A number of high school and college players with New Jersey roots are ready to take the next step forward into their professional baseball careers.

Jersey Sports Zone will have breakdowns and highlights of the Garden State players who are selected in the 2022 MLB First-Year Player’s Draft, held from July 17-19 in Los Angeles, California.


Nazier Mule (Passaic Tech RHP) | Chicago Cubs | Round 4, Pick No. 113 Overall

Passaic Tech flamethrower Nazier Mule is headed to the Windy City! Mule, who is a two-way player at pitcher and shortstop, was selected by the Chicago Cubs as a pitcher. Mule made three starts on the mound of PCTI this season and struck out 29 batters in 13 innings of work. He also flashed immense talent with the bat and smashed eight homers for the Bulldogs as a senior.


Trey Dombroski (Monmouth University/Wall HS LHP) | Houston Astros | Round 4, No. 133 Overall

Dombroski, one of the top college arms in the 2022 MLB Draft and a player with deep Jersey Shore roots, the first college player from the Garden State selected in this year’s draft. Dombroski was dominant as a senior in 2019 when he led Wall HS to a Group 3 state championship – he struck out 124 batters and allowed only a single walk. He was named the Cape Cod League MVP before a dominant junior season at Monmouth University this past spring.


Connor Staine (University of Central Florida/West Morris RHP) | Colorado Rockies | Round 5, No. 146 Overall

After transferring from Maryland to the University of Central Florida, Connor Staine is now headed to the Big Leagues. Staine tossed 43.1 innings and struck out 51 batters with a 1.47 ERA as a redshirt sophomore this season. In high school, Staine was an ace for West Morris and led the Wolfpack to the Morris County Tournament final and the Group 3 state final. He had a 1.40 ERA in 65 innings as a high school senior.

https://youtu.be/YaC0LquCjBE

 

 


Cade Hunter (Virginia Tech/Lenape HS Catcher) | Cincinnati Reds | Round 5, No. 153 Overall


Noah Dean (Old Dominion/Pinelands Regional HS LHP) | Boston Red Sox | Round 5, No. 159 Overall


Liam Simon (Notre Dame/Freehold Twp. HS RHP) | San Francisco Giants | Round 5, No. 166 Overall


Danny Serretti (North Carolina/Gov. Livingston HS SS) | Detroit Tigers | Round 6, No. 177 Overall


Josh Hood (North Carolina State/St. Augustine Prep HS SS) | Seattle Mariners | Round 6, No. 186 Overall


Alex Iadisernia (Elon/Jackson Memorial HS OF) | St. Louis Cardinals | Round 7, No. 217 Overall

Alex Iadisernia turned heads with a .306 career batting average at Elon University with 16 homers and 84 RBI’s. The lefty power source started his power surge at Jackson Memorial where he hit 5 home runs in his senior season. JSZ was there for his grand slam against Bayonne, part of his senior season highlight reel.


Caden Dana (Don Bosco Prep RHP) | Los Angeles Angels | Round 11, No. 328 Overall

Don Bosco pitcher and NJ Gatorade Player of the Year Caden Dana heard his name called early on the third day of the MLB Draft. Dana was selected in the 11th round by the Los Angeles Angels. Dana led the Ironmen to the Non-Public “A” state championship. Check out his JSZ highlight reel from his senior season:


KC Hunt (Mississippi State/Ramapo HS RHP) | Pittsburgh Pirates | Round 12, No. 350 Overall


Ryan Ramsey (Maryland/Pascack Hills HS LHP) | Kansas City Royals | Round 13, No. 385 Overall

Ryan Ramsey’s name was plastered across national headlines earlier this spring when he tossed a perfect game against Northwestern on April 29. That was no surprise to the countless New Jersey baseball fans who saw him dominate during his prep days at Pascack Hills. He pitched the Broncos to a Group 2 state championship win in 2019 during his senior season.

https://youtu.be/VxgAAh9I8Pc

Casey Dana (UConn/Don Bosco Prep OF) | Los Angeles Angels | Round 16, No. 478 Overall

Casey Dana will join his younger brother Caden Dana in Southern California as both brothers were selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2022 MLB Draft. Casey batted .313 for the Huskies and helped his team reach the NCAA Super Regionals.


Luke Franzoni (Xavier/Princeton Day HS OF) | Los Angeles Angels | Round 19, No. 568 Overall


Josh Loeschorn (LIU/Butler HS RHP) | Pittsburgh Pirates | Round 20, No. 590 Overall


Drew Conover (Seton Hall/North Hunterdon HS RHP) | Detroit Tigers | Round 20, No. 597 Overall


Andrew Vail (Rowan/Gloucester Catholic HS LHP) | San Diego Padres | Round 20, No. 600 Overall


Shawn Rapp (North Carolina/Delbarton School LHP) | Cleveland Guardians | Round 20, No. 601 Overall

The last New Jersey player selected in the 2022 MLB Draft also got the last out in Delbarton’s last baseball state championship win back in 2019. On a roster with former MLB first round picks Anthony Volpe (2019) and Jack Leiter (2021), Rapp carved out an important role for the Green Wave as an impactful two-way player. He went on to play three seasons at North Carolina, where he made 75 appearances and had a career 4.32 ERA from the bullpen.