Several baseball players with Illinois connections have been selected in Major League Baseball’s 2024 amateur draft.
Here’s a look at which teams drafted them and where they were picked relative to their predraft MLB Pipeline top 250 ranking. These selections are through Monday’s draft activity, which ended after the 10th round. The draft resumes at 1 p.m. Tuesday with Rounds 11-20.
No. 26: Ben Hess (Charleston/Alabama) by the New York Yankees
A right-handed pitcher from downstate Charleston, Hess boosted his MLB Pipeline projection of No. 44 to become a first-round pick. In three seasons at Alabama, he had a 12-6 record as a starter.
No. 35: JD Dix (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) by the Arizona Diamondbacks
Notable for attending the alma mater of Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell in Wisconsin, Dix improved on his MLB Pipeline projection of No. 75. Dix, a shortstop, is committed to Wake Forest, which had three players picked in the top 10 on Sunday.
No. 55: Ryan Sloan (York) by the Seattle Mariners
A right-handed pitcher, Sloan was projected at No. 19 in the MLB Pipeline list. Though he dropped to the second round, that could reflect the frequent and chaotic behind-the-scenes negotiating that is common around the draft rather than any concerns or performance issues. The Seattle Mariners reporter for MLB.com says the team agreed to sign Sloan well over slot value at about $3 million. Sloan also is committed to Wake Forest.
No. 66: Tyler Bell (Lincoln-Way East) by the Tampa Bay Rays
Bell, a defense-first shortstop, was projected at No. 81 by MLB Pipeline. The switch hitter is committed to Kentucky and will have to choose whether to sign with the Rays or go to college.
No. 108: Jackson Kent (Lake Park/Arizona) by the Washington Nationals
A left-handed pitcher, Kent made the All-Pac-12 team this past season and increased his position a bit from his No. 136 MLB Pipeline projection.
No. 140: Sam Antonacci (Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin/Heartland CC/Coastal Carolina) by the Chicago White Sox
The Sox kept it in-state with their fifth-round pick. Antonacci, an infielder, was the 2023 NJCAA Division II national player of the year for Heartland in Normal.
No. 172: Peyton Olejnik (Hanover Central (Ind.)/Triton/Oklahoma/Miami of Ohio) by the Los Angeles Angels
Olejnik is a 6-11, 210-pound, right-handed pitcher from Northwest Indiana. He went 9-1 with a 4.76 ERA in 19 appearances as a junior last season.
No. 191: Ethan Bagwell (Collinsville) by the Atlanta Braves
Bagwell is a 6-4, 230-pound right-handed pitcher from downstate Collinsville, which has sent four players to the major leagues. Bagwell has a college commitment to Missouri.
No. 250: Brendan Tunink (Newman Central Catholic) by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Tunink is a left-handed-hitting outfielder who played at Newman in Sterling, Ill. He committed to Notre Dame in 2022 but participated in June’s MLB draft combine, indicating he might choose to sign with the Dodgers.
No. 268: Zane Zielinski (Lake View/Northeast CC/UIC) by the San Francisco Giants
Zielinski, a 6-3 middle infielder, was an All-Missouri Valley Conference selection as a senior at UIC.
No. 275: Griffin Tobias (Lake Central (Ind.)) by the Milwaukee Brewers
Griffin, a right-handed pitcher, was the Post-Tribune Baseball Player of the Year and helped his team to the Indiana Class 4A championship.
No. 279: Jack Crowder (Plainfield East/Illinois) by the Baltimore Orioles
Crowder is a 6-4, 225-pound right-handed pitcher who had a career 6.23 ERA in 182 innings across four seasons at Illinois.
No. 283: Ryan Smith (Nazareth/UIC) by the Houston Astros
Smith is a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher from Westchester who has seen action in two seasons at UIC.
No. 305: Ethan Dorchies (Cary-Grove) by the Milwaukee Brewers
Dorchies is a 6-5, 215-pound right-handed pitcher. He has a college commitment to UIC.
No. 354: Camden Janik (Wauconda/Illinois) by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Janik is a 5-10, 195-pound catcher who was an All-Big Ten and third-team All-America selection this year.
No. 440: Sir Jamison Jones (St. Rita) by the Washington Nationals
Jones is a 6-3, 225-pound, right-handed catcher who participated in June’s MLB draft combine and has a college commitment to Oklahoma State.
Sources: MLB.com, Baseball Reference, uicflames.com, fightingillini.com, goccusports.com, rolltide.com.
