Four Floridians Picked In First Round Of 2024 MLB Draft
Jurrangelo Cijntje pitches during a no-hitter he threw for Miami Champagnat in 2021. The ambidextrous pitcher was selected in the first round on Sunday, one of four Florida players chosen on Sunday in the 2024 MLB Draft.
It did not take long for the state of Florida to ring the bell and celebrate one of its own in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft. The three-day event kicked off with the first 74 picks on Sunday night, and that included four Floridians in the opening round, and six total. University of Florida standout Jac Caglianone was taken sixth overall to lead the group, as the former Plant Panther was chosen by the Kansas City Royals.
Caglianone already has his name attached to MLB history, as he was part of eight straight college players who were selected to begin the draft. This had never happened before in the 59-year history of the MLB Draft.
With the fourteenth pick, Florida State University third baseman and former Palm Beach Central star Cam Smith was drafted by the Chicago Cubs. Smith was the 2022 HSBN Palm Beach County Hitter of the Year in his senior year for the Broncos, before going on to star for the Seminoles.
#14 pick Cam Smith, pictured here in his senior year at Palm Beach Central.
Jurrangelo Cijntje was the next player to represent Florida, when the ambidextrous pitcher was selected 15th overall by the Seattle Mariners. Cijntje was the ace for two seasons at Champagnat in Miami, before going on to a standout college career at Mississippi State University.
Even though this draft was historically low for high school players coming off the boards, the fifth high schooler chosen was Hardee shortstop Kellon Lindsey, who was picked 23rd overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
IMG Academy was then represented by a pair of former players in the next rounds. Former LSU third baseman Tommy White went in the second round with the 40th selection to the Oakland Athletics, and left-hander Blake Larson was drafted by the Chicago White Sox with the 68th overall pick, in the Competitive Balance B round.
The draft continues on Monday with rounds three through ten, beginning at 2:00 P.M.
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