Diamond Dawgs make history after adding six more players in 2024 MLB Draft

Three days, 20 round and 615 picks came and went in the MLB Draft in 2024 and Mississippi State made some history along the way.

11 Diamond Dawgs were taken in the three-day event which broke a school-record for 20 rounds and tied the 2016 and 2019 team for most players drafted overall. Those two drafts were conducted in 40 rounds.

Additionally, State had two signees drafted and a transfer, amounting to 14 Bulldogs coming off the board.

A big final day brings decisions for some Bulldog players

Six of those players came through on Tuesday as the draft  concluded with rounds 11-20. RHP Tyson Hardin and LHP Tyler Davis were among those as Hardin was drafted in the 12^th round by the Milwaukee Brewers and Davis in the 15^th to the Kansas City Royals.

Both pitchers are success stories under new pitching coach Justin Parker as they went from one of the Diamond Dawgs’ most hittable relievers to two of the best in the SEC. Hardin and Davis combined to surrender 71 hits and 55 runs in 42.1 innings in 2023 to 61 hits and 27 runs in 71.2 innings.

Davis emerged as State’s closer this season and had a year to remember. The VCU transfer threw in 28 games and 35.1 innings and gave up just 28 hits, 11 runs and 14 walks this season with 41 strikeouts while leading the team in saves with five. Not even that tells the true story as Davis surrendered six of his runs and two of his walks without getting an out in his final game.

Hardin was also a big part of the bullpen for the Bulldogs this year as his sinker created a lot of soft contact. He gave up 13 earned runs in 36.1 innings and struck out 36.

Another player who made a huge jump from year one to two was Connor Hujsak and he was taken in the 13^th round by the Tampa Bay Rays. The VCU transfer went from a reserve in 2023 to State’s best hitter in SEC play as he finished the year with a .325 average in 56 games with 65 hits, 13 doubles, nine home runs, three triples and 49 RBI.

Sparkplug David Mershon also heard his name called in the draft. The draft eligible sophomore was taken in the 18^th round by the Angels after batting .347 last year with a team-high 60 runs and 27 stolen bases in 30 attempts. Mershon also had 77 hits, 12 doubles, six home runs and two triples and was one of the SEC’s best shortstops.

The final current State player drafted was bullpen hurler Cam Schuelke who was taken in the 19^th round by the Cleveland Guardians. Schuelke was State’s most interesting reliever in sometime as the junior college transfer can throw with three difference arm slots.

He finished his year with the Bulldogs leading the team in appearances with 32 and was 5-3 with two saves and a 4.21 ERA. Schuelke struck out 47 in 47.0 innings and walked 23.

Kentucky transfer RHP Travis Smith was also taken in the draft as he went in the 15^th round and he is a threat to sign. The same is true for Mershon who is weighing the options of coming back for another leverage season. Another player that will have a decision to make is rising senior 1B Hunter Hines.

After going undrafted, Hines has a chance to pick up a free agent deal, but he could also return to Starkville for another season. That year would give Hines a chance to chase the Bulldogs’ all-time home runs record.

Prior to Tuesday, State had another eight players or signees taken. BHP Jurrangelo Cijntje was the 20^th Bulldog in school history to be drafted in the first round when the Mariners took him with the 15^th overall pick. Signee OF Dante Nori came in at 27^th overall to the Philadelphia Phillies and State ace RHP Khal Stephen was taken 59^th overall in the second round to the Toronto Blue Jays.

On day two, RHP Nate Dohm went in the third round to the New York Mets, OF Dakota Jordan in the fourth to the San Francisco Giants, RHP Brooks Auger in the sixth round to the Los Angeles Dodgers, two-way signee Conrad Cason in the eighth to the Boston Red Sox and RHP Colby Holcombe in the ninth to the Blue Jays.

The deadline for these players to sign their pro contracts is August 1 at 4 p.m.