ATLANTA (WNCN) — There was no shortage of standout baseball players from the Atlantic Coast Conference selected in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft, and over a dozen of those selected from the league came from a Triangle school.
The 2025 MLB Draft began Sunday with the first three rounds and concluded Monday with the fourth through twentieth rounds. Of the 61 players drafted from ACC schools, 14 of them came from NC State, North Carolina and Duke.
Though the Wolfpack led the local trio with six players chosen compared to four each from the Tar Heels and Blue Devils, the only two players to hear their names called on the first day came from UNC.
Luke Stevenson, the Tar Heels’ starting catcher for the last two seasons, was the first to get off the board. He was selected No. 35 overall by the Seattle Mariners, giving UNC two consecutive first round picks following Vance Honeycutt’s No. 22 selection last year. Then, in this year’s second round, Tar Heels’ leadoff hitter Kane Kepley was drafted with the No. 56 overall pick. UNC’s starting center fielder, who transferred to Chapel Hill after spending two seasons at Liberty, was selected by the Chicago Cubs.
On Monday, NC State pitcher Dominic Fritton was the first Wolfpack player to be picked. He was taken in the fourth round at No. 117 overall by the Tampa Bay Rays. The first Duke player was selected in the sixth round when pitcher James Tallon went at No. 191 overall to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Here’s the full list of Triangle baseball players drafted this year along with their team, round and overall draft number.
UNC, NC State, Duke players taken in 2025 MLB Draft
Round 1
No. 35: Luke Stevenson, catcher, UNC — Seattle Mariners
Round 2
No. 56: Kane Kepley, outfield, UNC — Chicago Cubs
Round 4
No. 117: Dominic Fritton, pitcher, NC State — Tampa Bay Rays
Round 6
No. 177: Aidan Haugh, pitcher, UNC — Tampa Bay Rays
No. 191: James Tallon, pitcher, Duke — Philadelphia Phillies
Round 8
No. 243: Jake Knapp, pitcher, UNC — Chicago Cubs
Round 9
No. 265: Owen Proksch, pitcher, Duke — Texas Rangers
No. 273: Wallace Clark, shortstop, Duke — Arizona Diamondbacks
No. 275: Andrew Healy, pitcher, Duke — Milwaukee Brewers
No. 278: Shane Van Dam, pitcher, NC State — Kansas City Royals
Round 10
No. 310: Justin DeCriscio, shortstop, NC State — San Diego Padres
Round 15
No. 438: Josh Hogue, third base, NC State — Miami Marlins
No. 444: Andrew Shaffner, pitcher, NC State — Cincinnati Reds
Round 17
No. 497: Derrick Smith, pitcher, NC State — Colorado Rockies