ARLINGTON, Texas – At the end of 20 rounds of selections by the 30 teams in Major League Baseball, 12 players representing the WAC were chosen as part of the 2023 MLB Draft from July 9-11. Grand Canyon and Abilene Christian led all WAC members with three total players chosen in the first-year player draft, with a single player from each of California Baptist, Seattle U, Tarleton State and Utah Valley also among the 614 overall draftees.
 
Seven primary pitchers with conference ties were among the 12 draftees to make it the most popular position of all WAC players drafted. Three outfielders and a pair of infielders rounded out the positions of WAC draftees. Seven WAC players were drafted by current American League clubs, including three by the Los Angeles Angels, with the remaining five players selected by National League squads that included two draft choices of the San Diego Padres.
 
Grand Canyon shortstop Jacob Wilson became the 37th player with WAC ties taken in the first round of the MLB Draft since 1965 and was the 21st conference player to be selected in the top 10 when he went sixth overall to the Oakland Athletics on Sunday night. Wilson, the highest WAC baseball draft pick since 2004 (Philip Humber, RHP, Rice, third overall, New York Mets; Jeff Niemann, Rice, RHP, fourth overall, Tampa Bay Rays), was the highest primary position player from the WAC to be drafted since San Diego State first baseman Travis Lee was chosen second overall by the Minnesota Twins in 1996.
 
WAC In The 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft
 
Round 1
Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon (Overall Pick 6, Oakland Athletics)
 
Round 4
Joe Redfield, OF, Sam Houston (Overall Pick 111, Los Angeles Angels)
Homer Bush Jr., OF, Grand Canyon (Overall Pick 128, San Diego Padres)
 
Round 5
Zach Thornton, LHP, Grand Canyon (Overall Pick 159, New York Mets)
 
Round 11
Casey Anderson, RHP, Utah Valley (Overall Pick 325, Arizona Diamondbacks)
Nestor German, RHP, Seattle U (Overall Pick 331, Baltimore Orioles)
 
Round 13
Riley Bauman, RHP, Abilene Christian (Overall Pick 384, Los Angeles Angels)
 
Round 14
Tyler Morgan, RHP, Abilene Christian (Overall Pick 431, San Diego Padres)
 
Round 15
Spencer Bengard, RHP, California Baptist (Overall Pick 447, Minnesota Twins)
Will Stevens, RHP, Tarleton State (Overall Pick 453, Tampa Bay Rays)
 
Round 16
Justin Wishkoski, 3B, Sam Houston (Overall Pick 480, San Francisco Giants)
 
Round 17
Logan Britt, OF, Abilene Christian (Overall Pick 504, Los Angeles Angels)