MLB Draft Recap: Three Panthers Find Homes in MLB Organizations
8/1/2024 9:42:00 AM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH - With the conclusion of the 2024 MLB Draft, three more Panthers are now with MLB organizations.
Phil Fox (White Sox) and Ryan Andrade (Rays) were selected minutes apart in the seventh-round while Jack Sokol (Yankees) signed a free agent contract once the draft concluded.
"We couldn't be more excited for Phil, Ryan, and Jack to begin their professional careers." head coach Mike Bell said. "It is another great example of the continued development of our student athletes here at Pitt."
Both Fox and Andrade were the highest draft picks of the Mike Bell Era and the highest since 2018. They became the first Panther teammates to be taken in the same round of the same draft since 2011 when Ray Black (San Francisco Giants) and Kevan Smith (Chicago White Sox) were also selected in the seventh round together. Under Bell, the program has now seen eight Panthers taken in the MLB Draft and a total of 14 Panthers sign MLB contracts.
"These three went out and earned their professional opportunities by competing against the best players in the country, in the best conference in the country, while developing in a world-class setting at the University of Pittsburgh." Bell continued. "Hail to Pitt!"
An All-American, All-Region, and All-ACC performer, Phil Fox earned eight saves, three wins and struck out 45 batters in 23 appearances in 2024. He finished with a 1.47 ERA and only allowed seven runs in 36.2 innings pitched. Fox becomes the first Panther in the White Sox organization since Aaron Schnurbusch, who was last with Chicago in 2018. Kevan Smith, a fellow WPIAL product like Fox and a former Pitt quarterback, spent significant time in the White Sox organization after being selected in the seventh round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Smith would make his Major League debut with Chicago in 2016 and spent six years in the MLB playing for the White Sox, Angels, Rays and Braves.
Ryan Andrade was Pitt's Friday night starter for the entirety of his first year with the program. He led the pitching staff in both starts (15) and strikeouts (72) in 2024. Andrade will join 2022 draft pick Tatem Levins in the Rays organization and becomes just the second Panther ever selected by Tampa Bay. Levins, originally drafted by Seattle, was traded during this past offseason and is currently in Single-A with the Bowling Green Hot Rods. The two former Panthers could soon be battery mates in Bowling Green.
Jack Sokol had been a key part of Pitt's weekend rotation over the last two seasons, making 28 starts in his 30 appearances as a Panther. Sokol was stellar in a number of starts in 2024, earning wins against No. 6 Clemson, No. 12 Florida State, No. 13 Virginia Tech and Miami. Pitt now has two Panthers in the Yankees organization after Sokol singed a free agent contract with New York following the draft. He is accompanied by pitcher and post-draft signee, Baron Stuart, who is currently in High-A with the Hudson Valley Renegades. Like Sokol, Stuart signed with the Yankees as a free agent following the conclusion of the draft in 2022.
Pro Panthers Under Mike Bell
2019
Dan Hammer, 13th Round, Baltimore Orioles
Derek West, 14th Round, Houston Astros
Connor Perry, 28th Round, Detroit Tigers
Cole MacLaren, Undrafted FA, Detroit Tigers
2022
Tatem Levins, 8th Round, Seattle Mariners
Baron Stuart, Undrafted FA, New York Yankees
Billy Corcoran, Undrafted FA, Arizona Diamondbacks
2023
Logan Evans, 12th Round, Seattle Mariners
Dylan Simmons, 15th Round, Cincinnati Reds
Jeffrey Wehler, Undrafted FA, Toronto Blue Jays
2024
Kyle Hess, Undrafted FA, Minnesota Twins
Phil Fox, 7th Round, Chicago White Sox
Ryan Andrade, 7th Round, Tampa Bay Rays
Jack Sokol, Undrafted FA, New York Yankees
