FORT WORTH, Texas -- Daniel Eagen of the Presbyterian College Blue Hose baseball team has been selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.
Following a record-breaking 2024 season with the Blue Hose, Eagen secured his place as the 102th overall pick in this year's MLB Draft. This achievement makes Eagen the highest-ever draft pick out of Presbyterian College, surpassing Ryan Kane, who was selected 144th overall in the 1995 MLB Draft by the California Angels. The North Carolina native is now one of six PC players to be drafted into the MLB in the modern era. The last drafty to come out of Presbyterian was Bud Jeter who was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013.
Eagen's breakout year came in his third season at Presbyterian College after seeing 16 appearances during his freshman year and struggling with injuries during his sophomore year.
During his 2024 junior season he started in 14 games and pitched a total of 77.2 innings. His remarkable 2.67 ERA not only led the Big South Conference but also ranked 11th nationally. Eagen set a new all-time record for PC with 122 strikeouts this season, leading the conference and placing him among the top 15 pitchers in the nation. He kept opposing hitters at bay, limiting them to a .176 batting average, and allowed only 49 hits and 23 earned runs throughout the year, finishing with a 6-2 record and a 0.99 WHIP.
In conference play, Eagen started eight games, pitching 47.1 innings with a 5-1 record and a 2.66 ERA. He struck out 76 batters, held opponents to a .160 batting average, and allowed just 26 hits and 14 earned runs. His performance in Big South Conference matchups helped the team to a 18-6 record and gave them the title of Big South Regular Season Champions.
Eagen's season was marked by several standout moments. In a 4-2 victory against Radford, he notched a career-high 14 strikeouts, the most ever recorded by a Presbyterian pitcher in a single game. During the series opener against UNC Asheville, Eagen carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning, contributing to the team's record-setting 17-0 shutout win.
EAGEN'S 2024 RESUME
- 2024 Big South Pitcher of the Year
- First Team All-Big South
- ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-American
- DI Baseball Third Team All-American
- Perfect Game Third Team All-American
- ABCA Division I First Team All-Region
- Six-time Big South Starting Pitcher of the Week