3 late-round 2024 MLB Draft stars from Wake Forest
Wake Forest had six players leaving for the MLB in this year's edition of the draft. Following their successful 2023 season, in which they won their regional round and were regular-season champions of the ACC, much was expected of the Demon Deacons this past season.
While they couldn't rise to their 2023 highs, at least they managed another appearance in the NCAA Baseball Tournament in 2024.
In the end, they fell in the Greenville Regional to VCU and East Carolina. Their 38-22 record was good on the face of it, but further inspection reveals a mediocre 15-15 conference record. The brightest spot in their season was starting pitcher Chase Burns, who came in as a transfer from Tennessee. He ended up being the second overall pick of the draft by the Cincinnati Reds.
Here are three picks that didn't have quite the same publicity as Chase Burns.
3 late-round 2024 MLB draft picks from Wake Forest
#3 Josh Hartle P - Pittsburgh Pirates
Left-handed pitcher Josh Hartle was the captain of the 2024 Wake Forest team. His best season was potentially 2023 when he was a First Team All-American selection by the NCBWA and Baseball America. Over three seasons of college ball, he had an ERA of 4.41 and a record of 24-11. He was picked by the Pirates in the third round with the 83rd draft pick.
#2 Michael Massey P - Detroit Tigers
Michael Massey is yet another pitcher on this list, which speaks to the quality of flame throwers at Winston-Salem. In 2023, he was an All-ACC Academic Team Selection and Winston-Salem Regional All-Tournament Team pick. In three seasons at the NCAA level (the first one with Tulane), his ERA was 4.26. He was the 114th pick in the draft by the Detroit Tigers in the fourth round.
#1 Will Gervase P - Los Angeles Angels
It would seem that all that comes out of this North Carolina school are pitchers if we judge them by the sole lens of the 2024 MLB draft. Gervase was the last Wake Forest Demon Deacon picked this year, being the 472nd draft pick by the Los Angeles Angels in the 16th round of the draft.
As a reliever in 2024, he took part in eight games out of the bullpen. He struck out five batters in 4.1 innings pitched this season and had a career-high two batters struck out in one inning against Elon in early March.