Minckler, Hujsak selected in draft
- Updated: July 17, 2024
The Washington Nationals selected Niagara right-handed pitcher Ryan Minckler in the 19th round of the MLB Draft on Tuesday. Minckler, a Greenland resident, was taken with the 560th overall selection.
“I think I was just really caught up in this whole process, especially the last month,” Minckler told the Niagara Gazette. “It’s kind of like you work so hard for something, and you kind of just forget where you came from and everything like that. I think it set in a little bit once my name was called on the TV. Kind of looked around and saw my parents, my brother was right behind me and just seeing them how far we’ve all come as a family, especially, has just been crazy.”
Minckler originally committed to Virginia out of Portsmouth High School, but never played a game for the Cavaliers. He spent the last two seasons with the Niagara program. Minckler compiled a 5-11 record with a 5.58 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 101v2/3 innings in those two seasons.
After going 0-9 in 13 starts in 2023, Minckler moved to the bullpen last season, when he went 5-2 with a 4.21 ERA.
Minckler, a Thailand native who moved New Hampshire when he was 15, transferred to Arizona State following last season and is 1-1 for the Sanford Mariners in the New England Collegiate League. He has a 3.21 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 14 innings with the Mainers.
Also Tuesday …
— The Tampa Bay Rays drafted Mississippi State outfielder Connor Hujsak in the 13th round. Hujsak, a Goffstown High School graduate, was the 396th pick in the draft. He spent two seasons at Virginia Commonwealth and two with Mississippi State.
Hujsak, who began his college career as a shortstop but then moved to the outfield, was third among Mississippi State players in batting average (.325) last season. He hit nine home runs had 49 RBIs and was 8-of-9 on steal attempts.
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