Three Manatees Make MLB Debuts

Bradenton, Fla -  Three former Manatees made their official Major League Baseball debut for their teams during the 2024 season: CJ Alexander, Justin Wrobleski and Ryan Miller.

"I think it speak to how great this program is and the great tradition that we have here for our baseball players making their debuts in the MLB," said athletic director Nick Cichielo. "It's been a great summer for that and a positive for SCF baseball. Just to see players like CJ (Alexander), (Justin) Wrobleski and Ryan Miller make their debuts within three months of each other is outstanding and it really sets the stage for the upcoming year and I expect the program to have a great year and another one or two in the following years that will make their debut, so I'm really excited to see that happen."

A third baseman from Merrillville, Indiana, who played for the Manatees during the 2018 season, Alexander made his debut with the Kansas City Royals on June 24 against the Miami Marlins. The 2018 Suncoast Conference Player of the Year played in four games where he secured his first MLB hit against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 2. 

He returned to the Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA) where he finished batting .303 with 98 hits, 16 home runs and 54 RBI before being released. Following his release, Alexander was picked up by the Oakland Athletics where he is currently assigned to the Las Vegas Aviators (AAA).

Wrobleski, a left-handed pitcher who played during the 2020 season before transferring to the University of Oklahoma, made his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 7 against the Milwaukee Brewers where he threw five innings with four strikeouts before earning his first MLB win against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 16 before returning to the Oklahoma Cty Baseball Club.

Miller, a right-handed pitcher and local product from Sarasota who played during the 2017 season, made his debut for Los Angeles Angels on August 27 against the Detroit Tigers where he threw one inning with two strikeouts. He is currently still with the Angels as part of the September call-ups.

Congratulations to Alexander, Wrobleski and Miller on making their much awaited debuts in the MLB.

SCF Baseball Players Get Drafted

Bradenton, Fla - Former players that have played for the SCF baseball team will make their dreams of playing baseball professionally for Major League Baseball (MLB) a reality as five players were selected in the 2024 MLB draft with Brandon Clarke highlighting the way as the first pick of the Manatees that have been selected. Classmate Jalen Hairston and former Manatees Christian Gordon and Owen Ayers were also selected in the draft while fellow former Manatee Tony Rossi signed as an undrafted free agent.

Clarke, a left-handed pitcher, was selected in the fifth round (148th overall) by the Boston Red Sox  while also being committed to the University of South Carolina. While listed #177 in the MLB.com Top 250 prospect, the native of Cary, North Carolina finished his two seasons with the Manatees 6-4 with a 4.73 ERA, 43 walks and 113 strikeouts in 78 innings of work. After appearing towards the end of the 2023 season due to injury following his transfer from Alabama, Clarke made his breakout season this past season as one of the nation's best pitchers as he went 6-2 with a 4.36 ERA, 35 walks and 107 strikeouts while being named a member of the All-Citrus Conference First Team. His 107 strikeouts ranked 

Hairston, an infielder from Winter Haven, Florida, was selected in the 18th round (539th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds. For two seasons with the Manatees, he batted .376 with 91 hits, 64 runs scored, six home runs and 47 RBI while being named a member of the All-Citrus Conference First Team and the All-NJCAA Region 8 First Team.

Gordon, a left-handed pitcher from Monroe, Virginia, was selected in the 16th round (474th overall) by the Chicago Cubs. After completing his freshman year at Liberty University, Gordon joined the Manatees during the 2022 season. There he went 1-1 with a 6.65 ERA, 29 walks and 25 strikeouts in 23 innings of work. 

Following his season with the Manatees, he would transfer to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) for the next two seasons where he went 10-4 overall with a 4.16 ERA, 53 walks and 133 strikeouts in 110.1 innings where he was recently named a member of the All-Atlantic 10 Conference Second Team. Additionally, during the 2024 season, Gordon helped the Rams to win the Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Tournament and automatically qualify for the 2024 NCAA College Baseball World Series.

Ayers will also Gordon on the Cubs as he was selected in the 19th round (572nd overall). A switch hitting catcher/outfielder and local product from Sarasota, Ayers played three seasons for the Manatee (2020-22) where he compiled a career .276 batting average with 137 hits, 117 runs, 23 home runs and 112 RBI while earning a spot on the 2022 All-Suncoast Conference First Team.

Ayers would then transfer to Marshall University where he finished second all-time in career doubles in program history (39) and finished his career batting .288 with 101 hits, 66 runs, 12 home runs and 49 RBI.

Rossi, a right-handed pitcher from Lake Mary, Florida, signed with the New York Yankees after being undrafted in the MLB Draft. He played for the Manatees for two seasons (2020-21) where he went 5-3 overall with a 5.37 ERA, one save, 40 walks and 91 strikeouts in 68.2 innings before transferring to the University of North Carolina - Charlotte for the next three years where he finished 9-2 with a 5.05 ERA, seven saves, 54 walks and 116 strikeouts in 87.1 innings of work with the 49ers. Last year, Rossi originally signed a contract with the San Francisco Giants as an undrafted free agent before opting to return to UNC Charlotte for his redshirt senior year.

Congratulations to all of our former Manatees who were drafted and/or signed contracts in the MLB.

SCF Baseball Players Sign in the MLB

Bradenton, Fla - Two players from the SCF baseball team have officially made their decisions to continue their baseball careers at the professional level for Major League Baseball (MLB). Those two players that will make their dreams come true are pitchers Michael Forret (2023) and Tony Rossi (2020-21).

Forret was selected in the 14th round (pick 421) of the draft by the Baltimore Orioles and signed with them for $450,000. The Orioles are currently in first place in the American League East Division with a two and a half game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Originally committed to East Carolina, the native of Indian Trail, North Carolina finished his lone season with the Manatees 10-3 with a 3.34 ERA, one save, 18 walks and 106 strikeouts. He was named the Suncoast Conference Pitcher of the Year and a member of the All-Suncoast First Team after going 4-0 in conference play before winning the FCSAA Pitcher of the Year and being named a member of the All-NJCAA Region 8 First Team. Forret's 10 wins and 106 strikeouts were ranked tied for #16 in the nation, while his number of innings pitched (86.1) ranked #10 in the nation.

Despite not playing in the 2023 season, Rossi, who was not drafted in this year's MLB Draft, signed a free agent deal with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants are currently tied for second place in National League West with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

A native of Lake Mary, Florida, Rossi began his collegiate baseball career at the University of West Florida (NCAA DII) in 2019. There, he went 5-3 with a 5.26 ERA, 32 walks and 40 strikeouts in 51.1 innings pitched for the Argonauts where he was named the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year. 

He then transferred to SCF where played two seasons and finished 5-3 overall with a 5.37 ERA, 40 walks and 91 strikeouts in 68.2 innings before transferring to the University of North Carolina - Charlotte with fellow SCF alum Nick Cosentino (2021-22) where he went 5-1 with a 4.57 ERA, one save, 20 walks and 48 strikeouts during the 2022 season with the 49ers.

We wish both Michael and Tony the best on their journeys in the MLB.