Home UVA baseball: Joe McCarthy, Brandon Waddell picked in fifth round of MLB Draft
Baseball

UVA baseball: Joe McCarthy, Brandon Waddell picked in fifth round of MLB Draft

Chris Graham

uva-baseballUVA outfielder Joe McCarthy (Jr., Scranton, Pa.) and left-handed pitcher Brandon Waddell (Jr., Houston, Texas) were selected Tuesday during the fifth round of the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The Tampa Bay Rays picked McCarthy with the 148th overall selection, while Waddell was taken just nine picks later by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Virginia has had four players selected through the first two days of the draft. Junior left-handed pitcher Nathan Kirby (Jr., Richmond, Va.) was taken 40th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, while Sborz was drafted 74th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The draft concludes Wednesday with rounds 11-40.

After being sidelined for the first 35 games following back surgery, McCarthy has proved to be a key cog in the Cavaliers’ lineup since returning. UVa is 18-8 in the 26 games since his return. McCarthy is batting .225 this season, although he is hitting .294 in the NCAA tournament.

A two-time All-ACC honoree and the 2013 ACC Freshman of the Year, McCarthy is a .303 career batter with 109 RBI. He owns a .431 career on-base percentage and ranks ninth in program history with 109 walks and 11th with 26 hit by pitch.

Waddell is 3-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 91 innings this season and owns a 19-11 career record. He has made 50 career starts at Virginia and will match former Cavalier Danny Hultzen for the most career starts in program history with his next start. Waddell has worked 293 2/3 career innings, which is fifth most in the UVa annals, and has a 3.43 career ERA.

Waddell was a third-team All-ACC honoree in 2014 and also was named to the All-College World Series Team. He was selected to the 2015 Lake Elsinore Regional Team after working 7 1/3 innings of one-run baseball in the Cavaliers’ 3-1 victory over San Diego State. He has pitched some of his best baseball in the NCAA tournament and is 4-1 with a 2.16 ERA in eight career tournament starts.

Virginia plays in the College World Series at 3 p.m. Saturday against Arkansas.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham, the king of "fringe media," a zero-time Virginia Sportswriter of the Year, and a member of zero Halls of Fame, is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].

Latest News

Sports Betting

How To Bet Usyk vs. Dubois In California

Sports Betting

How To Bet On Usyk vs. Dubois In Texas

Usyk vs Dubois II takes place Saturday, July 19, 2025, and boxing fans in Texas are searching for the best ways to bet on the heavyweight title fight. With all four major belts on the line, the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois is one of the biggest fights of the year. While Texas...

malcolm brogdon
Basketball, Go 'Hoos

Rumor mill: LA Clippers showing interest in UVA Basketball alum Malcom Brogdon

UVA Basketball alum Malcolm Brogdon, late of the Washington Wizards, is still a free agent, but there’s smoke about the Los Angeles Clippers having major interest.

wboro glow up tmobile solar
Arts, Local

Waynesboro light show aims to draw residents downtown for dining, shopping

Local, Politics

Shenandoah LGBTQ Center celebrates seven years serving as a safe space in Staunton

Sports Betting

How To Bet On Usyk vs. Dubois In Florida

henry godbout uva baseball
Baseball, Go 'Hoos

UVA Baseball: What if we get the good Harrison Didawick from 2024 back next season?