The 2022 MLB Draft has now come and gone. Per usual, the University of Louisville baseball team found themselves to be quite successful.
Louisville saw five players get drafted over three days, led by Dalton Rushing who was taken 40th overall.
This draft gave Dan McDonnell the opportunity to reach an historic mark. Coming into Sunday, McDonnell had seen 94 players get drafted since he took command of the program in 2007. You can hear more about what this historic mark means to the program from our last episode of the 3rd and Central Podcast, featuring Dalton Rushing.
While the 100 draftees mark was not reached during this draft, the mark will be met during next year’s draft, solidifying Dan McDonnell’s legacy as an all-time great college baseball coach.
Here is a breakdown of where everyone is going.
Current Louisville baseball draftees
Dalton Rushing
Team- Los Angeles Dodgers
Round- 2
Pick- 40
Slot value- $1,950,900
Jared Poland
Team- Miami Marlins
Round- 6
Pick- 172
Slot value- $306,200
Michael Prosecky
Team- Colorado Rockies
Round- 6
Pick- 176
Slot value- $296,100
Ben Metzinger
Team- Milwaukee Brewers
Round- 7
Pick- 222
Slot value- $204,300
Levi Usher
Team- Kansas City Royals
Round- 10
Pick- 295
Slot value- $153,500
Takeaways:
These five Cardinals will take the next step in their careers and add on to an historic run in the draft for Louiville and Dan McDonnell.
Everyone is expected to sign and once they do, there will be 47 Louisville Cardinals who are currently playing in affiliated, professional baseball.
This also sets McDonnell up for a very impressive mark next season. There have now been 99 Louisville baseball draft picks during his tenure at Louisville. The first Cardinal off the board next season will be 100 players drafted since 2007. Not too bad for a program that had only 21 draft picks prior to 2007.
Louisville baseball recruiting class draftees
Cam Collier
Team- Cincinnati Reds
Round- 1
Pick- 18
Slot value- $3,700,00
Jacob Miller
Team- Miami Marlins
Round- 2
Pick- 46
Slot value- $1,699,500
Logan Wagner
Team- Los Angeles Dodgers
Round- 6
Pick- 195
Slot value- $251,100
Gavin Kilen
Team- Boston Red Sox
Round-13
Pick- 399
Korbyn Dickerson
Team- Minnesota Twins
Round- 20
Pick-594
This Louisville 2022 class is special. They are ranked third in the nation by Perfect Game, behind only LSU and Vanderbilt. When you recruit at such a high level, you will always lose guys to the draft.
However, this was about the best case scenario for Dan McDonnell and his staff.
There was never going to be a chance that Collier made it to campus.
It also became increasingly clear closer to draft day that Miller and Wagner would also be going in the draft.
Fans can expect that those three will be the only three who do not join this talented class. Kilen and Dickerson both had a chance to go in early rounds of the draft, but appeared to have strong commitments to school, which dropped them to the lower rounds. Boston and Minnesota both made courtesy picks on those two. Unless something drastic happens, expect to see Kilen and Dickerson in a Louisville uniform next season.
Louisville baseball transfer draftees
Jack Perkins
Team- Oakland Athletics
Round- 5
Pick- 154
Slot value- $360,800
Tim Borden
Team- Houston Astros
Round- 16
Pick- 493
Both Jack Perkins and Tim Borden transferred out of Louisville following the 2021 campaign. Perkins to Indiana and Borden to Georgia Tech. Both had very strong seasons and are deserving of their selections.
Despite not being able to see them finish out their career as a Cardinal, it is great for the program when anyone who is or was involved with the team hears their name called on draft day.
Final notes
Even though there were five Cardinals selected, more may get a pro opportunity in the next two weeks. Players who did not hear their name called during the draft can now sign an undrafted free agent deal with any team that they would like. These deals can be for any amount up to $125,000.
The player to watch for during the free agent signing period will be Cam Masterman.
All draft picks and free agents have until August 1st at 5pm to agree to terms with their respective teams.
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