Xavier University Athletics
Three Musketeers Rated Among Top MLB Draft Prospects by D1Baseball.com
02.12.19 | Baseball
CINCINNATI - Matt Warkentin, Conor Grammes and Allbry Major were all listed in D1Baseball.com's preseason rankings of college baseball's top draft prospects on Tuesday.
With games starting this week, XU's roster is stocked with several more players getting draft buzz as well.
Grammes, who was selected BIG EAST Co-Preseason Player of the Year in December, was listed as the No. 38 prospect eligible for the 2019 draft.
A right-handed pitcher and infielder, Grammes was one of the most underrated hitters in college baseball in 2018. As a sophomore, he hit .330 and ranked second for XU with 69 hits, 10 homers and 108 total bases. He led the team with a .517 slugging percentage and also made 18 appearances on the mound, where he struck out 45 in 28 innings while flashing a fastball in the high 90's.
Following the 2018 season, Grammes was drafted in the 35th round of the MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles before electing to return to school.
Major was No. 55 on the list of 2020 prospects. The 2018 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Major is an exciting two-way threat for the Musketeers. The athletic center fielder hit .291 with a pair of homers and 21 RBI, while playing error-free baseball. He was also one of XU's most dependable arms, making 16 appearances on the mound and tallying a 4.96 ERA in 61.2 innings.
Warkentin, one of the top returning power bats in the BIG EAST, was listed at No. 48 in D1 Baseball's list of college seniors. Entering his second season with the Musketeers, Warkentin hit 14 homers and played high quality defense at first base last season.
The Musketeers return 20 letter-winners and six starters from last season's 20-35 team, which went 7-11 in the BIG EAST Conference and failed to reach the postseason for just the second time in five years. XU fought through a number of injuries and a lot of youth in its pitching staff last season, but should be poised for a bounce back in head coach Billy O'Conner's second season.
Xavier returns a number of standouts, including sophomore pitcher/outfielder Allbry Major, who took home All-BIG EAST Second Team, Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America and BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors. The Musketeers also return top hitters Conor Grammes (.330, 10 HR, 27 RBI) and Chris Givin (.342, 4 HR, 45 RBI) in addition to the power bat of Matt Warkentin, who hit 14 homers in his first season with the program last year.
With games starting this week, XU's roster is stocked with several more players getting draft buzz as well.
Grammes, who was selected BIG EAST Co-Preseason Player of the Year in December, was listed as the No. 38 prospect eligible for the 2019 draft.
A right-handed pitcher and infielder, Grammes was one of the most underrated hitters in college baseball in 2018. As a sophomore, he hit .330 and ranked second for XU with 69 hits, 10 homers and 108 total bases. He led the team with a .517 slugging percentage and also made 18 appearances on the mound, where he struck out 45 in 28 innings while flashing a fastball in the high 90's.
Following the 2018 season, Grammes was drafted in the 35th round of the MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles before electing to return to school.
Major was No. 55 on the list of 2020 prospects. The 2018 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Major is an exciting two-way threat for the Musketeers. The athletic center fielder hit .291 with a pair of homers and 21 RBI, while playing error-free baseball. He was also one of XU's most dependable arms, making 16 appearances on the mound and tallying a 4.96 ERA in 61.2 innings.
Warkentin, one of the top returning power bats in the BIG EAST, was listed at No. 48 in D1 Baseball's list of college seniors. Entering his second season with the Musketeers, Warkentin hit 14 homers and played high quality defense at first base last season.
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The Musketeers return 20 letter-winners and six starters from last season's 20-35 team, which went 7-11 in the BIG EAST Conference and failed to reach the postseason for just the second time in five years. XU fought through a number of injuries and a lot of youth in its pitching staff last season, but should be poised for a bounce back in head coach Billy O'Conner's second season.
Xavier returns a number of standouts, including sophomore pitcher/outfielder Allbry Major, who took home All-BIG EAST Second Team, Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America and BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors. The Musketeers also return top hitters Conor Grammes (.330, 10 HR, 27 RBI) and Chris Givin (.342, 4 HR, 45 RBI) in addition to the power bat of Matt Warkentin, who hit 14 homers in his first season with the program last year.
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