MORGANTOWN — West Virginia saw its top two starters, closer and top high-school recruit drafted into the professional baseball ranks Monday.
The starters were senior Derek Clark and junior Aidan Major, who combined for a 13-7 record this past season with 163 2/3 innings pitched.
David Hagaman was the team’s top reliever until an arm injury in April, finishing with a 2-3 record and two saves.
The recruit is Griffin Burkholder, a 6-foot-2 speedy outfielder from Freedom-South Rising (Va.) High School, who was taken in the second round by the Philadelphia Phillies as the No. 63rd overall pick.
The slot value for that pick was worth $1.35 million. Burkholder told InsideNOVA.com he planned to bypass college and begin his professional career.
“West Virginia knew it was a possibility so they’ve been very supportive,” Burkholder told the web site.
Hagaman was taken by the Texas Rangers with the 133rd overall selection in the fourth round (slot value is $530,400), while Major was taken by the Cleveland Guardians in the fifth round with the 146th overall pick (worth $466,900).
Clark was taken in the ninth round by the Los Angeles Angels with the 262nd pick. The slot value for Clark’s pick is worth $197,500, although Clark has no college eligibility remaining.
Hagaman and Major joined J.J. Wetherholt as WVU picks in the top five rounds, marking the first time in school history that three Mountaineers were taken in the first five rounds.
Wetherholt was drafted No. 7 overall by the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.
The Mountaineers have had at least one player taken in 11 of the last 12 drafts, while former head coach Randy Mazey has now had 41 players selected during his 12 years at WVU.
Major shifted between starter and the bullpen during his three seasons with the Mountaineers. He went 12-6 with a 4.93 ERA over his college career and recorded 167 strikeouts in 142 1/3 innings pitched. He was named all-Big 12 honorable mention in 2023.
Clark became WVU’s top starter in his only season in Morgantown.
Transferring from Division II Northwood (Mich.), University, Clark went 8-3 and became a postseason hero, as WVU advanced to its first-ever super regional.
In the regional round, Clark pitched a complete game and struck out eight in a win against No. 25 Dallas Baptist, only to come back two days later and record the final two outs against Grand Canyon to win the Tucson (Ariz.) Regional.
He then pitched 8 1/3 innings and threw 144 pitches in a walk-off loss against North Carolina in the super regional.
Hagaman was redshirted as a freshman in 2022, but came on as a hard-thrower the last two seasons, as he shifted between starter and reliever.
In his two seasons, Hagaman went 3-5 on the mound with a 4.66 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings pitched, while holding opponents to a .202 batting average.
Burkholder was the jewel of WVU’s 2024 recruiting class, which was ranked No. 28 in the nation by Perfect Game.
He first committed to WVU in 2022, but officially signed heading into his senior year.
Before his senior season began, he was already ranked as the No. 93 overall prospect in the nation, according to Perfect Game.
His senior season saw Burkholder rise rapidly through the rankings. Burkholder hit .436 as a senior with two home runs and 21 RBIs.
By the time the draft began Sunday night, Burkholder had risen to the No. 46 overall prospect.
“Burkholder already looks like he belongs with a strong and athletic frame that is what they look like,” was how Burkholder’s scouting report began on MLB.com. “And he has some tools to match. The right-handed hitter was one of the best performers at last summer’s East Coast Pro Showcase and has the chance to have real impact at the plate.”
Burkholder attended the pre-draft scouting combine in Phoenix and he finished third among all participants in the 30-yard dash (3.6 seconds).
The final day of the draft concludes Tuesday with rounds 11-20.
