Day 3 of the 2024 MLB Draft saw two of the five remaining UVA Baseball recruits who had been on big-league radars get drafted.
Right-handed pitcher Trey Gregory-Alford was taken by the Los Angeles Angels in the 11th round, and outfielder James Nunnallee was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 14th round.
A guy from the 2024 roster, Anthony Stephan, went to the Cincinnati Reds in the 13th round.
This section of the draft is where teams pick high-school guys with the thought that, hey, it can’t hurt, maybe we can offer a decent signing bonus and lure him, otherwise, we haven’t wasted much.
As we reported earlier in the day on Tuesday, right-handed pitcher Jay Woolfolk, who had been projected to go as high as the third round, announced, after not going in the first 10 rounds of the draft, that he will return to UVA for his senior season in 2025.
Another projected Day 2 pick, outfielder Harrison Didawick, who was a projected second- or third-rounder, also went undrafted, and presumably will return for his junior season.
As expected, shortstop Griff O’Ferrall went in the first round, to the Baltimore Orioles, who used their second-round pick on UVA catcher/first baseman Ethan Anderson.
Three recruits in the Top 5 recruiting class went in the second round – the Chicago White Sox took shortstop Caleb Bonemer with the 43rd pick, the Washington Nationals took shortstop Luke Dickerson at 44, and right-handed pitcher Bryan Meccage went with the 57th pick to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Based on the expected seven-figure signing bonuses at those pick slots, you can assume that all three will sign with their MLB teams and begin their pro careers.
Three other incoming recruits had been projected fourth- or fifth-round picks – left-handed pitchers Tomas Valincius (MLB.com: #107) and William Kirk (MLB.com: #110) and third baseman Aiden Harris (MLB.com: #168).
None had their names called on Day 3.
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Chris Graham
