Toledo pitcher Connor Brandon was selected by the New York Mets in the 17th round of the MLB Draft on Tuesday.
Brandon, a 2022 Second-Team All-MAC selection, is the 49th player in program history to be selected in the MLB Draft and the second in as many days after teammate Kyle Jones was taken by the Minnesota Twins in the seventh round. This marks the first time since 2010 that Toledo had multiple players taken in the MLB Draft; Matt Suschak (seventh round) and Jared Hoying (10th round) were the Rockets’ two selections that year.
Toledo pitcher Connor Brandon was selected by the New York Mets in the 17th round of the MLB Draft on Tuesday.
“Thank you to all the coaches, players and friends in the Toledo community that helped me get to where I am today, I cannot thank you all enough,” Brandon said. “There have been so many memories made here that I will never forget.”
Brandon grew by leaps and bounds as a pitcher this past season, striking out 88 in 75.2 innings and posting a 4.76 ERA. He ranked fourth in the MAC in punchouts and sixth in ERA and formed arguably the best 1-2 punch in the league with Jones. Brandon had seven outings with at least six strikeouts and two double-digit strikeout performances, one against Western Michigan and one against Miami. An Hebron native, Brandon is a two-time Academic All-MAC selection.
“We are really excited that Connor was drafted in the 17th round by the Mets,” head coach Rob Reinstetle said. “Connor arguably has the best raw stuff of anyone in the MAC and in our region of the country. He has an electric fastball and has really improved his off-speed pitches. I’m happy for Connor and feel that his best baseball is ahead of him.
“Watching him grow and develop the past couple years has been awesome to see as a coach. He’s always been the kid with a great arm, but last season he really started to learn how to pitch,” Reinstetle added. “Connor was pegged right behind Kyle in our rotation and gave us one of the best 1-2 punches in the conference. Connor is very deserving and could fly through a system if he keeps on his current growth path.”
The selections of Brandon and Jones make Toledo the only MAC team in the 2022 Draft to have multiple pitchers taken.
“This is two seasons in a row that Toledo Baseball has produced an MLB Draft pick, and the first time since 2010 that we have had two players selected,” Reinstetle said. “As we continue to recruit, develop and grow the program, I think you will see more and more Rockets getting their names called by MLB teams and going to the next level of baseball.”
