One call can change everything. That rang true for the 16 former players who heard their names called this week.

Several of Orleans’ most familiar faces have taken the next step on their path to the majors.

Cam Leiter was the first former Bird off the board after notching five strikeouts in just 6.2 IP at Eldredge Park and appearing in three games. Jack Gurevitch came next in the third round, racking up 16 RBIs, two home runs, and 25 hits in Orleans last summer. Cody Bowker joined Gurevitch in the third round, logging a 3.28 ERA with 36 strikeouts across his 35.2 IP.

Two players were drafted the same year they suited up for Orleans, including Truman Pauley and Itsuki Takemoto.

Pauley, who played not too far at Harvard, took the field in six games for the Birds. Delivering 16 strikeouts for the 2024 squad, Pauley posted a 5.87 ERA in his 15.1 IP.

Takemoto was the only two multi-year Birds selected. Earning the 2024 CCBL’s most outstanding pitcher award, he recorded a 0.71 ERA. Hailing from Wakayama, Japan, Takemoto

logged 38 innings and 30 strikeouts across two summers in Orleans.

Here are the Firebirds who got drafted this week:

Cam Leiter (Birds ‘23): Round 2, Pick 65, Los Angeles Dodgers

Jack Gurevitch (Birds ‘24): Round 3, Pick 89, St. Louis Cardinals

Cody Bowker (Birds ‘24): Round 3, Pick 100, Philadelphia Phillies

Lorenzo Meola (Birds ‘24): Round 4, Pick 116, San Francisco Giants

Daniel Bucciero (Birds ‘24): Round 9, Pick 260, Oakland Athletics

Austin Smith (Birds ‘24): Round 10, Pick 292, Toronto Blue Jays

Luke Jackson (Birds ‘24): Round 11, Pick 327, Tampa Bay Rays

Truman Pauley (Birds ‘25): Round 12, Pick 373, New York Mets

Tucker Biven (Birds ‘24): Round 13, Pick 381, Washington Nationals

Callan Fang (Birds ‘24): Round 13, Pick 389, Minnesota Twins

Jonathan Gonzalez (Birds ‘23): Round 14, Pick 431, Philadelphia Phillies

Jake Casey (Birds ‘23): Round 15, Pick 442, Toronto Blue Jays

Eddie King Jr. (Birds ‘23): Round 16, Pick 473, Pittsburgh Pirates

JP Smith II (Birds ‘24): Round 17, Pick 509, Minnesota Twins

Matthew Dalquist (Birds ‘24): Round 18, Pick 539, Minnesota Twins

Itsuki Takemoto (Birds ‘24-25): Round 19, Pick 560, Oakland Athletics