IOWA CITY, Iowa — Through two days of the 2024 MLB Draft, the count is now up to five total Iowa Hawkeyes who earned a chance to make it big in the pros.
Three former Iowa Hawkeyes and a fourth who signed a scholarship to the program all heard their name called on day two of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Joey Oakie, a pitcher who is currently finishing up his senior season at Ankeny Centennial, was the first Hawkeyes name off the board on Monday after he was taken in the third round (No. 84 overall) by the Cleveland Guardians. Three additional Hawkeyes who played in Iowa City last year — outfielder Sam Petersen as well as pitchers Jack Young and Marcus Morgan — were also taken on the draft's second day.
On Sunday, former Iowa pitcher Brody Brecht became the first Hawkeye to go off the board after getting drafted No. 38 overall by the Colorado Rockies.
Beginning with Oakie, he faces the choice of either maintaining his commitment with the Hawkeyes or making the jump to the pros.
The Des Moines Register reports that Oakie plans to sign with the Guardians.
Oakie, who is just coming off an Iowa Gatorade High School Player of the Year campaign, boasted the highest rating out of Iowa's entire 14-player recruiting class for the 2024 cycle. Including Oakie, Iowa's 2024 recruiting class was ranked No. 15 in the country, the team's highest ranking in program history.
According to MLB.com, Oakie is ranked No. 46 overall among all the 2024 draft prospects. He ranks second among all the former Hawkeyes and only trails Brecht (No. 21 overall). He also pitched for the Team USA U18 squad in 2023.
Oakie's approximate pick value currently sits at nearly $907,000, according to the MLB's 2024 Draft Tracker.
After Oakie, it would take until the eighth round for the next Hawkeye to be selected. Petersen was the next former Iowa player off the board, selected No. 230 overall by the Washington Nationals.
Petersen, who played in the outfield for Iowa, notched in 42 hits, 27 RBIs and five home runs this past year in 33 games for the Hawkeyes. He also tallied 17 stolen bases on 18 attempts.
Petersen is listed at No. 205 in the MLB's 2024 draft prospect rankings. His approximate draft pick value currently sits at nearly $231,000, according to Major League Baseball.
A pair of former Iowa pitchers also heard their names called, both in the ninth round of the draft. Young was selected No. 259 overall by the Chicago White Sox. Roughly 20 picks later, Morgan got drafted No. 282 overall by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Young's 2.76 ERA ranked first among the Hawkeyes last year. He finished with a 2-1 record and 47 strikeouts in nearly 33 innings. His draft pick value sits approximately at $199,000.
In 16 total games (13 starts) last year with Iowa, Morgan finished with a 2-4 record and notched 64 strikeouts in roughly 54 innings. Over his career with Iowa, Morgan was 7-6 with a 5.67 ERA and ended with 162 strikeouts in 135 innings. His draft pick value sits at around $188,000.
The 2024 MLB Draft continues Tuesday with rounds No. 11 through 20 taking place starting at 1 p.m. CT.