Indiana baseball closes out 2024 MLB Draft with most players taken in Big Ten

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana baseball junior catcher Brock Tibbitts and sophomore right-handed pitcher Brayden Risedorph were selected on the third and final day of the 2024 MLB Draft on Tuesday afternoon.

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Tibbits in the 13th round with the 397th overall pick and the Chicago Cubs drafted Risedorph in the 20th round with pick No. 602.

They joined a group of four Hoosiers who were drafted in the first five rounds. The six draft picks were the most out of any team in the Big Ten conference in this year's draft and gives IU the most players drafted (24) since head coach Jeff Mercer took over in 2019.

Indiana catcher Brock Tibbitts joins teammate Nick Mitchell in Toronto

Tibbitts was a fixture in IU's lineup since signing with the team out of New Albany High School in 2022. He had a streak of 149 consecutive starts — the longest streak for a player during Mercer's tenure — that ended in April when he suffered a meniscus injury.

Tibbitts rejoined the Hoosiers lineup for the stretch run and was named to the NCAA Knoxville All-Regional team after hitting .357 with one home run and four RBI in three postseason games.

For the season, Tibbitts hit .313 with 18 extra-base hits and 42 RBIs. He reached base safely in 149 of the 166 games he started and finished his career just one hit shy of the 200-career hits.

He joins a Toronto organization that selected teammate Nick Mitchell in the fourth round.

Risedorph, who was IU's key arm in the bullpen over the past two seasons, tied for the lead in appearances (21). He made seven starts and got the nod for the Hoosiers on Opening Day against Duke. He had an 8.31 ERA, but had 57 strikeouts in just 47.2 innings pitched.

Indiana also had two other signees selected on the final day of the draft with the Milwaukee Brewers picking shortstop Cooper Malamazian in the 17th round (No. 515) and Henry Brummel in the 20th round (No. 605). They can sign a professional contract or enroll at IU this fall.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.