WEYMOUTH, Mass. (July 22, 2022) -- The Futures League was well represented in the 2022 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft as a combined 16 league alumni and current players were selected over the course of the three-day event from Sunday through Tuesday.
This year’s haul comes after a record-setting four former Futures League players were selected within the first 60 overall picks in 2021. For the second consecutive year, six of the league’s eight current teams had at least one player selected.
Click here for a full list of 2022 draftees.
A former player’s name was called in the first round for a third consecutive year, continuing the first such run in league history. Former University of Connecticut two-way star Reggie Crawford, who was the Futures League’s 2020 Co-Top Pitching Prospect, became the first Westfield Starfires product ever drafted as the 30th overall choice of the San Francisco Giants.
The league’s professional talent pool grew during Monday’s fourth round as two alumni went off the board with back-to-back picks. Vanderbit catcher Dominic Keegan (Nashua ‘20) and Virginia Tech outfielder Nick Biddison (Nashua ‘18) were chosen by the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively. Keegan was a two-year Futures Leaguer who earned top All-FCBL honors in 2020.
In the seventh round, Cam Schlittler (Nashua ‘19) became the first of two former Futures League right-handed pitchers from Northeastern to be drafted by the New York Yankees.
The end of Monday was busy for the league as two former players were taken in both the eighth and ninth rounds. The eighth round saw another franchise get in on the alumni action as Kentucky righty Sean Harney (Brockton ‘18) joined Keegan in Tampa Bay’s draft class.
It didn’t take long for Crawford to gain company in the history books as “Original Starfire” and UConn teammate Pat Gallagher (Westfield ‘19) was the league’s first Tuesday pick, going to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th round. A round later, Boston College pitcher Mason Pelio (Nashua ‘18) went off the board to the Cincinnati Reds.
Worcester’s Jack Goodman was the lone current Futures Leaguer player to be picked this year. The Pepperdine commit and recently named All-Star shortstop from Medfield, Mass., was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 15th round. Goodman hit .316 through his first 20 games this summer.
Goodman was the first of four league alumni whose name was called in the same round. Another former Sun and Oklahoma State product, Bryce Osmond (Pittsfield ‘19) was the next to go to the Los Angeles Angels. Maryland outfielder Troy Schreffler Jr. (Nashua ‘20) joined the Silver Knight class as he was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies.
The busy 15th round concluded with two-time league pitcher Joe Mancini (Worcester ‘18, New Britain ‘20) earning a selection by the Houston Astros. The final selection to represent a current Futures League team was shortstop EJ Exposito (Worcester ‘20), an Atlanta Braves pick in the 16th round.
Following the conclusion of the 20th round, two other league alumni signed as undrafted free agents. The Boston Red Sox got in on the action by signing UConn catcher Matt Donlan (New Britain ‘20), while UMass Boston pitcher Alex Amalfi (Worcester ‘20-’21) inked with Toronto after spending his last two summers with the Bravehearts.
For the latest news and information on the Futures League all year long, visit thefuturesleague.com and follow the league’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
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