MVP Bryce Eldridge one of seven WBSC U-18 World Champions selected in MLB Draft Day 1
Seven U-18 World Champions were selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Amateur Draft, including XXX WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup MVP Bryce Eldridge.
The San Francisco Giants selected Eldridge, a two-way phenom who homered and picked the save in the world championship game against Chinese Taipei at No. 16.
Left-handed outfielder Maxwell Clarck started all games for the US at the XXX U-18 Baseball World Cup, covering the three outfield positions. The Detroit Tigers made him the third choice overall.
Blake Mitchell, a left-handed bat, was the USA starting catcher. The Kansas City Royals selected him at No. 8.
Colt Emerson was the starting third baseball for the US in the 2022 U-18 World Cup. The Seattle Mariners picked him at No. 22. Emerson helped the US win the 2017 U-12 Baseball World Cup. Ralphy Velazquez, who played with Emerson at the U-12 Baseball World Cup 2017, was selected at No. 23 by the Cleveland Guardians.
Aidan Miller made the XXX U-18 Baseball World Cup All-World Team as the best outfielder. after hitting .478. The Philadelphia Phillies selected him at No. 27.
The Los Angeles Dodgers chose left-handed outfielder Kendall George at No. 36. He started all games at centre field for the US in the U-18 Baseball World Cup 2022.
Kevin McGonigle, another left-handed bat, was the starting second baseman on the 2022 U-18 World Champion team. The Detroit Tigers picked him at No. 37.
Day 1 of the MLB Draft included 37 rounds. The first overall pick (Pittsburgh Pirates) selected another USA Baseball alum, 6-foot-6-inches right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes, out of Lousiana State University.
It's the 20th time in the last 23 years that the first pick played for the US National Teams.
The total of USA Baseball alumni drafted in 2023 is 19. This takes the total to 569 since 1972.