On Day two of the MLB Amateur Draft, Transylvania's Trent Youngblood was the first player from the DIII ranks to hear his name announced. Nolan Sparks, Rochester and Hunter Dryden, Whitworth were drafted on the final day. Five other players who started their careers at a DIII school heard their names called as well.
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Will Watson, RHP, Cal Lutheran
New York Mets, 7th round, No. 203rd overall
Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 180.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Bow, Washington
Will Watson was drafted in the seventh round (203rd overall) by the New York Mets out of the University of Southern California. Watson played for the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen in 2022.
Anthony Dorofrio, OF, Cortland
Seattle, 10th round, No. 303rd overall
Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195.
Bats: Left. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Massapequa, New York
Anthony Dorofrio was drafted in the 10th round by Seattle's MLB team as the 303rd overall selection out of North Carolina.
After playing two years at Quinnipiac (2022-23), Donofrio transferred to UNC and started 58 of 61 games played. He recorded a final slash line of .326/.435/.547, led the team in on-base percentage and posted the third-highest batting average. Donofrio led the ACC in triples (6), ranked fifth in steals (19) and eighth in doubles (19).
Anthony Dorofrio batted .290 in 1999-2000 over 23 games for the Cortland Red Dragons.
Trent Youngblood, OF, Transylvania
Baltimore, 10th round, No. 314th overall
Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 175.
Bats: Left. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Transylvania senior Trent Youngblood led the way for players with a DIII bullet on their resume. With their tenth round selection, 314th overall, the Arizona Diamondback chose Youngblood as the third outfielder taken by the National League organization.
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| Transylvania athletics photo |
Following the end of the 2024 season, Youngblood has been named to both the 2024 D3Baseball.com and 2024 ABCA/Rawlings All-America teams, solidifying his place as one of the top players in NCAA Division III baseball. Youngblood's exceptional performance this season earned him First Team honors from both prestigious organizations.
Youngblood led the Pioneers with a .441 batting average, 127 total bases, and 34 stolen bases, setting multiple school records along the way. His consistent excellence on the field has not only earned him the 2024 HCAC Player of the Year award but also recognition as the D3Baseball.com and ABCA Region 8 Player of the Year. This marks his second time receiving First Team All-Region honors from both D3Baseball.com and the ABCA, having previously been named in 2022 and earning Third Team honors in 2021.
Youngblood has been a record breaker this season, cementing his legacy as one of the best, if not the best Transylvania Baseball player of all time. Youngblood became the Transylvania hit king earlier this season when he earned his 219th career hit against Rose-Hulman, a home run.
Youngblood also holds the career triples record, doubles record, walks record, total bases record, stolen bases record, and runs record. He is the single season leader in stolen bases and runs scored.
Over the course of his career, Youngblood has hit .424 with 251 hits, 25 being home runs, while driving in 133 RBI's and stealing 81 bases. He has been walked 126 times in his college career, and has an on base percentage of .539.
Coach Zack Getsee remarked, "Trent has earned every accolade he received during his career. He set the standard for our program on a daily basis. I couldn't be more proud of him."
Youngblood's accolades highlight a historic season for the Pioneers who went 34-14 losing the NCAA Regional championship. These accomplishments underscore the talent and hard work of the Transylvania program, with Youngblood's achievements setting a high bar for future Pioneers.
Nolan Sparks, RHP, Rochester
St. Loius, 13th round, No. 381th overall
Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 195.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Aurora, Colorado
University of Rochester senior right-hander Nolan Sparks was the second DIII player selected in the MLB Draft. He was a 13th round (381st overall) selection of the St. Loius Cardinals. The Cardinals have a number of players from the DIII ranks that have been added to the MLB roster this year (Nick Raposo, Wheaton(Mass.) and Ryan Loutos, Washington Univ.). Sparks becomes just the third player drafted in the MLB Amateur Draft in program history, and the first since the Cincinnati Reds took John Ghyzel in the 18th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. Pitcher Michael Weiermiller was selected in the 14th round (No. 348 overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 1981.
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| Rochester athletics photo |
Sparks earned a number of honors following the end of the 2024 season. D3baseball.com tabbed the righthander as a fourth team All-American. He was also recognized as an Academic All-American® for the second straight year.
These honors are in addition to being awarded First Team All-Region III by both D3baseball.com and the American Baseball Coaches Association and was Liberty League Pitcher of the Year along with First Team All-Liberty League. All four of those awards are repeat selections from 2023. In addition, the senior garnered Liberty League Pitcher of the Week twice and D3baseball.com Team of the Week recognition once.
"This is an incredible honor for Nolan and well deserved," Head Coach Joe Renina said. "To be able to compete at the level he does while taking the coursework he takes, I am glad he is recognized properly!"
The three-time First-Team All-Liberty League selection was 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 10 starts on the mound. With over 60.0 innings pitched, Sparks struck out 80 batters, tied for the second-most in a single season in program history, and walked just 19, holding opponents to a .201 opponent batting average. The senior led the Liberty League in strikeouts and ranked in the top five in ERA, WHIP, opponent batting average, wins and games started and finished in the top 50 nationally in ERA (30th), WHIP (47th) and strikeouts (49th) in NCAA Division III.
For his career, Sparks went 19-5 over 38 starts and 43 appearances with a 3.06 ERA and 248 strikeouts in 209.0 innings pitched. Sparks became UR's all-time leader in strikeouts this season, and also graduates ranked second all-time in starts, fourth in wins, seventh in innings pitched, ninth in opponent batting average and 10th in ERA.
Off the field, Sparks in a three-time Liberty League All-Academic selection and a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection, graduating with a 3.92 GPA. The Aurora, CO native was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, named a 2023 Lysle 'Spike' Garnish Scholar-Athlete in the fall and received the Simon Scholar Award.
Alex Bouchard, RHP, Dickinson
Boston, 14th round, No. 417th overall
Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 210.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Chalfont, Pennsylvania
Bouchard, the native of Chalfont, Pennsylvania, spent just one season in Carlisle going 4-0 with a 3.42 ERA over ten appearances out of the bullpen for Craig Hanson's squad. During the 2022 campaign with Dickinson he hurled 23.2 innings allowing 20 hits and 11 runs, while also collecting 28 strikeouts and surrendering just seven walks. He earned his first-ever collegiate win on March 22nd, 2022 when he tossed three innings of two-hit shutout baseball in addition to fanning six batters as Dickinson secured a 7-3 non-conference road win at Juniata College. Bouchard also claimed victories over conference foes Muhlenberg College, Gettysburg College and McDaniel College.
Following the 2022 season at Dickinson, Bouchard pursued an opportunity to pitch at the Division I level heading to the Patriot League's Lehigh University where he has spent the last two years with the Mountain Hawks posting a 4-3 record (one save) with a 3.86 ERA over 56 innings pitched racking up 48 strikeouts and issuing just 28 free passes. His best outing last year came against Charleston Southern on February 23rd as he lasted 3.2 frames tossing 89 pitches and recording a career-high eight strikeouts as the Mountain Hawks nabbed a 13-9 victory.
Brendan Durfee, C, Cal Lutheran
San Diego, 14th round, No. 420th overall
Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 221.
Bats: Left. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Monrovia, California
Brendan Durfee was a 14th round selection of the San Diego Padres from US Santa Barbara. The 420th overall selection played for the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen between 2021 and 2023.
Colby Martin, RHP, Messiah, Shenandoah
Toronto, 16th round, No. 487th overall
Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 195.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Lititz, Pennsylvania
Colby Martin was drafted in the 16th round by the Toronto Blue Jays out of Southeastern (Florida). The 487th overall pick started his baseball career at Messiah in 2020. In 2021 he played for the Shenandoah Hornets until 2023. Following the 2023 season, Martin was a free agent signee by the San Diego Padres but instead of starting a professional career, opted for a stint at NAIA Southeastern in Lakeland, Florida.
As a freshman in Messiah, Martin appeared in six games for the Falcons, making five starts before COVID shut down the 2020 season.
He transferred to Shenandoah and made an immediate impact. following the season he was named a D3Baseball.com and ABCA first team All-American, the D3Baseball.com and ABCA South Region Player of the Year and ODAC Player of the Year. The Lititz, Pennsylvania, native missed the 2022 season due to injury and bounced back in 2023, earning All-Region and All-America accolades by D3Baseball.com and ABCA. On the mound, the righty had 16 career strikeouts in just 9 1/3 innings pitched with four career saves. At the plate, he batted .433 across two seasons with 11 home runs and 105 RBIs.
For the Southeastern Fire, Martin appeared in 17 games and was awarded with one win. He finished the season with a 4.41 ERA. He finished the season with 31 strikeouts over 16.1 innings with only 11 walks. Opposing batters were held to a .155 batting average over the stretch. In his inaugural appearance for the Fire he notched five strikeouts over two innings in a 5-3 win over Ottawa University. He made his appearance in the NAIA Opening Round count as he delivered a perfect three strikeout inning in a 10-2 win over Mount Mercy.
Hunter Dryden, RHP, Whitworth
San Francisco, 17th round, No. 508th overall
Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 168.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Deer Park, Washington
Hunter Dryden, Whitworth's senior righthanded pitcher was the third player drafted off a DIII Roster in the 2024 MLB Draft. In the 17th round, the San Francisco Giants tabbed him with the 508th overall pick. He was the first the first Pirate drafted since Hugh Smith and Joel Condreay were selected following the 2016 season.
Dryden placed on the second team of the 2024 American Baseball Coaches Association Division III All-Region 10 team. He was Whitworth's first All-Region honoree in baseball since Jaxson Sweum was also a second team selection in 2021.
Dryden, who graduated from Whitworth this month, earned first team All-Northwest Conference recognition after leading the league in earned run average (2.10). He finished 6-3 with one save and struck out 9.3 batters per nine innings. He overcame a midseason injury to toss 68.2 innings. Dryden finished his Pirate career with an 18-10 record, including an 11-5 mark over the last two seasons.
Dryden was also named to the 2024 NCAA Division III Academic All-District team in baseball. The business major from nearby Deer Park, Washington had a 3.72 GPA through th January term.
Dryden is currently playing for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the MLB Draft League in Niles, Ohio.