Cunningham, Kuroda-Grauer highlight 24 Braves selected in 2024 MLB Draft

The 2024 MLB Draft is officially in the books, and big-league teams selected several current and former Bourne Braves. Ten members of the 2024 squad were drafted — with catcher Ben Hartl (Kansas) being the only player on the current roster. In total, 24 Braves heard their name called between July 15-17, tied for the most of any team in the Cape Cod Baseball League’s West Division.

Below is a complete list of Braves taken in this year’s draft, along with short descriptions of their time on the Cape and their accomplishments with their respective schools.

RHP Bryce Cunningham (Bourne '22-23, Vanderbilt University) — 2nd round, 53rd overall, New York Yankees (slot value: $1.72M)

A two-time CCBL All-Star and member of the Bourne Braves’ 2022 and 2023 Championship teams, Cunningham was the first Vanderbilt Commodore to be taken in this year’s draft.

Despite it being his first summer on the Cape, Cunningham was mainly used as a starter in 2022, pitching to a 4.55 ERA in 25.2 regular season innings. He made one start in the postseason, a 4 2/3-frame outing against Hyannis that saw him fan eight and surrender one earned run.

Cunningham proved an even more dominant starter for Bourne in 2023 and logged a 2.38 ERA in 22 2/3 innings through five appearances, starting two more games in the playoffs.

He entered the 2021 spring at Vandy as the fourth-best right-handed pitcher from Alabama according to Perfect Game, and posted 160 innings with a 4.95 ERA and 168 strikeouts across three seasons in Nashville.

Cunningham possesses a mid-90s fastball which is complimented by an elite mid-80s changeup.

SS Josh Kuroda-Grauer (Bourne '22-23, Rutgers University) — 3rd round, 75th overall, Oakland Athletics (slot value: $1.04M)

Like Cunningham, Kuroda-Grauer won back-to-back titles with the Braves in 2022 and 2023, earning CCBL All-Star Honors last summer.

After hitting .250 with six RBI in the 2022 postseason, Kuroda-Grauer struggled during his next regular season in Bourne, posting a .190 average. However, he turned it on during the Braves’ second straight championship run, leading the playoffs with 13 RBI and hitting .444.

In four seasons at Rutgers, Kuroda-Grauer recorded a .343 average, 42 doubles and 116 RBI. He had the highest average (.428), second-highest on-base percentage (.492) and fourth-most doubles (19) in the Big Ten this past spring, garnering Big Ten Player of the Year honors — and becoming the first Scarlet Knight to receive a conference player of the year award since 2012, when the program was a member of the Big East.

SS Jack Penney (Bourne '24, University of Notre Dame) — 5th round, 147th overall, Detroit Tigers (slot value: $462K)*

Penney was the first 2024 Bourne Brave to be taken in the 2024 MLB Draft, heading to the Motor City.

He followed up an All-Star-caliber campaign for the Orleans Firebirds in 2023 — which saw him log a .275 average along with five homers and 22 RBI — with another solid stint in Bourne this summer. In 13 games for the Braves, Penney went 13-for-48 and drove in five runs.

An effective contact hitter for Notre Dame, the Wakefield, Massachusetts, native posted a .261 average and accumulated 23 doubles, 23 long balls and 83 RBI across three years with the Fighting Irish.

LHP Tristan Smith (Bourne '23, Clemson University) — 5th round, 150th overall, Cincinnati Reds (slot value: $448K)

Smith was one of the Braves’ most effective starters in 2023, pitching to a stellar 1.56 ERA across 23 innings and six appearances (five starts). He also tossed a team-high 33 strikeouts during the regular season and posted a 3-0 record.

In two seasons with Clemson, Smith fanned 109 batters in 82 frames. He boasted a 4.50 ERA through 36 appearances and 18 starts.

C Derek Bender (Bourne '23, Coastal Carolina University) — 6th round, 188th overall, Minnesota Twins (slot value: $320K)

Bender was a driving force behind the Braves 2023 CCBL title and owned the second-highest average in the league (.374) during the regular season.

In addition to that outstanding batting average, he racked up seven doubles, four home runs and 18 stolen bases. Bender was also effective during the postseason, hitting three doubles and three homers — tied for the most in the playoffs — one being the series-clinching solo shot during in Game 3 of the Championship.

Over three seasons at Coastal Carolina, Bender recorded a .326 average and 58 extra-base hits, including 32 homers. He also contributed 153 RBI for the Chanticleers.

C Kodey Shojinaga (Bourne '23, University of Kansas) — 6th round, 192nd overall, Philadelphia Phillies (slot value: $310K)

Shojinaga’s time in Bourne was short — playing in 11 games during the 2023 campaign — but made the most of his 43 at-bats and recorded 14 knocks, good for a .326 average. He also posted four multi-hit games during the regular season.

The 2023 Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year and a member of the 2024 Preseason All-Big 12 Team, Shojinaga accrued a .357 average, 31 doubles, 11 homers and 78 RBI in two years at Kansas.

LHP Garrett Horn (Bourne '23, Liberty University) — 6th round, 195th overall, Texas Rangers (slot value: $302K)

Horn had a short tenure with the Braves, as he only started four games in 2023. However, he tossed 22 strikeouts in 18 innings on the bump and accumulated a 5.00 ERA.

A three-year player at Liberty, Horn pitched a combined 137 1/3 frames, fanning 196 and recording a 3.28 ERA.

LHP Connor Wietgrefe (Bourne '24, University of Minnesota) — 7th round, 204th overall, Pittsburgh Pirates (slot value: $281K)*

Wietgrefe proved a sensational starter in two appearances for the Braves in 2024, posting a sub-one ERA and WHIP. He also struck out 12 batters in 11 innings of work.

The Minnesota native enjoyed a stellar 2024 campaign for the Golden Gophers that garnered All-Big Ten First Team honors, as he owned a 2.77 ERA and 74 punchouts in 78 frames. He posted a 3.11 ERA in over 118 innings throughout his three-season career with the Golden Gophers.

RHP Wyatt Parliament (Bourne '24, Virginia Tech University) — 7th round, 211th overall, New York Yankees (slot value: $265K)*

Bourne’s 4-3 loss at Brewster on June 16 was the only time Parliament played on the Cape, which was a three-inning start where he dished three K’s and surrendered two earned runs.

After spending the first two years of his collegiate career with Rutgers, Parliament transferred to Virginia Tech and pitched to a 7.63 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings. His best pitch is a dangerous fastball that can touch 97 mph.

In three collegiate seasons, Parliament posted a 5.49 ERA and 116 punchouts in 43 games, mainly out of the bullpen.

OF Sam Petersen (Bourne '23, University of Iowa) — 8th round, 230th overall, Washington Nationals (slot value: $230K)

A true playoff performer for the Braves in 2023, Petersen went 11-for-29 (.379) with seven RBI during the postseason. He was also a solid contact hitter in the regular season, posting a .268 average in 26 games.

Similar to Kuroda-Grauer, Petersen was one of the Big Ten’s premier bats, only during the 2023 spring. In an All-Big Ten First Team-worthy sophomore campaign, the Iowa native hit .319 to complement the second-most home runs on the team (11) and 47 RBI.

He appeared well on his way to replicating his 2023 numbers a year later, posting 42 hits in 126 at-bats (.333) and five home runs, but missed the final month of the season due to a leg injury.

Petersen enjoyed a strong three-year career with the Hawkeyes, maintaining a .305 average while going deep 22 times and collecting 107 RBI.

LHP Donovan Zsak (Bourne '24, Rutgers University) — 8th round, 234th overall, Cleveland Guardians (slot value: $224K)*

Zsak had one of the more impressive starts for Bourne thus far against Hyannis, not necessarily because of his line but due to the velocity he displayed on his fastball. While he mainly hanging in the mid-90s, he touched 98 mph on his heater, finishing the outing with four strikeouts in four frames.

Overall, he owned a 2.45 ERA and 12 punchouts across two CCBL starts.

The southpaw only needed one season in college to prove his worth. As a true freshman in 2024, Zsak racked up 39 K’s and 16 earned runs in 35 innings for the Scarlet Knights.

3B Jared Sprague-Lott (Bourne '22, University of Richmond) — 9th round, 256th overall, Oakland Athletics (slot value: $201K)

Sprague-Lott recorded four knocks through 10 at-bats in three games for the Braves during the 2022 summer, scoring a run and only striking out once.

Named to the Atlantic 10 Second Team in 2023, he logged a .315 average, .433 on-base percentage and 113 RBI across three seasons for the Spiders. His junior campaign was his most productive, as he went 61-for-194 (.314) with 26 extra-base hits and 44 walks to 31 strikeouts.

RHP Marcus Morgan (Bourne '23, University of Iowa) — 9th round, 282nd overall, Philadelphia Phillies (slot value: $188K)

The Phillies took Morgan with the 282nd pick, making him the second former Brave to be selected by Philadelphia in this year’s draft.

Morgan pitched in two games for the Braves — both starts — totaling six strikeouts and a 5.62 ERA in eight innings. He logged a 5.67 ERA in his three-year career with the Hawkeyes, also recording 162 punchouts in 135 frames.

C Alan Espinal (Bourne '22, Vanderbilt University) — 11th round, 318th overall, Colorado Rockies

Espinal played in 25 games, both regular season and playoffs, during the 2022 CCBL campaign. Through 22 regular-season contests, the backstop posted a .193 average and five RBI, including a 3-for-4 performance on August 3 against the Cotuit Kettleers.

He proved a solid bat in four seasons at Vanderbilt, as he hit .279 in 326 at-bats along with 19 long balls and 73 RBI.

2B Nick Roselli (Bourne '24, Binghamton University — 11th round, 323rd overall, New York Mets*

Roselli hit .148 with a double through nine games with Bourne in 2024, but where he really shined was at Binghamton.

His three-season tenure with the Bearcats was one to remember — he never hit below .300 in any campaign and logged a .349 cumulative average, 26 homers and 104 RBI. Roselli’s junior year was his best, as he slashed .388/.492/.738 with 12 doubles.

His dominant career in Upstate New York earned him a look from the Mets, and now, the Long Island native will head to the Big Apple.

LHP Dalton Pence (Bourne '23, University of North Carolina) — 11th round, 345th overall, Texas Rangers

While his ERA was relatively high during the 2023 regular season, Pence recorded a 3-1 record and 28 K’s in 20 innings for the Braves. He played in eight games between the regular season and playoffs, pitching to a 6.39 ERA through 25 1/3 frames.

During a Third-Team All-ACC-caliber redshirt sophomore spring in 2024, Pence owned a 2.45 ERA and 74 strikeouts across 36 relief appearances. In 107 1/3 innings over two years with the Tar Heels, he boasted 125 punchouts along with a strong 2.45 ERA.

RHP Nolan Sparks (Bourne '22-24, University of Rochester) — 13th round, 381st overall, St. Louis Cardinals*

Sparks has become a legend in Bourne, spending parts of three summers with the Braves.

He tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings between the 2022 regular season and playoffs and was again lights-out during the postseason a year later, holding the Hyannis Harbor Hawks scoreless in a 4 1/3-inning start during Game 2 of the semifinals.

2024 provided Sparks his heaviest workload on the Cape, as he logged 13 2/3 innings over four appearances, two of which were starts.

He etched his name in Rochester Baseball history through four seasons with the school, finishing with the most career strikeouts (248), second-most starts (38) and fourth-most wins (19). In total, Sparks accumulated an impressive 3.06 ERA in 209 innings with the Yellow Jackets.

RHP Matt McShane (Bourne '23-24, St. Joseph’s University) — 13th round, 364th overall, Pittsburgh Pirates*

McShane came into Bourne as a reliever in 2023 and was lights-out, accruing a 1.39 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings. He didn’t find the same success as a starter in 2024 albeit only pitching in two games.

The Pennsylvania native was a very solid arm during his three seasons with Saint Joseph’s, and owned a 3.76 ERA with 125 K’s in 119 2/3 frames.

C Ben Hartl (Bourne '24, University of Kansas) — 14th round, 435th overall, Texas Rangers*

Hartl’s tenure in Bourne wasn’t long, as he hit .167 in nine games with the team, but looked to be a big piece behind the plate down the stretch.

After slashing .428/.582/.782 in two seasons with Heartland Community College, he parlayed that success into a strong season with the Jayhawks and posted a .309 average with 11 home runs and 35 RBI.

OF Andrew Patrick (Bourne '23, Wright State University) — 17th round, 504th overall, Pittsburgh Pirates

During the 2023 regular season, Patrick played in eight games for the Braves, going 4-for-24 (.167) with a home run and a pair of RBI.

He also hit .288, knocked 36 doubles and 37 home runs along with 120 RBI in three seasons at Wright State. An elusive weapon on the base paths, Patrick swiped 61 bags in his tenure with the Raiders.

LHP Tucker Novotny (Bourne '24, University of Minnesota) — 18th round, 526th overall, Oakland Athletics*

Novotny started for the Braves twice in 2024, pitching to a 5.14 ERA and five strikeouts in seven frames.

Through 139 1/3 innings across three seasons, the Minnesotan owned a 5.56 ERA and fanned 156 for the Golden Gophers. His best season was in 2023, when he struck out 80 in 73 1/3 innings on the bump.

RHP Joe Vogatsky (Bourne '23, James Madison University) — 19th round, 564th overall, Pittsburgh Pirates

In 6 1/3 innings on the Cape during the 2023 summer, Vogatsky racked up a 1.42 ERA and six punchouts.

A four-year member of the Dukes squad, he logged a 5.24 cumulative ERA and 126 strikeouts in 120 1/3 frames. His last two seasons with James Madison were his most effective, as he pitched to a sub-four ERA in both while tossing 84 K’s.

RHP Hunter Omlid (Bourne '21, Arizona State University) — 20th round, 588th overall, Colorado Rockies

Omlid pitched 10 2/3 innings for the Braves in 2021 across four appearances, starting three.

After splitting his first two collegiate seasons at Boise State and Central Arizona, he spent two more at Grand Canyon, where he posted a 4.19 ERA and fanned 34 in 38 2/3 frames. Omlid turned that success into an offer from Arizona State, one he accepted.

In his lone season with the Sun Devils, he recorded 37 2/3 frames on the mound and punched out 52.

RHP Brayden Risedorph (Bourne '24, Indiana University) — 20th round, 602nd overall, Chicago Cubs*

Risedorph came out of Bourne’s bullpen three times during the 2024 campaign and proved one of the team’s stronger relievers early on, owning a 2.70 ERA in 6 2/3 innings.

An Indiana native, he accrued a 6.30 ERA, 100 innings pitched and 117 strikeouts in two seasons for the Hoosiers.

(Note — * denotes a member of the 2024 Bourne Braves team)