Photo by: Seth Seebaugh / Wake Forest Athletics
Marek Houston Drafted 16th Overall by the Minnesota Twins
7/13/2025 7:42:00 PM | Baseball
Houston becomes the sixth pick in the first round for Wake Forest over the last three years.
ATLANTA – The Minnesota Twins selected Wake Forest baseball's Marek Houston with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday.
"I couldn't be happier for or prouder of Marek," head coach Tom Walter said. "His hard work and sacrifice has paid off and he has become the type of player a Major League team can anchor their defense around. The Twins are a great organization with a track record of development. Marek will thrive in the Twins organization and his ascent to the big leagues will be swift."
Houston is the 14th Demon Deacon all-time taken in the first round of the draft and eighth in the last five years, joining Chase Burns (2024), Nick Kurtz (2024), Seaver King (2024), Rhett Lowder (2023), Brock Wilken (2023), Ryan Cusick (2021) and Jared Shuster (2020).
Additionally, he is the sixth top 20 pick in the last three seasons for the Demon Deacons.
FIRST ROUND DEACS
The Nokomis, Florida native is the 26th Demon Deacon selected over the last five seasons. He is also the fifth Deac selected by the Twins all-time.
WAKE FOREST ATTENDEES DRAFTED BY EACH TEAM
Houston was the only Deac to start in every game this past season, recording a hit in 47 of 61 contests.
Throughout his career, Houston recorded 58 multi-hit efforts, with Wake compiling a 44-14 record.
Houston led the team with 27 multi-hit efforts during his junior season, with the Demon Deacons going 21-6, as opposed to just 18-16 in games with one hit or less.
With 66 RBIs on the year, Houston led Wake in the category and finished seventh among ACC hitters for the season. The junior tied the program record with 10 RBI in a single game with his performance against Notre Dame to open the series.
Houston's 2025 Awards and Honors
2025 MLB Draft
Day one of the draft is currently live and airing nationally on MLB Network and ESPN. Day two will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Monday and can be streamed on MLB.com and the MLB App.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
"I couldn't be happier for or prouder of Marek," head coach Tom Walter said. "His hard work and sacrifice has paid off and he has become the type of player a Major League team can anchor their defense around. The Twins are a great organization with a track record of development. Marek will thrive in the Twins organization and his ascent to the big leagues will be swift."
Houston is the 14th Demon Deacon all-time taken in the first round of the draft and eighth in the last five years, joining Chase Burns (2024), Nick Kurtz (2024), Seaver King (2024), Rhett Lowder (2023), Brock Wilken (2023), Ryan Cusick (2021) and Jared Shuster (2020).
Additionally, he is the sixth top 20 pick in the last three seasons for the Demon Deacons.
FIRST ROUND DEACS
| Name (Year) | Pick | Team |
| Marek Houston (2025) | 16th | Minnesota Twins |
| 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 |
The Nokomis, Florida native is the 26th Demon Deacon selected over the last five seasons. He is also the fifth Deac selected by the Twins all-time.
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) |
| Minnesota Twins | 5 | 2025 | 16 (2025) |
| 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) |
| 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 | 162 | 2025 | 2 (2024) |
Houston was the only Deac to start in every game this past season, recording a hit in 47 of 61 contests.
Throughout his career, Houston recorded 58 multi-hit efforts, with Wake compiling a 44-14 record.
Houston led the team with 27 multi-hit efforts during his junior season, with the Demon Deacons going 21-6, as opposed to just 18-16 in games with one hit or less.
With 66 RBIs on the year, Houston led Wake in the category and finished seventh among ACC hitters for the season. The junior tied the program record with 10 RBI in a single game with his performance against Notre Dame to open the series.
Houston's 2025 Awards and Honors
- Perfect Game Second Team All-American
- Baseball America Third Team All-American
- Third Team All-ACC
- Golden Spikes Midseason Watchlist
- D1 Baseball Second Team Midseason All-American
- Perfect Game First Team Midseason All-American
- D1 ACC Player of the Week (3/10)
- ACC Player of the Week (2/17)
- D1 Baseball National Player of the Week (2/17)
- NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week (2/17)
- Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List
- NCBWA Preseason Third Team All-American
- D1 Baseball Preseason First Team All-American
- D1 Baseball No. 1 Shortstop
- Perfect Game Preseason Second Team All-American
- Perfect Game Preseason All-ACC Team
- Baseball America Preseason Third Team All-American
- 2025 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List
2025 MLB Draft
Day one of the draft is currently live and airing nationally on MLB Network and ESPN. Day two will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Monday and can be streamed on MLB.com and the MLB App.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
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