OSU Baseball: Six Cowboys Selected in 2023 MLB Draft

Oklahoma State had six players selected in the 2023 MLB Draft, which concluded Tuesday night, including five taken off the board in the first 10 rounds. Its five picks in the first 10 rounds tied for the second-most in program history, just shy of a record-setting 2022 MLB Draft in which seven players were taken in the first 10 rounds. They also had five in that same window selected in the 1984, 2008 and 2016 drafts.

Two of the six Cowboys selected in this year’s draft — Juaron Watts-Brown and Nolan McLean — came off the board in the first 100 picks, with JWB and McLean going 89 and 91 to the Blue Jays and Mets, respectively. Roc Riggio and Marcus Brown went 129 and 138 to the Yankees and Nationals, respectively. Brian Hendry had to wait until pick No. 312 to hear his name called, but he joined his teammate in New York as the Yankees selected him. The final draftee was Isaac Stebens, who the Red Sox snagged in the 16th round.

Below is a rundown of the draft for OSU.

Juaron Watts-Brown, Toronto Blue Jays, Pick 89

After just one year in Stillwater, Juaron Watts-Brown could soon be headed north of the border after the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the third round.

A transfer from Long Beach State, Watts-Brown threw a team-high 82 1/3 innings for the Cowboys this past season where he posted a 5.03 ERA, a .219 batting average against and a Big 12-leading 124 strikeouts.

The slot value for pick No. 89 is $771,500.

Nolan McLean, New York Mets, Pick 91

Not long after the Jays took Watts-Brown, the New York Mets came calling for two-way player Nolan McLean in the third round.

McLean was a third-round selection by the Baltimore Orioles last season before electing to return to Stillwater for another season.

Despite missing a chunk of 2023 with injury, McLean still put up solid numbers. On the mound, McLean had a 3.30 ERA in 30 innings pitched. He tied for a team lead with six saves and had 34 strikeouts. At the plate, McLean hit .250 with 29 RBIs and nine home runs in 124 at-bats.

The slot value for pick No. 91 is $747,600.

Roc Riggio, New York Yankees, Pick 129

One of the most exciting Cowboys to watch on the diamond in recent seasons, Roc Riggio is headed to the most famous team in all of baseball after the New York Yankees selected him in the fourth round.

Only a sophomore in 2023, Riggio was outstanding. He hit .335 at the plate with 75 hits, 17 doubles, three triples and a team-leading 18 home runs. He also had 66 runs scored, best among Pokes, and 61 RBIs, good for third among Cowboys.

The slot value for pick No. 129 is $506,800.

Marcus Brown, Washington Nationals, Pick 138

Marcus Brown didn’t have to wait long after his middle infield partner was taken, with the Washington Nationals taking Brown in the fifth round.

An anchor at shortstop for the Cowboys, Brown had a .273 batting average to go with nine home runs and 36 RBIs in 2023.

The slot value for pick No. 138 is $464,400.

Brian Hendry, New York Yankees, Pick 312

The Yankees must love the Cowboys.

After taking Riggio earlier in the day, the Yankees scooped up Brian Hendry. In 16 appearances this past season, the right-handed Hendry had a 6.63 ERA in 36 2/3 innings pitched. He struck out 51 batters while walking only 14 and had a .295 batting average against.

The slot value for No. 312 is $164,400.

Isaac Stebens, Boston Red Sox, Pick 478

After finishing with the best ERA in the Big 12 and leading the league in strikeouts, Stebens — somehow — had to wait until the 16th round to hear his name called. The wait might’ve been worth it, though, as the legendary Boston Red Sox organization snagged him at pick No. 478 on Tuesday in the final day of the draft. The former Cowley County College product ranked 10th nationally with a 2.24 ERA and finished with a 4-1 record and six saves last season for the Cowboys.