Wake Forest may have grabbed the spotlight early in last week’s MLB Draft, but the rest of the state’s baseball talent was eventually uncovered.
At press time last week, three rounds had been completed. A pair of Demon Deacons —Marek Houston and Ethan Conrad — had been selected in the first round. Two UNC Tar Heels — Luke Stevenson and Kane Kepley — and High Point Wesleyan Christian high school player Josh Hammond also got the call.
More than two dozen more products of North Carolina high schools and colleges got drafted in round four through 20, putting the state in fifth place in the 2025 draft, behind California, Florida, Texas and Georgia.
Wake finished with a total of six draftees. Only 15 other colleges had more players selected. It’s the third straight year Wake has sent at least a half dozen Deacs to the draft.
Outfielder Cameron Nelson went to Colorado in the fifth round, 138th overall. He’s the sixth Deacon drafted by the Rockies and second in the last three drafts.
Southpaw starting pitcher Joseph Ariola was taken by Arizona in the seventh, 213th overall. He’s the fifth Wake player taken by the D-Backs.
Righthander Logan Lunceford was taken in the 12th (375 overall) by the Dodgers. It’s just the second time L.A. has looked Wake’s way and first since Frank Humber was taken in the 16th round in 1989.
Third baseman Jack Winnay went to Boston in the 13th (388 overall). It’s the fourth time the Sox have taken a Deac and first since 2011.
NC State matched Wake for most-productive college program in the state. The Wolfpack also had six players selected, the most from State since 2021.
Lefthanded starter Dominic Fritton, a Fuquay Varina native, went to the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth round (117th). He’s the sixth Wolfpack player taken by the Rays.
Righthander Shane Van Dam went to Kansas City in the ninth round (278th). It’s the fourth time K.C. has looked to State.
Shortstop Justin DeCriscio went to San Diego in the 10th (310th). It’s the second straight draft that the Wolfpack-to-Padres connection has worked.
Third baseman Josh Hogue went to the Marlins in the 15th (438th). It’s the first time since 2019 Miami has taken a State player.
Righthander Andrew Shaffner went to the Reds in the 15th (444th), becoming the sixth Wolfpack player taken by Cincinnati.
Righthander Derrick Smith rounded out State’s draft class, going to the Rockies in the 17th (497th). He’s the sixth State player taken by Colorado.
UNC Wilmington had five players taken, the most for the school since 2018.
Righthander Zane Taylor, of Franklinton, started things for the Seahawks, going to the Athletics in the fifth round (141st). He’s the first UNCW player to go to the A’s since 2018.
First baseman Tanner Thatch, of Belvidere, went to the Rockies in the eighth (227th). It’s the fourth Seahawk taken by Colorado and first since 2017.
Catcher Bryan Arendt, of Fuquay Varina, went to the Athletics in the 13th (380th). The A’s had taken two UNCW players in draft history before taking two this year.
Righthander Trace Baker, of Winterville, was taken by Toronto two picks later. He’s the fifth UNCW player taken by the Blue Jays and first since 2018.
Righthander Aubry Smith, of Leland, was the last Seahawk taken, by Houston in the 13th (396th). It’s just the second time UNCW and Houston have hooked up and the first since 1965.
Two more Tar Heels were taken after the first day.
Righthander Aidan Haugh, of Zebulon, went to the Rays in the sixth (177th). It’s the sixth time Tampa has come to UNC, the first since 2015.
Righthander Jake Knapp, of Greensboro, went to the Cubs in the eighth (241st), joining Kepley. No Tar Heel had gone to the Cubs since 2002.
Duke matched UNC with four players taken:
Lefty James Tallon went to Philadelphia in the sixth (191st).
Southpaw Owen Proksch of Lexington went in the ninth (265th) to Texas.
Shortstop Wallace Clark went to Arizona in the ninth (273rd).
Lefty Andrew Healy was taken by Milwaukee two picks later.
Western Carolina also had four players selected.
Righthander Dusty Revis of Nebo was taken by Seattle in the 11th (332nd).
Outfielder Brayden Corn of Hendersonville went to Seattle in the 15th (452nd).
Righthander Cannon Pickell of Moyock was taken by Miami in the 20th (588th).
Outfielder Hayden Friese of Stoneville went to Atlanta in the 20th(607th).
Charlotte had three players drafted.
Righthander Blake Gillespie went to the Yankees in the ninth (284th).
Catcher Logan Poteet was selected by the Cubs in the 17th (511th).
Two picks later, Arizona took righthander Joel Sarver.
ECU had two players selected.
Second baseman Dixon Williams of Grimesland went in the fourth (136th) to Atlanta.
Righthander Ethan Young of Harrisburg went to St. Louis in the fifth (150th).
Appalachian State had a pair of players taken.
Righty Jackson Steensma was taken by Seattle in the 9th (272nd).
Righthander Liam Best went to St. Louis in the 19th (570th).
Elon also had two players drafted.
Third baseman Ryan Sprock went to Minnesota in the eighth (239th).
Righty Justin Mitrovich was taken by Minnesota in the ninth (269th).
UNC Greensboro righthander Danny Thompson went to Toronto in the eighth (232nd).
UNC Asheville righty Clay Edmondson was taken by San Diego in the 14th (430th).
Queens University righthander Landry Jurecka went to San Diego in the 18th (550th).
A number of high schoolers were also taken.
Southpaw Briggs McKenzie of Wendell’s Corinth Holders went to Atlanta in the fourth (127th).
Righthander CJ Gray, A L Brown HS (Kannapolis), Angels, fifth (140th)
Shortstop Coy James, Davie HS (Advance), Washington, fifth (142nd)
Righthander Eli Jerzembeck, Charlotte (played in college at South Carolina), Cubs, 11th (331st)
Righthander Jake Barbee, Jay M Robinson HS (Harrisburg), Texas, 12th (355th)
Righthander Luke Roupe, Grace Christian (Raleigh), Texas, 12th (355th)
Shortstop Meridian Leffew, Gaston Christian (Belmont), Detroit, 19th (579th)
Lefthander Andrew Sentlinger Charlotte (Virginia Tech), White Sox, 20th (586th)
