Major League Baseball completes 2021 Draft

Major League Baseball tonight completed its 2021 Draft, with a total of 612 players being chosen in the 20 round, two Compensation rounds and two Competitive Balance rounds. The Draft resumed in the 11th round via MLB.com this afternoon after Monday’s completion of rounds two through 10.

Pitchers were the most frequently chosen players, with 357 being selected (261 RHP, 96 LHP). The rest of the 2021 pool was comprised of 117 infielders (including 63 shortstops, 26 third basemen, 17 second basemen and 11 first basemen), 88 outfielders, 48 catchers, one utility player and one two-way player.

The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) had 10 players selected, marking the most in the Draft. Both the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and Texas Tech University produced nine selections. North Carolina State had eight players taken, while the University of Arizona, the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of Louisville, the University of South Carolina at Columbia, the University of Tennessee, the University of Texas at Austin and Vanderbilt University each had seven players selected.

Players were selected from 45 states, with California (92) producing the most selections, followed by Florida (68), Texas (61), Georgia (28), North Carolina (23), Illinois (22), Alabama (20) and Pennsylvania (20). In addition to the players selected from the United States, 15 players from Canada and six from Puerto Rico were also drafted.

Five of the first 16 selections (31.3%) in the first round come from diverse backgrounds, including four African-Americans. Those selected in the first 16 included Marcelo Mayer (4th overall, BOS); Jordan Lawlar (6th overall, ARI); Kumar Rocker (10th overall, NYM); Harry Ford (12th overall, SEA); and Kahlil Watson (16th overall, MIA).

The selections of Rocker by the Mets and Ford by the Mariners mark the first time ever that two alumni of the DREAM Series – a diversity-focused, amateur development experience by MLB & USA Baseball specifically focused on pitchers & catchers – have been selected together in the first round of the MLB Draft. They join fellow DREAM Series alum Hunter Greene (2017, Cincinnati Reds) and Simeon Woods-Richardson (2018, New York Mets) who have been selected in the Draft’s opening round.

Among the additional alumni of diversity-focused development programming – including Hank Aaron Invitational (HAI; co-run by the MLBPA and USA Baseball), DREAM Series (DS); Breakthrough Series (BTS) –selected in the 2021 Draft included Jaden Hill (BTS; 2nd, COL); Ryan Spikes (HAI, DS, BTS; 3rd, TB), Jordan McCants (HAI, DS, BTS; 3rd, MIA), Ian Moller (HAI, DS, BTS; 4th, TEX), TJ White (HAI, BTS; 5th WAS), Irv Carter (HAI, DS, BTS; 5th TOR), Collin Burns (HAI; 6th, BAL), Donovan McIntyre (HAI; 11th, SFG), Ronan Kopp (BTS; 12th, LAD), Ben Ramirez (HAI; 13th, Sea), Ty Collins (HAI, BTS; 16th, PHI), Daniel Corona (HAI, DS, BTS; 16th, PIT), Jason Gonzalez (BTS; 17th, CWS), Jaylin Nowlen (BTS; 19th, MIN).

Additional Draftees are alumni of the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program or MLB Youth Academies. These players include Burns (New Orleans MLB Youth Academy), Collins (Compton MLB Youth Academy), Elmer Rodriguez (Carolina, PR RBI; 4th, BOS), Chazz Martinez (Compton Academy Barons; 12th, PIT), Channy Ortiz (Arizona RBI & 2016 RBI World Series; 14th, ARI) and Nowlen (Atlanta Braves RBI).

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected catcher Henry Davis out of the University of Louisville with the first overall pick in the Draft. Davis was the first backstop taken with the first overall selection since Baltimore selected Adley Rutschman in 2019, and he joined Jeff King (1986), Kris Benson (1996), Bryan Bullington (2002) and Gerrit Cole (2011) as the only number one overall picks in Pirates history. Davis became the first player from the University of Louisville to be selected first overall. In addition, he became just the eighth collegiate player to be chosen first overall after not having previously been drafted out of high school, joining Spencer Torkelson (2020), Casey Mize (2018), Stephen Strasburg (2009), Matt Anderson (1997), Benson (1996), Andy Benes (1988) and Dave Roberts (1972). Following the selections of Torkelson, Rutschman and Mize, a college player has been taken first overall in each of the last four drafts.

The Texas Rangers selected Vanderbilt University right-handed pitcher Jack Leiter with the 3rd overall pick in the Draft. Leiter is the son of two-time All-Star and MLB Network analyst Al Leiter, who was drafted in the second round of the 1984 Draft. Other notable selections included:

• Heritage Hall (OK) right-hander Jackson Jobe (3rd overall, DET), who is the son of PGA golfer Brandt Jobe. • Vanderbilt University right-hander Kumar Rocker (10th overall, NYM), who is the son of College Football Hall of Famer and former NFL player Tracy Rocker. • Mississippi State University right-hander Will Bednar (14th overall, SF), who is the brother of Pirates pitcher David Bednar, who was a 35th round selection in 2016. • Williamsville East (NY) catcher Joe Mack (31st overall, MIA), who is the brother of Twins prospect Charles Mack, who was a sixth round pick in 2018. • Wright State University second baseman Tyler Black (33rd overall, MIL), who is the son of Canadian sports broadcaster Rod Black. • University of Alabama second baseman Peyton Wilson (66th overall, KC), who is the brother former Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson. • Cal State Northridge outfielder Denzel Clarke (4th round, OAK), who is the cousin of Josh and Bo Naylor, who both play in the Cleveland Indians organization. • Ball State University right-hander Chayce McDermott (4th round Compensation, HOU), who is the cousin of NBA player Sean McDermott. • University of Minnesota second baseman Zack Raabe (8th round, MIL), who is the son of former Major Leaguer Brian Raabe, who was a 41st round pick in the 1990 Draft. • University of San Diego catcher Shane McGuire (9th round, OAK), who is the brother of Blue Jays catcher Reese McGuire, who was the 14th overall selection in the 2013 Draft. • Rowan College at Gloucester County left-hander CJ Widger, who is the son of former Major Leaguer Chris Widger. • University of California at Berkley second baseman Darren Baker (10th round, WSH), who is the son of current Astros manager Dusty Baker. • St. Edward’s University right-hander Blake Holub (15th round, DET), who is a relative of former AFL/NFL player E.J. Holub. • The Gunnery School shortstop Michael Sirota (16th round, LAD), who is the great nephew of Baseball Hall of Famer Whitey Ford. • Texas Tech shortstop Dylan Neuse (17th round, MIN), who is the brother of Dodgers infielder Sheldon Neuse, who was a second round pick in 2016. • Clemson University catcher Adam Hackenberg (18th round, CWS), who is the brother of former NFL quarterback Christian Hackenberg. • Dayton University second baseman Mariano Ricciardi (18th round, OAK), who is the son of Giants senior advisor J.P. Ricciardi.