Seeing their professional dreams take root during Tuesday’s final day of the 2024 MLB Draft, Virginia Tech pitcher Jordan Little and second baseman Christian Martin were chosen during the 15th and 18th rounds, respectively, rounding out the Hokies’ record-tying, five-player draft pool.
Little was taken at No. 449 overall by the Cincinnati Reds, who have now snagged four Virginia Tech players within the last eight years (Packy Naughton – 2017, Andrew McDonald – 2018, Cade Hunter – 2022). Martin was later picked up at No. 531 overall by the St. Louis Cardinals, who have also chosen four Hokies during the same timeline (Connor Coward – 2018, Chris Gerard – 2021, Christian Worley – 2023).
Combining with Monday’s trio of draft picks, Virginia Tech’s five total selections during the 2024 MLB Draft tied the program record for the most selections made during the event’s opening 20 rounds (2010, 2022, 2023) – a benchmark reflective of the draft shortening from 40 to 20 rounds in 2021. On Monday, junior third baseman Carson DeMartini was chosen at No. 130 overall (fourth round) by the Philadelphia Phillies, junior pitcher Wyatt Parliament was taken at No. 211 overall (seventh round) by the New York Yankees and senior outfielder Eddie Micheletti Jr. was picked up at No. 247 overall (eighth round) by the Toronto Blue Jays.
With Little and Martin’s selections on Tuesday, head coach John Szefc has now championed 26 MLB Draft picks at Virginia Tech since taking the reins of the program in 2018. Historically, Szefc’s four draft classes of four players or more – as achieved consecutively between 2021 and 2024 (featuring 19 selections) – are the most by a head baseball coach spanning school history.
Hokie qualifies for US Amateur
Virginia Tech graduate Becca DiNunzio carded a 1-under 71 at Oceanside Country Club to be co-medalist and qualify for the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur.
On the strength of four birdies, DiNunzio tied Valentina Marie Guertin of Boynton Beach, Fla., at the top of the leaderboard.
DiNunzio made the turn at even-par 36, then racked up birdies at holes 10 and 12 to get to 2-under. After a bogey at the par-4 15th, the Virginia Beach, Va., native reeled off three straight birdies to sign for her 71.
The 2024 U.S. Women’s Am will be contested August 5-11 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. DiNunzio will join former teammate Katherine Lemke, who qualified for the event last week.
New sports website
Virginia Tech Athletics has announced the launch of its newly redesigned website, in collaboration with WMT Digital. This significant upgrade brings a fresh and modern look to the HokieSports.com online experience, ensuring fans and visitors enjoy a more engaging and user-friendly interface.
The new website features an enhanced visual design that captures the spirit of Virginia Tech, alongside improved navigation that makes it easier than ever to find the information you need. With optimized performance, the site delivers faster load times and a smoother browsing experience. Dynamic content such as videos, photo galleries and interactive elements provide an immersive experience for all users, while ticket management has been streamlined for convenience.
Fans can stay updated with the latest news, scores and highlights from all Virginia Tech sports.
Staff report
