Angels make eight selections on second day of 2024 First-Year-Player Draft

ANAHEIM - The Angels selected eight players today on day two of the 2024 MLB First Year Player Draft. Today's picks consisted of seven college players and one high school player. The Halos drafted six pitchers (four RHP and two LHP) and two infielders.

The Angels third round selection (81st overall) was LHP Ryan Prager out of Texas A&M University. In 2024 as a redshirt sophomore, he went 9-1 with a 2.95 ERA (97.2 IP - 32 ER) with 124 strikeouts over 19 starts. A three-year Aggies teammate of Angels 2024 second round (45th overall) selection Chris Cortez, his 2.95 ERA last season ranked third-best in SEC (min. 80 IP) and 97.2 IP was second-most in SEC.

The Halos fourth round pick (110th overall), was RHP Austin Gordon from Clemson University. In 22 games in 2024, he pitched to a 4.35 ERA (39.1 IP - 19 ER) and logged 11 saves, which ranked second in the SEC and tied for third in school history. He won the Stowe Award, which is given to Tigers' most valuable pitcher, and was named an All-ACC academic selection in 2024.

RHP Dylan Jordan was selected in the fifth round (143rd overall) by the Angels from Viera HS (Viera, FL). He recorded a 1.32 ERA (58.1 IP - 11 ER) with 103 strikeouts in his senior season. In 2023, he was named Most Valuable Pitcher of the 2023 WWBA 17U National Championship. He was the Angels first and only high school selection through the first two days of the 2024 MLB Draft.

With their sixth round pick (172nd overall), the Halos selected RHP Peyton Olejnik (oh-len-ick) from Miami University (OH). He finished his junior season in 2024 with a 9-1 record which tied for the most wins in the Mid-American Conference. In the MLB Draft League, he finished with the second-best ERA (min. 20 IP) after going 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA (21.2 IP - 5 ER) with 32 strikeouts. At 6-foot-11, he is the tallest player to have been drafted as of the conclusion of the 10th round.

RHP Bridger Holmes was selected in the seventh round (202nd overall) out of Oregon State University. He led the Pac-12 with 13 saves and pitched to a 1.93 ERA (32.2 IP - 7 ER) with 47 strikeouts across 26 appearances in 2024. Holmes was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team and NCBWA All-American First Team following his junior season with the Beavers.

The Halos eighth round pick (232nd overall) was shortstop Randy Flores from Alabama State University. Through two seasons with the Hornets, he recorded a .338 (159/470) batting average which set a new career school record (min. 400 AB). Prior to attending Alabama State, he played three seasons at Franklin Pierce University.

With their ninth round pick (262nd overall) the Angels selected LHP Derek Clark out of West Virginia University. Clark earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors twice during his senior season in 2024, in which he recorded an 8-3 record and a 3.23 ERA (97.2 IP - 35 ER). Prior to attending West Virginia, Clark spent three seasons at Northwood University (MI).

To round out the day, the Angels selected 1B Ryan Nicholson from the University of Kentucky with their 10th round pick (292nd overall). After playing four seasons with Cincinnati, he completed his senior season at Kentucky and batted .306 (63/206) with 10 doubles, 23 home runs, 63 RBI and 28 walks. His 23 home runs tied Kentucky's single-season record and tied for eighth-most in the SEC.

The 2024 First Year Player Draft concludes tomorrow with rounds 11-20, starting at 11 a.m. PT. Below is a list of all Angels draft picks through day two: