CJ grad becomes highest-drafted player in UD history
Padres take pitcher Wissman in eighth round Monday.
DAYTON — The San Diego Padres selected Chaminade Julienne graduate and Dayton Flyers closer Nick Wissman in the eighth round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Monday.
Wissman, the 240th overall pick, is the highest-drafted player in UD history, the 18th player and 12th pitcher from UD to be drafted.
The 6-foot-1 right-hander was 11-1 with seven saves and a 2.91 ERA last season as a senior. He became the first Flyer to win the Atlantic 10 Conference Pitcher of the Year award.
Wissman played for Chaminade Julienne’s state championship teams in 2018 and 2019 and graduated from CJ in 2020.
Wissman is the fourth player from coach Jayson King’s seven seasons to be drafted. King left the program in June to take an assistant coaching job at Vanderbilt. UD announced the hiring of Scott Loiseau on June
24. King’s list:
■ The Milwaukee Brewers selected right-handed pitcher Mark Manfredi in the ninth round (272nd overall) in 2023. That was the highest a UD player had been drafted until this year. He’s 5-2 with a 4.02 ERA in 15 appearances, including nine starts, for the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers this season.
■ In 2021, UD third baseman Riley Tirotta was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 12th round. He was the 362nd overall pick. He’s hitting .269 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
In that same 2021 draft, the Oakland A’s drafted UD second baseman Mariano Ricciardi in the 18th round. He reached Double-A in 2023.
None of the four Dayton players to reach the big leagues was drafted in the top 10 rounds. That list includes:
■ Mike Hauschild was a 33rd-round pick of the Houston Astros in 2012.
■ Craig Stammen was a 12th-round pick of the Washington Nationals in 2005.
■ Jerry Blevins was a 17th-round pick of the Chicago Cubs in 2004.
■ Garry Roggenburk signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Twins in 1962.