Three Alabama players selected on final day of 2024 MLB Draft

Alabama had three players selected on the final day of the 2024 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The trio joins two draftees on Monday and a first-rounder on Sunday to push the Crimson Tide’s total number of drafted players to six in 2024.

Ian Petrutz (351st Overall | St. Louis Cardinals) was the Tide’s first name called on Tuesday, being selected in the 12th round. He was followed by Pierce George (379th Overall) in round 13 and TJ McCants (469th Overall) who was taken in the 16th, both by the Chicago White Sox. The trio joins first-rounder Ben Hess (26th Overall | New York Yankees), Gage Miller (92nd Overall | Miami Marlins), who went in the third round and Greg Farone (208th Overall | San Francisco Giants), a seventh-round selection, to make up the Crimson Tide’s 2024 draft class.

In addition to the current players, signee Carter Johnson was selected in the second round at pick No. 56 Sunday night by the Marlins. Tuesday saw signees Colby Jones go to the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round (401st Overall) along with Trent Hodgdon (509th Overall) who was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 17th round.

Alabama in the MLB Draft

• The Crimson Tide finished with six total players drafted, tying the 2023 total
• UA’s 12 combined draft picks over the last two seasons are its most in consecutive years since 12 were taken across the 2015-16 drafts
• With the six total selections in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Crimson Tide’s all-time draft pick total moved to 176 (165 players) since the event’s inception in 1966
• Alabama has had at least one player drafted for 46 consecutive years dating back to 1979
• The Tide has had one or more players selected in 53 of the 59 MLB Drafts overall
• UA has seen 70 players selected in the last 14 years
• A total of 105 players have been taken out of The University of Alabama in the last 24 drafts dating back to 2000
• Excluding the abbreviated 2020 MLB Draft, Alabama has had 17 pitchers taken in the last six drafts, including five in the top-five rounds and nine across the first 10 rounds

The 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft began on Sunday, July 14, and ran through Tuesday, July 16. The three-day event was featured on MLB.com.

All players that have remaining eligibility are able to return to the University to continue their careers at Alabama if they elect to not sign a professional contract.

Ian Petrutz (12th Round | 351st Overall | St. Louis Cardinals)
Outfielder, Junior

• An everyday outfielder for the Crimson Tide who started all 57 games in 2024
• Batted .321 (69-215) with 14 doubles, a triple and six home runs
• Added 40 RBI and 42 runs scored while walking 30 times and tallying 20 hit-by-pitch
• Recorded 23 multi-hit efforts to rank second on UA, including a team-best 15 in SEC play
• Ranked second overall on UA in doubles, walks and on-base percentage (.447)
• Owned a team-high .464 on-base percentage in league matchups to finish fifth in the conference
• Led Alabama with a .351 average in SEC play that ranked seventh among league bats, accumulating 40 total hits to tie for eighth in the league
• Spent his first two collegiate seasons at Maryland playing under Rob Vaughn, appearing in 92 games (84 starts) for the Terps

Pierce George (13th Round | 379th Overall | Chicago White Sox)
Pitcher, Sophomore

• A flamethrowing right-hander who joined the Crimson Tide in 2024
• Made 12 appearances out of the bullpen during his first season in Tuscaloosa
• Went 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA (6 ER/11.1 IP) while striking out 10 and limiting opposing hitters to a .222 average
• Picked up his first win with the Crimson Tide against South Carolina on March 29, tossing one scoreless frame with a walk and one punchout
• Began his collegiate career at Texas in 2023, appearing in three games for the Longhorns

TJ McCants (16th Round | 469th Overall | Chicago White Sox)
Outfielder, Senior

• A standout at the plate and in center, starting 56 games for the Crimson Tide in 2024
• Finished with a .306 (72-235) average that included 16 doubles, two triples and 15 home runs
• Accumulated 50 RBI and 47 runs scored while drawing 22 walks and swiping 14 bases
• Led the Crimson Tide in doubles and stolen bases while ranking second in home runs, total bases (137), RBI and slugging percentage (.583)
• Also played standout defense in center, fielding at a perfect 1.000 mark
• Recorded a team-best 22-game hitting streak to start the season, batting .398 (37-93) with 10 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 31 RBI, 24 runs scored and eight stolen bases over that stretch
• Began his collegiate career at Ole Miss from 2020-23, helping lead the Rebels to a 2022 national championship

*** This information was acquired from a recent press release from Alabama Athletics. 

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