Three Cavaliers trending towards day one in 2024 MLB Draft
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 SPORTS) -- Virginia baseball has produced multiple MLB Draft picks in the first two rounds seven times since 2014 and the Cavaliers are on track for more in 2024.
ESPN's Kiley McDaniel released his way-too early 2024 MLB draft rankings with three UVA players featured in outfielder Casey Saucke at No. 28, first baseman Ethan Anderson at No. 40 and shortstop Griff O'Ferrall among the next 50 players with potential to slide into day one talk. Class of 2024 shortstop Caleb Bonemer, a Virginia commit, was also ranked at No. 49 overall.
No more than three Virginia players have ever been selected in the first two rounds in a single draft with pitcher Jay Woolfolk another name who could rise up draft boards over the next year.
Few have helped their draft stock more this offseason than O'Ferrall, who started at shortstop and batted leadoff in all ten of the USA Collegiate National Team's games against Chinese Taipei and Japan this summer. The UVA rising junior batted .463 (19-for-41) with nine RBI, three doubles, a triple and a home run along with nine runs scored.
"Griff O'Ferrall's been a great table setter for us here at Virginia in that leadoff spot, and he's doing the same thing with team USA," UVA head coach Brian O'Connor said, "He's igniting them and getting on base and those big power hitters that they have in the middle of their lineup are driving him in. To be the starting shortstop every day and leadoff for team USA is a special accomplishment, and I believe that Griff O'Ferrall's going to continue to improve and be a fantastic player and leader of our team next year."
The Cavaliers will return six starters in the lineup heading into next season with rising sophomores Henry Godbout and Harrison Didawick joining designated hitter Anthony Stephan and the trip of rising juniors.