At least four former Delaware high school baseball players heard their names called in the 2024 MLB draft, including one who has a chance to stay close to home.
The Philadelphia Phillies selected Concord High graduate Luke Gabrysh with the 462nd overall pick in the 15th round of the draft, a 20-round affair that started Sunday and ended Tuesday. Gabrysh, a first-team All-State shortstop and second-team All-State pitcher as a Raider in 2021, played the past three years at Saint Joseph's. The 6-foot-3 right-hander took the mound in 40 games for the Hawks and compiled a career ERA of 8.13 across 68⅔ innings.
Gabrysh had a stronger showing in the MLB draft league this summer where he posted a 1.42 ERA and recorded 23 strikeouts in 12⅔ innings.
"He’s been up to 97 mph," Phillies Assistant General Manager of Amateur Scouting Brian Barber told MLB.com . “He spins the heck out of his slider. At that spot in the draft, it was somebody we were definitely going to be interested in."
The first Delaware prospect selected was Eddie Micheletti Jr., a 2020 graduate of Wilmington Friends. The Toronto Blue Jays selected Micheletti in round eight with the 247th overall pick. A first-team All-State catcher at Friends , Micheletti played a mix of catcher, first base, outfield and designated hitter in his first three college seasons at George Washington. He then transferred to Virginia Tech for his senior year where he served as the Hokies primary right fielder.
Micheletti, a left-handed hitter, hit .311/.464/.599 in 177 at-bats across 54 games last season at Virginia Tech. He hit 12 home runs and 11 doubles and walked more than he struck out (48 walks to 32 strikeouts).
The Washington Nationals selected former Cape Henlopen Viking Luke Johnson in the 10th round with the 290th overall pick. A 2020 graduate, Johnson will become one of four former Cape stars playing professionally, joining Zack and Jake Gelof and Mason Fluharty.
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Johnson tossed 228⅔ innings across four seasons at UMBC as primarily a starting pitcher. He compiled a 4.61 career ERA and .250 batting average along with 279 strikeouts (almost 11 per 9 innings pitched). Johnson was named America East Pitcher of the Year twice.
In the 13th round with the 405th overall pick, the Texas Rangers selected Appoquinimink grad Aidan Deakins. The left-handed pitcher spent the past two years at Wabash Valley College in Mount Carmel, Illinois, after leading the Jaguars to the Delaware state championship game as a high school senior in 2022. Last season at Wabash, Deakins logged 23 innings across 17 appearances and posted a 6.26 ERA.
Brandon Holveck reports on high school sports for The News Journal. Contact him at bholveck@delawareonline.com .
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware 2024 MLB draft picks include Friends slugger, Concord, Cape and Appo pitchers
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