ARIZONA 2024 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
- LHP Jackson Kent – Round 4 (108) – Washington Nationals
- RHP Clark Candiotti – Round 4C (135) – San Diego Padres
- RHP Anthony Susac – Round 8 (255) – Texas Rangers
- RHP Cam Walty – Round 20 (595) – Cleveland Guardians
Arizona’s starting rotation of lefty Jackson Kent and right-handers Clark Candiotti and Cam Walty were selected in the 2024 MLB Draft along with top right-handed reliever Anthony “Tonko” Susac, giving the Wildcats four standouts on the mound taken in the 20 rounds of the event.
That’s the most pitchers from Arizona selected in a draft since 2013 when Konner Wade (seventh round/Colorado Rockies), James Farris (15th/Houston Astros), Nick Cunningham (20th/Baltimore Orioles) and Augey Bill (39th/Orioles) were chosen.
MLB reduced its rounds in the draft to 20 in 2022.
The four selections of pitchers from Arizona in the first 20 rounds this year are the most for the program since the 2008 talented class had five and included first-round picks Ryan Perry (21st pick overall by the Detroit Tigers) and Daniel Schlereth (26th pick overall/Arizona Diamondbacks). Others selected that year in the top 20 rounds: Eric Berger (eighth round/Guardians), Mike Colla (14th/Pittsburgh Pirates) and David Coulon (15th/Minnesota Twins). Preston Guilmet was also picked in the 22nd round by the Oakland Athletics that year.
Arizona finished 42-19 that season under Andy Lopez and advanced to the Coral Gables (Fla.) Super Regional against Miami.
Walty was selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the 20th round (595th selection) on Tuesday afternoon.
The veteran right-hander was slotted into the Wildcats starting rotation during the third week of the season.
He led the team and tied for the Pac-12 lead with eight wins, going 8-2 with a 3.29 ERA and 75 strikeouts. He issued only 13 walks in 90 1/3 innings to post a 1.30 walks in nine innings rate — third best in program history and the fifth best in the nation last year.
Walty was on the mound for both of Arizona’s Pac-12 championship clinching games, throwing 8 1/3 innings against Oregon State on May 18 for the regular-season title and eight innings on May 25 against USC in the tournament championship at Scottsdale.
Walty, Kent and Candiotti completed the trio of Arizona starting pitchers who all earned Pac-12 All-Conference honors en route to earning MLB Draft selections. It was believed to be the first time in program history that three starting pitchers earned all-conference recognition.
Over the course of his two-year Arizona career, Walty went 13-3 with a 4.36 ERA and 124 strikeouts. He limited opposing hitters to a .285 batting average and surrendered just 21 walks over 140 1/3 innings of work.
Walty, Kent, Candiotti and Susac were coached by pitching coach Kevin Vance, who was in his first season at Arizona after serving two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Boston College. Vance led the Eagles to an NCAA Regional berth in 2023, their first since 2016.
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