Ryan Waldschmidt Selected by Arizona in First Round of MLB Draft
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt has been selected 31st overall in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
He becomes Kentucky’s seventh first round pick in program history and the Wildcats’ sixth-highest selection overall. UK coach Nick Mingione has been the head man for three of those picks in just eight seasons at the helm, joining Evan White (2017) and Zack Thompson (2019).
Waldschmidt, a junior from Bradenton, Florida, now makes it 36 total draftees in Mingione era. He is the fifth transfer into the program who has been drafted the past three years. Three others have signed free agent contracts.
Waldschmidt’s most recent accolade continues to highlight a remarkable 2024 season that came in the wake of a serious knee injury in summer 2023 that threatened to keep him out this spring. He has been named an All-American by Baseball America, Perfect Game, ABCA/Rawlings All-District and Second-Team All-Southeastern Conference. He made the Lexington Regional All-Tournament Team and is an Academic All-District honoree.
The star outfielder and leadoff man finished the season batting .333 in 59 games with 66 runs, 17 doubles, 14 home runs, 46 RBI, 41 walks, 16 hit by pitch and 25 stolen bases. He slugged .610 as part of a 1.079 OPS.
The 25 steals are the second-most in a season in the Nick Mingione era and the runs are the third-most. His on-base percentage of .469 was the second highest of the Mingione era.
An all-around star, Waldschmidt was one of just three players who batted over .400 in conference play in 2024, smashed 20 extra-base hits and led the conference with 19 stolen bases in league games, three more than any other player. He had 42 stolen bases in two seasons at Kentucky (60 total in career), walked more than he struck out and clubbed 67 extra-base hits.
