Courtesy of NC A&T Athletics
GREENSBORO – The Kansas Metropolis Royals made North Carolina A&T catcher Canyon Brown the 257th total decide in Monday’s ninth spherical of the 2024 Main League Baseball (MLB) Draft. The Royals drafted Brown a yr after the Miami Marlins took his former HBCU teammate, right-handed pitcher Xavier Meachem, within the tenth spherical with the 293rd total decide.
Brown is the very best A&T draft decide because the San Diego Padres drafted Faculty Baseball Corridor of Famer Al Holland with the 81st total decide within the fourth spherical in 1975. Brown joins Holland and Lloyd Lightfoot as the one three North Carolina A&T Aggies chosen in a single-digit spherical. Lightfoot went within the third spherical of the 1969 draft with the seventieth total choice.
Brown’s distinctive expertise, significantly his glorious arm behind the plate, made him a standout for main league groups. His spectacular 47.4 % price of catching base stealers, with 27 runners caught, earned him a fame for controlling the opponent’s operating recreation. His efficiency on the MLB Draft Mix additional solidified his standing within the draft, showcasing his above-average arm and a capability to successfully obtain pitches.
A few of the considerations got here in his potential to be an offensive menace regardless of Brown having a profession yr the place he batted .310 with six house runs, 49 RBIs, 12 doubles, three triples with a .414 on-base proportion and a .492 slugging proportion. His batting common, RBIs, doubles, triples, on-base proportion and slugging proportion have been profession highs as he earned first-team All-Coastal Athletic Affiliation honors.
The Aggies have had 22 HBCU baseball gamers drafted to the MLB throughout its baseball program historical past. Canyon Brown is the fourth Corridor recruit drafted since he took over this system through the 2015 season. Brown joins Meachem, RHP Leon Hunter and RHP Cutter Dyals as MLB draft picks underneath Corridor.
“I’m extraordinarily excited to see Canyon drafted on the second day of the MLB Draft,” stated Corridor. “It’s a dream realized, and I’m so happy with all of the work he put in to make this occur. Canyon is a real testomony to a participant who set a aim, put the work in, stayed true to his commitments, developed, and earned this chance. He shall be a high-level skilled; the Royals received a whole participant.”
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