Photo by: Seth Seebaugh / Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest 2025 MLB Draft Primer
7/12/2025 11:07:00 AM | Baseball
A nation-leading five Demon Deacons have been selected in the first round of the last two MLB Drafts.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Several Wake Forest baseball student-athletes are set to take the next step in their careers as the 2025 MLB Draft begins on Sunday, July 13, and continues through Monday, July 14, in Atlanta.
Wake Forest baseball social media platforms will be providing live updates throughout both days of the event. Additionally, recaps will be posted on GoDeacs.com at the conclusion of each day.
HOW TO WATCH/STREAM
WALTER'S GUYS
Walter has helped 58 players get drafted or sign pro contracts over the last 11 years, including 12 Deacs drafted among the top 50 picks and seven first rounders since 2020 in Chase Burns (2024), Nick Kurtz (2024), Seaver King (2024), Rhett Lowder (2023), Brock Wilken (2023), Ryan Cusick (2021) and Jared Shuster (2020).
Highlighted by three Top-10 picks for the first time in school history and just the second time in the history of the MLB Draft, six members of Wake Forest baseball were selected in the 2024 MLB Draft.
The Deacs had a program record 10 players selected in Lowder (Reds), Wilken (Brewers), Sean Sullivan (Colorado Rockies), Seth Keener (White Sox), Teddy McGraw (Mariners), Bennett Lee (Tigers), Camden Minacci (Angels), Tommy Hawke (Guardians), Justin Johnson (Royals) and Pierce Bennett (Phillies).
Current #ProDeacs include Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder with the Cincinnati Reds, Nick Kurtz with the Athletics, Stuart Fairchild with the Atlanta Braves, Gavin Sheets with the San Diego Padres and All-Star Shane Smith with the Chicago White Sox.
Other active professional players Walter coached at Wake Forest include Ryan Cusick (AAA, Phillies) Parker Dunshee (AAA, Nationals), Morgan McSweeney (AAA, Marlins), Antonio Menendez (AAA, Rays), Nate Mondou (AAA, Angels), Bobby Seymour (AAA, Rays), Jared Shuster (AAA, White Sox) Eric Adler (AA, White Sox), William Fleming (AA, Mariners), Justin Johnson (AA, Royals), Seaver King (AA, Nationals), Cam Minacci (AA, Angels), Colin Peluse (AA, Athletics), Sean Sullivan (AA, Rockies), Michael Turconi (AA, Guardians), Brock Wilken (AA, Brewers), Pierce Bennett (A, Phillies), Will Gervase (A, Angels), Josh Hartle (A, Guardians), Tommy Hawke (A, Guardians), Seth Keener (A, White Sox), Bennett Lee and Michael Massey (A, Tigers) and Teddy McGraw (A, Mariners).
DRAFT-ELIGIBLE DEACS
WAKE FOREST ATTENDEES DRAFTED BY EACH TEAM
FIRST ROUND DEACS
Seaver King was the 13th Demon Deacon all-time taken in the first round of the draft and seventh in the last four years, joining teammates Chase Burns, who was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the second pick of the 2024 Draft, and Nick Kurtz, who was selected by the Oakland Athletics with the fourth pick of the 2024 Draft, Rhett Lowder (2023), Brock Wilken (2023), Ryan Cusick (2021) and Jared Shuster (2020).
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Wake Forest baseball social media platforms will be providing live updates throughout both days of the event. Additionally, recaps will be posted on GoDeacs.com at the conclusion of each day.
HOW TO WATCH/STREAM
| Date | Rounds | Network | Time |
| Sunday, July 13 | 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Compensation Picks and Competitive Balance Picks | MLB Network & ESPN | 6 p.m. |
| Monday, July 14 | 4th-20th | MLB.com & MLB App | 11:30 a.m. |
WALTER'S GUYS
Walter has helped 58 players get drafted or sign pro contracts over the last 11 years, including 12 Deacs drafted among the top 50 picks and seven first rounders since 2020 in Chase Burns (2024), Nick Kurtz (2024), Seaver King (2024), Rhett Lowder (2023), Brock Wilken (2023), Ryan Cusick (2021) and Jared Shuster (2020).
Highlighted by three Top-10 picks for the first time in school history and just the second time in the history of the MLB Draft, six members of Wake Forest baseball were selected in the 2024 MLB Draft.
The Deacs had a program record 10 players selected in Lowder (Reds), Wilken (Brewers), Sean Sullivan (Colorado Rockies), Seth Keener (White Sox), Teddy McGraw (Mariners), Bennett Lee (Tigers), Camden Minacci (Angels), Tommy Hawke (Guardians), Justin Johnson (Royals) and Pierce Bennett (Phillies).
Current #ProDeacs include Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder with the Cincinnati Reds, Nick Kurtz with the Athletics, Stuart Fairchild with the Atlanta Braves, Gavin Sheets with the San Diego Padres and All-Star Shane Smith with the Chicago White Sox.
Other active professional players Walter coached at Wake Forest include Ryan Cusick (AAA, Phillies) Parker Dunshee (AAA, Nationals), Morgan McSweeney (AAA, Marlins), Antonio Menendez (AAA, Rays), Nate Mondou (AAA, Angels), Bobby Seymour (AAA, Rays), Jared Shuster (AAA, White Sox) Eric Adler (AA, White Sox), William Fleming (AA, Mariners), Justin Johnson (AA, Royals), Seaver King (AA, Nationals), Cam Minacci (AA, Angels), Colin Peluse (AA, Athletics), Sean Sullivan (AA, Rockies), Michael Turconi (AA, Guardians), Brock Wilken (AA, Brewers), Pierce Bennett (A, Phillies), Will Gervase (A, Angels), Josh Hartle (A, Guardians), Tommy Hawke (A, Guardians), Seth Keener (A, White Sox), Bennett Lee and Michael Massey (A, Tigers) and Teddy McGraw (A, Mariners).
DRAFT-ELIGIBLE DEACS
- Will Ray | RHP | Mars, Pa.
- Marek Houston | INF | Nokomis, Fla.
- Austin Hawke | INF | Pfafftown, N.C.
- Matthew Dallas | LHP | Memphis, Tenn.
- Javar Williams | OF | Dartmouth, Mass.
- Zach Johnston | LHP | North Yarmouth, Maine
- Jack Winnay | UTL | Newton, Mass.
- Cam Nelson | UTL | Baltimore, Md.
- Ethan Conrad | OF | Saugerties, N.Y.
- Luke Schmolke | RHP | Mooresville, N.C.
- Jimmy Keenan | C | White Plains, N.Y.
- Joe Ariola | LHP | Malverne, N.Y.
- Logan Lunceford | RHP | Harrah, Okla.
WAKE FOREST ATTENDEES DRAFTED BY EACH TEAM
| Team | # | Most Recent | Highest Overall Pick |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 11 | 2024 | 22 (2016) |
| New York Yankees | 10 | 2008 | 68 (2000) |
| Atlanta Braves | 9 | 2021 | 24 (2021) |
| Baltimore Orioles | 8 | 2019 | 111 (1996) |
| Detroit Tigers | 8 | 2024 | 3 (2003) |
| Washington Nationals | 8 | 2024 | 10 (2024) |
| Chicago White Sox | 7 | 2023 | 49 (2017) |
| Cleveland Guardians | 7 | 2023 | 188 (2023) |
| Cincinnati Reds | 7 | 2024 | 2 (2024) |
| Oakland Athletics | 6 | 2024 | 4 (2024) |
| Los Angeles Angels | 6 | 2024 | 51 (1983) |
| Seattle Mariners | 6 | 2023 | 36 (1986) |
| San Francisco Giants | 6 | 2019 | 115 (2012) |
| Boston Red Sox | 6 | 2011 | 219 (1993) |
| Colorado Rockies | 5 | 2023 | 46 (2023) |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 5 | 2022 | 55 (2002) |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 5 | 2021 | 66 (2003) |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 5 | 2022 | 55 (2002) |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 5 | 2018 | 19 (1994) |
| San Diego Padres | 5 | 2017 | 17 (2006) |
| Chicago Cubs | 5 | 2016 | 289 (2001) |
| Houston Astros | 5 | 2012 | 399 (2012) |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 4 | 2023 | 18 (2023) |
| Kansas City Royals | 4 | 2023 | 25 (1999) |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 4 | 2023 | 245 (1970) |
| Minnesota Twins | 4 | 2017 | 856 (2017) |
| New York Mets | 4 | 2017 | 99 (2007) |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 3 | 2021 | 101 (2021) |
| Miami Marlins | 2 | 2002 | 1163 (2002) |
| Texas Rangers | 1 | 2003 | 166 (2003) |
| Total | 161 | 2024 | 2 (2024) |
FIRST ROUND DEACS
Seaver King was the 13th Demon Deacon all-time taken in the first round of the draft and seventh in the last four years, joining teammates Chase Burns, who was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the second pick of the 2024 Draft, and Nick Kurtz, who was selected by the Oakland Athletics with the fourth pick of the 2024 Draft, Rhett Lowder (2023), Brock Wilken (2023), Ryan Cusick (2021) and Jared Shuster (2020).
| Name (Year) | Pick | Team |
| Chase Burns (2024) | 2 | Cincinnati Reds |
| Nick Kurtz (2024) | 4 | Oakland Athletics |
| Seaver King (2024) | 10 | Washington Nationals |
| Rhett Lowder (2023) | 7 | Cincinnati Reds |
| Brock Wilken (2023) | 18 | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Ryan Cusick (2021) | 24 | Atlanta Braves |
| Jared Shuster (2020) | 25 | Atlanta Braves |
| 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 |
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
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