MORGANTOWN — No current Mountaineer heard their name called as the back half of the 2023 MLB Draft passed Tuesday.
Pitcher Carlson Reed and outfielder Braden Barry were the only WVU players selected in the 2023 draft, both being taken in the middle rounds on Monday.
Before the final 10 rounds kicked off Tuesday, incoming freshman pitcher Chase Meyer announced on Twitter that he would be going to WVU irrespective of if he was drafted.
Meyer, from Lincolnton, NC, is the highest-rated member of WVU’s 2023 recruiting class, ranked 110th overall. He is nationally ranked as the 31st-best right-handed pitcher in the class and the seventh overall best prospect in North Carolina.
“Morgantown I’m staying home,” Meyer Tweeted Tuesday morning. “Let’s bring is home this year.”
Incoming WVU transfer Zane Barnhart was selected in the 17th round, 511th overall, by the Baltimore Orioles.
Barnhart announced his transfer to WVU from Hillsdale College earlier this offseason. In three college seasons, the right-handed reliever has a 3.48 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 75 innings.
Barnhart has excelled playing in the MLB Draft League this summer, striking out 30 batters in 18 innings with a 1.00 ERA.
Unselected in the 2023 draft were WVU’s Caleb McNeely, Kevin Dowdell, Landon Wallace and Tevin Tucker.
Dowdell, a two-way depth player for the Mountaineers is out of college eligibility.
Tucker, a graduate shortstop, had a breakout 2023 season, batting .318 with 58 runs and 20 stolen bases. Despite being at WVU for five seasons, Tucker has the eligibility to return for a sixth if he chooses.
McNeely and Wallace were both first-year Mountaineers this season. McNeely hit .296 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI. Wallace batted .312 with 11 home runs and 49 RBI. Wallace has college eligibility remaining.
Marshall University had a second player drafted with pitcher Zac Addkison being taken in the 15th round by the San Diego Padres.
The junior righty from San Antonio, Texas, finished 2023 with a 4.60 ERA, the best among eligible Marshall pitchers, in 72.1 innings with 72 strikeouts and a .231 opponent batting average.
Recent Morgantown High graduate Aaron Jamison was draft-eligible but went unselected. The outfielder has signed to play at WVU next season.
Jamison had three hits including a home run and a double in 11 games playing for the WV Black Bears in the Draft League this summer.
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