MLB Draft: Brebeuf grad, Butler OF Jack Moroknek selected by Washington Nationals
- Will Carmel native Jack Moroknek play college baseball at Texas or sign with the Washington Nationals?
Butler outfielder Jack Moroknek will become the latest former Bulldog to join the professional baseball ranks.
The Washington Nationals selected the Brebeuf Jesuit grad and Carmel native with the 321st pick (11th round) during Day 2 of the MLB Draft Monday. Moroknek will sign with the Nationals and begin his pro career, forgoing a chance to join Texas as a redshirt senior transfer.
Moroknek used a breakout redshirt junior campaign to catapult on MLB scout's radars. The lefty led the Bulldogs in hits (81), batting average (.372), total bases (153), RBIs (57), home runs (18), runs scored (57), slugging percentage (.702) and OPS (1.145). The 153 total bases set a school record, and he was a Second Team All-Big East selection. The 6-foot-3 outfielder projects as a corner outfielder with plus power at the next level.
Last year's 321st pick, Jon Jon Gazdar, a shortstop out of Austin Peay signed for $250k. There are no slot value restrictions after the 10th round, so MLB teams are free to disburse bonus pool money however they'd like. Last year's 322nd pick, prep righty Trey Gregory-Alford signed with the Los Angeles Angels for a record $1.96 million. Terms of Moroknek's contract have not been disclosed to the IndyStar.
Moroknek is the highest drafted Butler Bulldogs since Ryan Pepiot was selected in the third round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019. Outfielder Harrison Freed was also drafted in 2019, going to the San Francisco Giants in the 13th round.