Four #HLBASE Student-Athletes Selected in 2024 MLB Draft

July 17

Rachel White

INDIANAPOLIS (July 17, 2024) – Four #HLBASE student-athletes were selected in this week’s MLB Draft, bringing the League’s all-time draft pick total to 179.

Dig Deeper:

Wright State junior outfielder Andrew Patrick was drafted in the 17^th round (pick 504) by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Andrew Patrick appeared in 150 games, starting in 147, in three seasons at Wright State, recording a .288 career batting average with 36 doubles, 37 homers, and 120 RBI. The outfielder collected multiple Horizon League All-League honors in his time as a Raider, being named to the All-Freshman Team in 2022, followed by earning a spot on the All-Horizon League First Team as a sophomore. In 2023, he earned a spot on the East-ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team.
The Pirates selected another Raider, senior pitcher Jake Shirk, in the following round with the 534^th pick.
- Jake Shirk appeared in 58 games in his four years at Wright State, sitting fifth in program history with 45 games started. After making all 12 appearances from the bullpen his first year, the right-handed pitcher primarily served as a starter for Wright State the following three seasons. His 22 career wins tie him for eighth in program history. In his 270 career-innings pitched, Shirk struck out a total of 214 batters, a rate of 7.13 per nine innings.
2024 #HLBASE Pitcher of the Year Brandon Decker was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 19^th round.
- Brandon Decker led the League with 77.0 innings pitched and 90 strikeouts in League contests this season, posting a 4.44 ERA with six wins and six saves. In three seasons, Decker ranks in several career records, including sitting second saves with 16, third in wins with 19, fourth in strikeouts with 219 and fifth in innings pitched with 222.2. In his career, Decker went 19-13 with a 4.97 ERA in 81 appearances and 15 starts and held his opponents to a .246 batting average.
Milwaukee pitcher Owen Rice was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 20^th round.
- Owen Rice spent the past two seasons with the Panthers, making appearances in 22 games including 15 starts over his time with Milwaukee. He pitched 44 1/3 innings, including 33 in 2024 and struck out 65 batters with 51 of those coming this most recent season. For his career he has held opponents to a .266 batting average, with a career-best .242 batting average against in 2024.