Brock Wilken Drafted 18th Overall by the Milwaukee Brewers
7/9/2023 8:53:00 PM | Baseball
This marks the first time in program history that two Demon Deacons were selected in the first round as Wilken joins Rhett Lowder as early picks in the 2023 MLB Draft.
SEATTLE – Wake Forest baseball's Brock Wilken was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 18th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft Sunday.
The third baseman joins Rhett Lowder (seventh overall, Cincinnati Reds) as the only duo in program history to be selected in the first round of the draft and is now the 11th Demon Deacon all-time selected in round one. This comes less than a month after one of the most successful seasons in Wake Forest history, as Wilken and Lowder led the Deacs to a 54-win season and a spot in the Men's College World Series.
Additionally, Wake Forest is one of just two programs to have multiple players selected in the top-20 of this year's draft.
Wilken is the fourth Demon Deacon selected in the first round in as many years, joining Lowder (2023), Ryan Cusick (2021) and Jared Shuster (2020).
FIRST ROUND DEACS
|
Name (Year) |
Pick |
Team |
|
Brock Wilken (2023) |
18 |
Milwaukee Brewers |
|
Rhett Lowder (2023) |
7 |
Cincinnati Reds |
|
Ryan Cusick (2021) |
24 |
Atlanta Braves |
|
Jared Shuster (2020) |
25 |
Atlanta Braves |
|
Griffin Roberts (2018) |
43 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
|
Will Craig (2016) |
22 |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
|
Allan Dykstra (2008) |
23 |
San Diego Padres |
|
Matt Antonelli (2006) |
17 |
San Diego Padres |
|
Kyle Sleeth (2003) |
3 |
Detroit Tigers |
|
Mike MacDougal (1999) |
25 |
Kansas City Royals |
|
Bret Wagner (1994) |
19 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
The Valrico, Fla. native is the second Deac selected by the Brewers and the 46th Demon Deacon drafted overall over the last nine seasons.
DEMON DEACONS SELECTED BY EACH MLB TEAM
|
Number of Wake Forest Draftees |
MLB Organization |
|
8 |
Yankees |
|
7 |
Braves |
|
6 |
Nationals, Orioles, Tigers, Giants |
|
5 |
Rays, Pirates, Guardians, Rockies, Athletics, Cardinals, White Sox, Reds |
|
4 |
Mariners, Astros, Padres, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, Angels |
|
3 |
Cubs, Mets |
|
2 |
Red Sox, Royals, Twins, Rangers, Brewers |
|
1 |
Dodgers, Marlins, Phillies |
Wilken finished his collegiate career with the most career home runs in ACC history and Wake Forest history (71) as he helped lead the Deacs to Omaha. Other program records include single-season home runs (31), single-season runs scored (90), single-season walks (69) and being tied for the freshman home run record (17).
During the 2023 campaign, Wilken led the ACC in walks (69), home runs (31), runs scored (90), slugging percentage (.807) and total bases (192). Additionally, he was second in RBIs (82) and third in on-base percentage (.506).
His 2023 awards included Baseball America Second Team All-American, ABCA First Team All-American, NCBWA Second Team All-American, Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American and Second Team All-ACC.
In summer ball, he was named the 2021 Cape Cod League Most Valuable Player after an incredible debut season for the Harwich Mariners as he posted a batting average of .302 with 39 hits, 10 doubles, six home runs, 26 RBIs and 26 runs scored.
Wilken's 2023 Awards and Honors
-
2023 ABCA First Team All-American
-
2023 NCBWA Second Team All-American
-
2023 Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American
-
Second Team All-ACC
-
Perfect Game Midseason All-American
-
Collegiate Baseball Second Team Preseason All-America
-
NCBWA Second Team Preseason All-America
-
Perfect Game Second Team Preseason All-America
-
Prospects Live Second Team Preseason All-America
-
Baseball America Third Team Preseason All-America
2023 MLB Draft
Day 1 of the draft is currently live and airing nationally on MLB Network and ESPN. Days 2 and 3 will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday respectively and can be streamed on MLB.com and the MLB App.
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