It is with great sadness that we say goodbye: he is gone… read more.
The 2024 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft has concluded. While the Louisville baseball program has historically seen significant representation in the MLB Draft over the past two decades, this year did not yield as many selections.
Only two Louisville players were drafted in the 20-round draft, marking the lowest number of Cardinals selected in a draft through 20 rounds since 2011. Additionally, for the second consecutive year, Louisville had no high school commitments drafted, a situation not seen since 2015.
The first Louisville player was selected early on day three of the draft. This draft also marks the first time in the Dan McDonnell era that no Cardinals were picked in the first 10 rounds.
One standout player from Louisville is a 6-foot-5, 240-pound left-handed pitcher who transferred from Wright State last offseason. He became Louisville’s Friday night starter, posting a 6.14 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 15 starts. Despite these figures, he recorded a team-high 89 strikeouts with only 29 walks over 77.2 innings pitched, boasting a 10.31 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranked seventh in the ACC.
Before joining Louisville, Gongora had an impressive 2023 season at Wright State, earning accolades such as Horizon League’s Pitcher of the Year. He achieved a 10-1 record with a 3.17 ERA in 16 starts, striking out 89 batters and walking 33 over 93.2 innings. Gongora also received East-ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team honors.
