DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Wildcats ace Nolan Santos becomes the first Wildcats draft pick since 2019, as the Minnesota Twins select the right-hander in the seventh round of the 2023 MLB Draft, they announced Monday.

Santos becomes the first Wildcat selected in the MLB draft since pitcher Anthony Maldonato, who was selected in the 11th round (321 overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2019.

After Maldonato, Santos becomes the second player under head coach Jonathan Hernandez to hear his name called in the MLB draft. 

"We're so incredibly proud of Nolan," Hernandez said. "He has been incredible for us in his time with B-CU, he's put the work in, and earned the opportunity to play at the next level. This is a huge moment for him, his family, and our program. We wish him nothing but success going forward."

Santos, selected with pick 207, enjoyed a tremendous season in 2023, earning a selection to the All-SWAC First Team. He emerged as one of the top arms across all of college baseball pitching his way to the top of NCAA baseball leaderboards, finishing the regular season second in the nation in strikeouts, and sixth including postseason play.

Santos registered double-digit strikeouts nine times last season, racking up a monstrous 13.3 K/9 – the 14th highest mark in college baseball despite the third-highest innings pitched among the nation's top 50 in the stat. Of those strikeouts, 48 came looking – the highest mark in the SWAC.

Santos pitched his way to a 7-3 record and a 3.43 ERA  in the regular season– the fourth-best mark in the conference. Santos finished three complete games lastseason, including a complete-game shutout. He pitched in a league-high 84 innings, with opposing hitters batting a league-low .209 against him. Santos pitched into the seventh eight times in 2023.

Santos was named SWAC pitcher of the Week three times last season.


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