trey Yesavage, Smith has great stuff that Astros scouts rave about. He has a solid pitch mix already with a well established sinker and slider, which should generate a lot of whiffs once developed in pro ball. He also has an above average changeup already, and is a guy who can eat a lot of innings.
Round 6, Pick 175: Cleveland Guardians – Caden Favors – LHP (Wichita State)
The third player from the AAC taken in the draft, the Guardians added a solid arm here in the sixth round. After three incredible picks in the first three rounds taking Travis Bazzana, Braylon Doughty, and Jacob Cozart, the Guardians followed it up in the sixth adding a solid left hander to their farm system. Across 17 games and 106.2 innings pitched for the Shockers, Favors recorded a 3.21 ERA with a K/9 rate of 9.0. A great four pitch mix from the left side, if Favors can develop his velocity a little more, he could be a great back end of the rotation starter for Cleveland.
Round 6, Pick 185: Milwaukee Brewers – Chandler Welch RHP (Tulane)
Chandler Welch was the first of four Tulane Green Wave players selected in this year’s draft. The starter was the most pivotal piece of the Tulane rotation, and while the numbers may not make it appear so, he was crucial down the stretch of the season in their AAC tournament championship run. Welch across 89.0 innings pitched for Tulane this season recorded a 4.65 ERA with a K/9 rate of 8.9.
Round 8, Pick 244: Miami Marlins – Jacob Jenkins-Cowart OF (East Carolina)
The Marlins in the eighth round selected the first bat out of the AAC. Jenkins-Cowart had a great season for East Carolina, hitting for a slashline of .340/.386/.551 with 13 home runs, 79 RBI’s, and a 136 wRC+. Jenkins-Cowart struck out just 14% of the time in his 63 games played, and is a very quality bat to take at this point in the draft for Miami.
Round 8, Pick 249: Baltimore Orioles – Colin Tuft C (Tulane)
The second pick out of Tulane in this draft, Colin Tuft goes to a very well rounded Orioles farm. While there may not be a future in Baltimore as a catcher for Tuft with Rutschman in the majors and Basallo in the minor leagues, he is a solid bat to add to the farm here in the eighth round. Tuft hit .276 with an OPS of .935 in 61 games for the Green Wave in 2024, with a wRC+ of 134.
Round 9, Pick 269: Cincinnati Reds – Ryan McCrystal C (East Carolina)
As far as catcher’s go, there may not have been anyone better in the conference than ECU’s Ryan McCrystal. In the 54 games played for the Pirates this season, McCrystal hit .346, with an OPS of .923 and a 119 wRC+. As a catcher only striking out 11% of the time in 2024, McCrystal is a solid pick in the ninth round for Cincinnati.
Round 10, Pick 307: Toronto Blue Jays – Carter Cunningham OF (East Carolina)
Another solid outfield bat from ECU, Cunningham joins teammate Trey Yesavage in being drafted by Toronto here in 2024. Cunningham hit 17 home runs for the Pirates in 2024, while hitting .367 with a 1.109 OPS. Striking out exactly as much as he walks, Cunningham has a lot of upside as a hitter entering the Toronto system.
Round 12, Pick 372: Philadelphia Phillies – AJ Wilson RP (Charlotte)
Despite his ERA surpassing 4.00 this season, Wilson was great out of the bullpen for Charlotte, striking out 33% of his batters and walking only 8.85%. With a 13.0 K/9 rate, this is a great get from the Phillies, who seemed to use this draft to possibly help retool the bullpen.
Round 16, Pick 483: Seattle Mariners – Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman RHP (East Carolina)
The Mariners went out and got one of the better relievers in the AAC with their 483rd overall pick. Lunsford-Shenkman in 46.1 innings pitched this season for ECU, recorded a 1.55 ERA with a K/9 rate of 15.3. At the 16th round, this is an incredibly high upside reliever to take, and a great get for Seattle.
Round 16, Pick 486: Tampa Bay Rays – Brady Marget 1B (Tulane)
The Rays got another high upside bat just a few picks after the last AAC player was taken. Marget in 290 plate appearances for Tulane this season, hit .329 with an OPS of .938. Marget recorded a wRC+ of 134, while hitting 10 home runs, and walking more than he struck out. No doubt Tampa should get the most out of Marget if he signs.
Round 17, Pick 522: Philadelphia Phillies – Ryan Degges RP (Charlotte)
The Phillies yet again turned to Charlotte to grab another relief arm. Degges is another guy from Charlotte who has great strikeout stuff, despite an inflated ERA. With a K/9 rate of 10.3, striking out 25% of his batters, this is a solid get for the Phillies. While the control could probably improve more, the upside is there.
Round 18, Pick 530: Washington Nationals – Teo Banks OF (Tulane)
Teo Banks slid into the 18th round getting picked by Washington at 530th overall. Banks was a big power threat at Tulane this season, and Washington should look to channel that. Banks hit 13 home runs and recorded a wRC+ of 122 in 2024. Despite hitting .264 and striking out 21% of the time, Banks’ power upside was enough to see him get taken near the end of this draft.
Round 19, Pick 582: Philadelphia Phillies – Erik Ritchie LHP (East Carolina)
The final AAC player taken in the 2024 draft, ECU saw its final player selected here in the 19th round. Ritchie was another key piece of the Pirates bullpen in 2024, recording a 10.0 K/9 rate in 29.2 innings pitched. While the ERA was inflated, he’s got great swing and miss stuff.
Cover: ECU Athletics