MOREHEAD CITY, NC — Three Morehead City Marlins players were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft and three additional Marlins were signed after the draft.

Right handed pitcher Matt Hickey (Tarleton State) was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 15th round with the 457th pick, first basemen Garrett McGowan (Pittsburg State) was selected by the Houston Astros in the 17th round with the 523rd pick, and right handed pitcher Chris Santiago (St. Marys College) was selected by the New York Mets in the 18th round with the 539th pick.

In addition to the drafted Marlins players, three players were signed to contracts. Right-handed pitcher Tyler Wehrle (Tiffin College) was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers, right-handed pitcher Jared Kollar (Rutgers) was signed by the San Diego Padres, and infielder Ryan McCarty (Penn State Abington) was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Hickey has been a huge contributor out of the bullpen for the Marlins for the past two seasons. With the Marlins this season, Hickey currently posts a 3-0 record and a 1.11 ERA in 24.1 IP. He has tallied 36 strikeouts, 6 saves, and has only given up 12 hits on the season. Recently, Hickey was named a 2022 Coastal Plain League All-Star

McGowan out of Pittsburg State University is hitting .225 with 20 hits, three doubles, 14 RBI’s, and one home run. In the spring with Pittsburg State, McGowan batted a team leading .399 with 61 runs scored, 20 doubles, 18 home runs, and 79 RBI. He ranked fifth in Division II in RBI per game (1.52 pg). McGowan also posted a 1.000 fielding percentage during the 2022 season, making no errors in 385 chances.

He earned NCAA Division II All-America honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America. He was also named to the 2022 ABCA/Rawlings Division II Gold Glove Team. He becomes the ninth Pittsburg State baseball in school history to be drafted into the MLB.

Santiago out of Saint Mary’s College (CA) was signed by the Marlins but did not appear in a game. In the 2022 season with the Gaels, Santiago posted a 4.50 ERA with a 1-3 W-L record, he tallied 20 strikeouts, only giving up 10 hits and 10 runs.

Wehrle out of Tiffin University, was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers. Wehrle has been the Marlins go-to guy this season on the mound as he’s thrown 35.1 innings this summer. In the 2022 season, Wehrle posted a 3.56 ERA with 47 strikeouts and only gave up 24 hits, six walks, and tallied a 2-0 W-L record. Like Hickey, Wehrle was named a Coastal Plain League All-Star and started the All-Star game on the mound for the East Team.