Evan Aschenbeck announces he will begin professional career, not return to Texas A&M

Texas A&M fans were holding out hope through the 2024 MLB Draft, that one of the nation’s best closers would return to school for one more year. However, on Wednesday evening, Evan Aschenbeck made the news official. And it’s not the news Aggie faithful wanted to hear. He announced on his Twitter page that he will pursue his professional baseball career.

Aggieland, I am forever grateful for the love I have received over the last two years. After not hearing back from the NCAA about additional eligibility, it’s time for me to pursue my dream of playing professional baseball. I will be back as often as I can, Aggieland is my home.

— Evan Aschenbeck (@Ev_Asch_53) July 25, 2024

“Aggieland, I am forever grateful for the love I have received over the last two years. After not hearing back from the NCAA about additional eligibility, it’s time for me to pursue my dream of playing professional baseball. I will back as often as I can, Aggieland is my home,” the superstar closer said on his Twitter page.

The Chicago Cubs selected him with the No. 392 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. According to Carlos Collazo, Aschenbeck signed his rookie deal worth $150,000. That’s a heck of a deal for a closer who just put together one of the greatest seasons in Texas A&M baseball history.

In his two seasons with the Aggies, Aschenbeck made 58 appearances, amassing 140.2 innings pitched. He tallied 162 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .220 batting average. Moreover, he recorded a 2.56 ERA and posted a 14-2 record.

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For his efforts in the 2024 campaign, Aschenbeck was named an All-SEC First-Team selection. In Aschenbeck’s two years at Blinn, he collected 18 appearances. He notched 117 strikeouts for the program and had a 4.41 ERA.

Evan Aschenbeck played high school baseball at Brenham High School, where he was the No. 500 overall prospect and the No. 183 left-handed pitcher in the 2020 recruiting cycle, according to Perfect Game. In his senior season at Brenham, Aschenbeck earned honorable mention all-district honors and first-team all-district honors.

Another Texas A&M pitcher gets selected in 2024 MLB Draft

Aschenbeck isn’t the only Aggie who heard their named called in the draft. The Los Angeles Angels selected Texas A&M left-handed pitcher Ryan Prager with the No. 81 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Prager spent three seasons at Texas A&M.

This past season, Prager made 19 appearances, amassing 97.2 innings pitched. He tallied 124 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .226 batting average. He finished the season with a 2.95 ERA and a 9-1 record.

In Texas A&M’s win over Tennessee in Game 1 of the national championship, Prager pitched four innings. He only allowed two runs and notched six strikeouts. For his efforts in 2024, Prager was named an All-SEC Second-Team selection and a D1Baseball Second-Team All-American.

Prager did not participate in the 2023 season after suffering a UCL injury. He used his redshirt that season. During his debut campaign with the Aggies in 2022, Prager appeared in 10 games with nine starts. He struck out 37 batters in 37.2 innings of work to go along with a 5.02 ERA.

Ryan Prager played high school baseball at Hillcrest High School (TX), where he was the No. 340 overall prospect and No. 40 LHP in the 2021 recruiting cycle, according to Perfect Game.

On3’s Grant Grubbs also contributed to this article.