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LATEST: Just In Giants Made Shocking Selection In MLB Draft
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University pitcher Tyler Switalski was drafted in the 16th round of the 2024 MLB Draft with pick No. 478 by the San Francisco Giants.
Switalski was the fifth Mountaineer taken in this year’s draft, joining shortstop JJ Wetherholt (No. 7, Cardinals) and pitchers David Hagaman (No. 133, Rangers), Aidan Major (No. 146, Guardians), and Derek Clark (No. 262, Angels). Overall, he is the 112th Mountaineer to be chosen in the MLB Draft all time, including 42 during coach Randy Mazey’s tenure (2013-2024).
The Mountaineers have had at least one player taken in 11 of the last 12 years and all but four drafts since 1984. WVU has also had multiple players taken in the first-year player draft 10 of the last 11 years, the only exception being the five-round 2020 draft.
It is the first time since 2019 that WVU has had at least five players selected in the MLB Draft and the first time since the draft was shortened to 20 rounds in 2021. Overall, it is just the fifth time that five Mountaineers have gone in a single draft along with 1999, 2001, 2014, and 2019.
In his first year with WVU, Switalski went 5-3 with a 5.10 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 67.0 innings pitched.
Switalski saved his best stuff for the postseason as he earned a spot on the Tucson Regional All-Tournament Team after tossing 7.2 innings against Grand Canyon while allowing just one run. He followed that up with 6.1 innings against No. 3 North Carolina in the NCAA Super Regionals.
