Last year, Bourne only had one player picked in the first round of the MLB Draft — this year played out differently.
It was a big moment for ex-Braves on Sunday evening, as four former players were selected in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft.
The quartet of players that once suited up for Bourne made the Braves the team with the most first-round picks amongst the 10 teams in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Liam Doyle was the first Brave off the board, being selected fifth overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round. He appeared in two games for Bourne in 2023 after playing collegiate ball for Coastal Carolina, boasting a .311 ERA in two games with eight strikeouts. Doyle finished his college ball with Tennessee and also spent a season with Ole Miss.
Marek Houston heard his name called shortly after, going No. 17 to the Minnesota Twins. The shortstop from Wake Forest spent 2024 with the Braves, where he logged 26 hits with his .306 batting average to go along with his 26 runs and 26 walks.
Another Brave went in the ensuing pick — it was another from Wake Forest, as Ethan Conrad was selected at pick No. 18 to the Chicago Cubs. The outfielder spent last summer with Bourne, totaling a whopping .385 batting average with 42 hits, 19 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases.
Caden Bodine spent six games with the Braves in 2024, where he totaled three RBIs and three hits, also contributing behind the plate. He made an appearance with Bourne the year prior as well, where he was selected as a Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star with his .471 OBP, which at the time was the best on the team. The ballplayer from Coastal Carolina was selected pick No. 30 by the Baltimore Orioles.
There was also a tie to a current Brave that got picked, as Wehiwa Aloy, the 2025 winner of the Golden Spikes Award as well as brother of current Bourne player Kuhio Aloy was picked No. 31 by the Orioles, where he will join forces with Bodine after being selected the pick after him. Wehiwa spent the 2024 season on the Cape where he mashed eight home runs in 21 games for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.
“I always look up to [Wehiwa]. I think he’s the biggest tone-setter for me,” Kuhio said on July 5 after the Braves beat the Wareham Gatemen.
The Braves found success with their alumni in Round 1 with four selections, but more will likely be called throughout the draft as the rounds progress.
