Major League Baseball completes 2023 Draft presented by Nike

Major League Baseball today completed the 2023 Draft presented by Nike with a total of 614 players being chosen in the 20 rounds, one Prospect Promotion Incentive Selection round, two Compensation rounds and two Competitive Balance rounds.  The Draft resumed in the 11^th round via MLB.com this afternoon after Monday’s completion of rounds three through 10.

Pitchers were the most frequently chosen players, with 348 being selected (258 RHP, 90 LHP).  The rest of the 2023 pool was comprised of 92 outfielders, 67 shortstops, 37 catchers, 29 third basemen, 16 second basemen, 15 first basemen, eight two-way players and two infielders.

Louisiana State University had 13 players selected, marking the most in the Draft.  Other top universities included: Wake Forest (10); Stanford University (9); Arizona State University (8); Dallas Baptist University (8); the University of Tennessee (8); Texas A&M (7); Texas Christian University (7); the University of Arkansas (7); the University of Maryland (7); Vanderbilt University (7); Oklahoma State (6); the University of Alabama (6); the University of Florida (6); the University of Miami (6); the University of Oregon (6); the University of South Carolina (6); the University of Texas (6); the University of Washington (6); and UCLA (6).

Players were selected from 44 states, with California (89) producing the most selections, followed by Florida (61); Texas (59); Georgia (29); North Carolina (26); Illinois (22); Virginia (19); Arizona (18); Pennsylvania (17); Tennessee (17); South Carolina (15); Colorado (14); Louisiana (14); New Jersey (14); Ohio (14); Alabama (13); Mississippi (13); Washington (13); Missouri (12); New York (12); Massachusetts (10); Oklahoma (9); Michigan (7); Oregon (7); Connecticut (6); Utah (6); and Wisconsin (6). Arkansas, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota and Nebraska each had five (5) selections; Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland and Nevada each had four (4) selections; Maine, New Mexico and Rhode Island each had two (2) selections; and Delaware, Idaho, North Dakota and New Hampshire each had one (1) selection. In addition to the players selected from the United States, 9 players from Puerto Rico, and 7 from Canada were also drafted.

Black players made 10 of the first 50 selections (20%), while 16 of the 50 (32%) were from diverse backgrounds, including Black, Hispanic/Latino and Asian. Ten of these players are alumni of MLB Develops, diversity-focused programming offered in part by MLB & USA Baseball. These players include 17^th overall Enrique Bradfield Jr. (2019 High School All-American Game, States Play); 21^st overall Chase Davis (2015 Elite Development Invitational, 2017/2018/2020 DREAM Series, 2017/2018/2019 Breakthrough Series); 25^th overall Dillon Head (2018 Elite Development Invitational, 2019/2021 Hank Aaron Invitational, 2019/2021/2022 Breakthrough Series, 2022 High School All-American Game, 2023 DREAM Series); 26^th overall George Lombard (2022 Hank Aaron Invitational); 28^th overall Brice Matthews (2019 Breakthrough Series); 34^th overall Charlee Soto (2022 High School All-American Game); 36^th overall Kendall George (2021 & 2022 Breakthrough Series); 40^th overall Yohandy Morales (2019 High School All-Star Game, High School Home Run Derby, States Play); 48^th overall Gino Groover (2018 Breakthrough Series); and 50^th overall Nazzan Zanetello (2022 Breakthrough Series, High School All-American Game, 2023 DREAM Series).

Among the additional MLB Develops event alumni (Breakthrough Series, DREAM Series and Hank Aaron Invitational) selected in the Draft are Hiro Wyatt (3^rd round, KC); Tre Morgan (3^rd round, TB); Isaiah Coupet (4^th round, COL); Homer Bush Jr. (4^th round, SD); Kristian Campbell (4-C round, BOS); Dylan Campbell (4-C round, LAD); Jaden Woods (7^th round, PIT); Quincy Scott (9^th round, TEX); Tre Richardson (15^th round, STL); Darius Perry (15^th round, COL); Daniel Brown (16^th round, CHC); Donye Evans (16^th round, DET); Sam Parker (19^th round, MIN); Christian Little (19^th round, NYM); Drew Bowser (20^th round, CHC); and Cam Johnson (20^th round, STL).

First rounder Matthews, selected by the Houston Astros, is also a product of the Astros Youth Academy and Nike RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program. In addition, MLB Youth Academy alumni selected in the Draft also include George (Houston Youth Academy), Morgan (New Orleans Youth Academy), and Cameron Magee (18^th round, ATL) out of the Compton Youth Academy. 

Following the successful launch of the inaugural HBCU Swingman Classic presented by T-Mobile & powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, three HBCU players from the event were selected in the Draft.  They include Nolan Santos (7^th round, MIN); Xavier Meachem (10^th round, MIA); and Trey Paige (17^th round, STL).

Alumni of the Nike RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program include Matthews, George, Devin Saltiban (3^rd round, PHI), Maui Ahuna (4^th round, SF), Scott Bandura (7^th round, SF), Noah Hall (7^th round, NYM).

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes out of Louisiana State University with the first overall pick in the Draft.  Skenes was the first right-handed pitcher taken with the first overall selection since the Detroit Tigers selected Casey Mize with the top overall pick in 2018.  Skenes is the sixth number one overall pick in Pirates history, joining: Henry Davis (2021), Gerrit Cole (2011), Bryan Bullington (2002), Kris Benson (1996) and Jeff King (1986).

With the second pick of the Draft, the Washington Nationals selected outfielder Dylan Crews out of Louisiana State University. It marks the first time in Draft history that two teammates have been selected as first and second overall. Since the inception of the Rule 4 Draft, it is the third time that teammates have been drafted back-to-back in the first round. The last pair of teammates were University of Virginia alumni Pavin Smith (7^th overall, AZ) and Adam Haseley (8^th overall, PHI) in 2017. The only other teammates to ever go back-to-back in the Round 1 are Rice University alumni Phillip Humber (3^rd overall, NYM) and Jeff Niemann (4^th overall, TB) in 2004. For the 20^th time in the last 22 years at least one pair of teammates (college or high school) were selected in the first round.

Four players selected in the first 40 picks of this year’s draft have family ties to baseball including Jacob Wilson (6^th) and Myles Naylor (39^th) who were selected by the Oakland Athletics, George Lombard (26^th, NYY) and Tai Peete (30^th, SEA). Wilson’s father, Jack, was selected in the 9^th round of the 1998 Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, going on to play in 1,370 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves before his retirement in 2012. Naylor is the brother of current Cleveland Guardians Bo and Josh Naylor. Lombard’s father, George Sr., is the current Bench Coach of the Detroit Tigers and a six-year Major League veteran, spending time with Atlanta, Detroit, Tampa Bay and Washington until his retirement in 2009. Peete’s mother, Yuki Braxton, was the first girl to participate in Little League Baseball European Region Championships in 1993 and 1994.

In addition to the above players, other notable selections with baseball and professional sports ties included:

• University of Virginia catcher Kyle Teel (14^th overall, BOS) whose father, Garrett, played five seasons in the Minors after he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 12^th round in 1989. Kyle’s brother, Aidan, is also a pitcher at the University of Virginia.
• Ole Miss shortstop Jacob Gonzalez (15^th overall, CWS) whose father, Jess, played in the Minors.
• Wake Forest third baseman Brock Wilken (18^th overall, MIL) is the nephew of Kris Wilken, a 12^th round selection by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2000 Draft.
• J.W. Mitchell HS (FL) third baseman Aidan Miller (27^th overall, PHI) is the brother of Jackson Miller, who was selected with the 65^th overall pick in 2020 by the Cincinnati Reds and remains in the organization.
• Doral Academy (FL) shortstop Adrian Santana (31^st overall, TB) whose father, Osmany, played four seasons in the Minors after signing with Cleveland in 1998.
• University of Miami shortstop Yohandy Morales (40^th overall, WSH) is the son of Andy Morales, who played on the Cuban national team before defecting and signing with the Yankees, last playing in 2002.
• LSU right-handed pitcher Grant Taylor (51^st overall, CWS) is the brother of Evan Taylor, who is currently a pitcher in the Miami Marlins organization after he was selected in the ninth round of the 2022 Draft.
• University of Nebraska third baseman Mike Boeve (54^th overall) whose father, Jim, was appointed to resurrect the baseball program at Hastings College in Nebraska. He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame for his involvement.
• Virginia Tech right-handed pitcher Drue Hackenberg (59^th overall, ATL) is the brother of former NFL quarterback Christian Hackenberg, brother of professional soccer player Brandon Hackenberg and brother of current White Sox No. 28 prospect Adam Hackenberg.
• University of Virginia third baseman Jake Gelof (60^th overall, LAD) is the brother of Zack Gelof, who is currently the Oakland Athletics No. 3 prospect after he was selected 60^th overall in the 2021 Draft.
• University of Miami right-handed pitcher Andrew Walters (62^nd overall, CLE) is the nephew of Matt Walters, a fifth round selection by the New York Jets in the 2003 NFL draft. Matt played in 11 career NFL games at defensive end.
• Oregon State University first baseman Garrett Forrester (3^rd round, PIT) is the son of Gary Forrester, who played three years in the Dodgers and Angels Minor League systems after he was selected by the Dodgers in the 20^th round of the 1989 Draft.
• Lakeridge HS (OR) left-handed pitcher (3^rd round, DET) is the son of Trevor Wilson, who pitched for the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels between 1988-98.
• University of Stanford third baseman Alberto Rios (3^rd round, LAA) whose cousin, Frankie, played two Minor League seasons after he was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 17^th round of the 2017 Draft.
• Boston College outfielder Travis Honeyman (3^rd round, STL) is the brother of Bobby Honeyman, who played three Minor League seasons in the Mariners organization after he was selected by Seattle in the 29^th round of the 2018 Draft.
• Newbury Park HS (CA) right-handed pitcher Cole Miller (4^th round, OAK) is the son of former NFL wide receiver Mike Miller, who played from 1985-86 with the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints.
• Goodpasture Christian HS third baseman Carson Rucker (4^th round, DET) whose brother, Jake, is currently in the Twins system after he was drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 Draft.
• Florida State left-handed pitcher Wyatt Crowell (4^th round, LAD) is the grandson of former NHL goaltender Ross Brooks, who made his NHL Debut at age 36 with the Boston Bruins. Ross posted a career 37-7-6 record in three NHL seasons.
• Grand Canyon University outfielder Homer Bush Jr. (4^th round, SDP) is the son of former big leaguer Homer Bush, who played for the 1998 New York Yankees going on to win the World Series. Both Bushes were drafted by the Padres with Homer Sr. going in the seventh round of the 1991 Draft.
• University of Texas outfielder Dylan Campbell (136^th overall, LAD) whose father, Donovan, played four seasons in the Minors with the Braves and Cardinals after he was selected by Atlanta in the 22^nd round of the 1988 Draft.
• Texas A&M right-handed pitcher Nathan Dettmer (5^th round, OAK) is the son of former Major League pitcher John Dettmer, who made 12 relief appearance with the Rangers from 1994-95.
• UCLA third baseman Kyle Karros (5^th round, COL) is the son of 14-year Major League veteran Eric Karros, who won NL Rookie of the Year in 1992 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kyle’s brother, Jared is a pitcher in the Dodgers system and was selected in the 16^th round of the 2022 Draft.
• University of San Diego first baseman Kevin Sim (5^th round, AZ) is the son of Chong Soo Shim, who played 15 seasons and hit 300 home runs in the KBO.
• University of Michigan left-handed pitcher Connor O’Halloran (5^th round, TOR) whose father, Greg, was drafted in the 32^nd round of the 1988 Draft by Toronto before playing in 12 career games with the Marlins during the 1994 season.
• Oral Roberts outfielder Jonah Cox (6^th round, OAK) is the son of former Major League player Darron Cox, who was a fifth-round pick by Cincinnati in 1989, playing in 15 games with the Expos in 1999.
• University of Arkansas outfielder Jace Bohrofen (6^th round, TOR) whose father, Brent, played two seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals organization in 1991-92.
• Cal State Northridge right-handed pitcher Lucas Braun (6^th round, ATL) is the son of film writer and director Ted Braun, who is currently a Professor of Cinematic Arts at USC.
• Kansas State shortstop Nick Goodwin (7^th round, TOR) whose father, David, and uncle, Mark, both played in the Minors. David played three seasons in the Royals organization and Mark played two seasons in the Orioles system in 1985-86.
• Arizona State left-handed pitcher Ross Dunn (10^th round, MIN) is the brother of Oliver Dunn, who is currently playing in the Philadelphia Phillies system after he was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 11^th round of the 2019 Draft.
• Rutgers University right-handed pitcher Drew Conover (11^th round, OAK) whose father played one Minor League season with the Chicago White Sox after he was drafted in the 25^th round of the 1989 Draft by Chicago.
• University of Louisville catcher Jack Payton (11^th round, SF) is the brother of Mark Payton, who currently plays for the Saitama Seibu Lions of NPB but made his Major League debut in 2020 and played 40 career games. Payton’s father, Dave, played in the Cardinals system from 1987-89.
• University of California right-handed pitcher Paulshawn Pasqualotto (12^th round, MIN) is the cousin of Lauren Kaskie, who plays professional soccer in Sweden and was drafted to the NWSL in 2017.
• San Jose State second baseman Charles McAdoo (13^th round, PIT) is the cousin of NBA Hall of Famer, Bob McAdoo, who was the 1974-75 NBA MVP and won two championships with the Lakers. Another cousin, James Michael McAdoo also won two NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors.
• University of Tennessee right-handed pitcher Zach Joyce (14^th round, LAA) is the brother of current big leaguer Ben Joyce, who made his debut for the Angels in May.
• Dallas Baptist University catcher Nate Rombach (18^th round, WSH) is the son of former Braves, Orioles and Astros scout Deron Rombach.
• IMG Academy catcher Stone Russell (18^th round, KC) is the son of former Pirates manager Jack Russell, who managed Pittsburgh from 2008-10. Jack was the 13^th overall pick in the 1982 Draft by Philadelphia.
• University of Texas right-handed pitcher Tanner Witt (18^th round, BAL) is the son of five-year Major Leaguer Kevin Witt, who was a first round selection by Toronto in the 1994 Draft.
• University of Stanford third baseman Drew Bowser (20^th round, CHC) is the son of Yvette Lee Bowser, the first black woman to develop her own primetime television series and son of Kyle Bowser who is currently Senior Vice President at NAACP and runs the Hollywood Bureau.