Four Jayhawks selected on final day of MLB draft

LAWRENCE ( KSNT ) – The 2024 MLB draft saw six KU baseball players selected.

Jayhawk baseball hasn’t had six players picked in one draft since 2014. On Tuesday, the final day of the draft, four KU products heard their names called.

Ethan Lanthier was selected by the New York Mets in round 12, with pick No. 353 overall. He had a 4.54 ERA in his lone season with Kansas, appearing in 20 games while striking out 42 batters in 37.2 IP. Lanthier spent two seasons at St. Cloud State before coming to Lawrence.

Another Jayhawk relief pitcher was picked in the 13th round. The Philadelphia Phillies called on Teagan Cain with pick No. 402 overall. Cain pitched in 27 games for KU in 2024, striking out 47 in 33.1 innings pitched. He had a 5.94 ERA in his singular season wearing crimson and blue. Cain played two years at Barton Community College before coming to Kansas for the 2024 season.

First baseman/ catcher Ben Hartl was picked by the Texas Rangers in the 14th round, with pick No. 435. He also was a one-and-done in Lawrence, coming to KU for 2024 after two seasons with Heartland Community College. He started in 41 games as a Jayhawk, hitting .309 and slugging 11 homers.

Lastly, KU pitcher Evan Shaw was picked in the 16th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shaw, selected at No. 490 overall, worked in both the bullpen and starting rotation in 2024. He spent just one year with Dan Fitzgerald’s team after two with Cochise College and one with Minnesota State. In his final year of college baseball, he pitched in 18 games, including 10 starts. He finished the season with a 3-1 record while striking out 60 in 42.1 innings pitched. He had a 5.10 ERA as a Jayhawk.

The day-three selections come after two ‘Hawks were picked on the draft’s second day. Relief pitcher Hunter Cranton was selected by the Mariners in round three while infielder Kodey Shojinaga went to the Phillies in round six.

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