What the 2023 MLB draft means for Miami’s future after 6 players, 4 commits get picked
After the Miami Hurricanes started off the 2023 MLB draft with two historic days, there was only one more player with Miami ties taken on the third day of the draft Tuesday.
The Hurricanes finished the MLB draft with six players taken and, perhaps just as importantly, only two of their committed prospects picked in the first 15 rounds.
The final tally of Miami players drafted: third baseman Yohandy Morales to the Nationals at No. 40 as the top pick in Round 2 on Sunday, right-handed pitcher Andrew Walters to the Guardians at No. 62 in Competitive Balance Round B also Sunday, outfielder C.J. Kayfus also to Cleveland at No. 93 in Round 3 on Monday, right-handed pitcher Alejandro Rosario to the Rangers at No. 144 in Round 5 on Monday, outfielder Zach Levenson to the Cardinals at No. 158 also in the fifth round Monday and shortstop Dominic Pitelli to the Reds at No. 198 in Round 6 also Monday.
Undrafted Hurricanes include right-handed pitchers Alejandro Torres and Ronaldo Gallo, catchers Carlos Perez and Jack Scanlon, and outfielder Jacoby Long. Gallo, Perez, Scanlon and Long all have one season of eligibility remaining, and Torres has two.
Miami will almost certainly lose all six of its drafted players, as they’ll likely sign contracts to begin professional careers, and are also extremely likely to lose out on two of its incoming recruits, too.
Doral Academy shortstop Adrian Santana went to the Rays at No. 31 in Competitive Balance Round A on Sunday and Bradenton IMG Academy outfielder TayShaun Walton went to the Phillies at No. 130 in Round 4 -- both higher than their pre-draft ranking, according to MLB.com -- and players selected in the first five rounds almost always sign.
On Day 3, two more of the Hurricanes’ commits heard their names called, although it was late enough in the draft to give Miami a chance to potentially hang on to both.
The first, and probably trickier case, was South Korean first baseman Wooyeoul Shin, who spent the last two years at Miami Dade College, a junior college in Miami. The sophomore committed to the Hurricanes in April and batted .407 this year at Miami Dade, and got taken by Tampa Bay with the No. 483 overall pick in Round 16 on Tuesday.
ESB Academy third baseman Daniel Cuvet also got picked on the third day of the draft by the Pirates at No. 497 in Round 17, but it could be a challenge for Pittsburgh to sign him. The 18-year-old infielder was a top-250 prospect ahead of the draft and the Pirates will likely have to make him an offer well over slot to keep him from heading to Coral Gables.
Archbishop McCarthy shortstop Antonio Jimenez, a top-100 prospect in the PerfectGame.org rankings for the Class of 2023, was not drafted at all and is now officially set to become a Hurricane. Other undrafted soon-to-be Hurricanes include Miami Springs right-handed pitcher Brandon Olivera, Miami Christian right-handed pitcher Christopher Diaz, Tampa Jesuit outfielder Jake Kulikowski and Luca Reyes, an outfielder from Bergen Catholic in New Jersey.
