Time for the big leagues

Louisiana Tech baseball hasn’t been short on star power over the last seven seasons – setting the program up for historic postseason success and national admiration.

With a host of All-Conference USA honorees and All-Americans, along with multiple CUSA titles and NCAA regional appearances, the Bulldogs have proven to have elite players good enough to have a shot at playing in the big leagues with selections in the MLB Draft.

Since Lane Burroughs took over as head coach in 2017, Tech has had 10 MLB Draft picks, including four picks in the top 10 rounds in 2022 — the most in program history.

This year, Cole McConnell, Sam Brodersen, Ethan Bates, Dalton Davis, and Jorge Corona will try to add to that list in the 2024 MLB Draft, beginning Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPN/MLB Network.

Sam Brodersen (RHP)

The former Division II standout burst onto the scene for the Bulldogs in 2024 with 96 strikeouts in just 56 innings.

For context on how good Brodersen’s season was, Ryan Jennings, a 4th round pick in 2022, had 95 strikeouts in 90 1/3 innings, while Cade Gibson, a 10th round pick in 2022, had 93 strikeouts in 85 innings.

Brodersen, a First Team All-CUSA selection, put up a 3.05 ERA while holding opponents to a .160 average against him and 31 total hits.

Naturally, teams have shown interest in the righthander ahead of the draft, with Brodersen telling the Leader he’s been in contact with 15-20 teams.

Back home in Orlando, Brodersen has been working with Barrett Stover, former Tech baseball graduate assistant from 2011-13 and now owner of Revolution Sports Performance.

“In terms of baseball training, I really took a couple weeks off after the season from throwing just to get my body and my arm to a good shape,” Brodersen said. “I’ve been back throwing bullpens for a while. I’ve been working back in Orlando with Barrett. That’s how I first connected with Tech, honestly. He set up a really good plan for me and he knows what he’s doing to help me.”

Brodersen helped the Bulldogs when it counted the most last season with a 2.01 ERA in league play, using his fastball with strong movement and an effective slider to dominate opponents.

It’s those two pitches, and a gritty work ethic, that has Brodersen in favor with multiple teams.

“It’s really come back to my stuff is really good and obviously my strikeouts numbers were good this year,” Brodersen said. “I’ve got two good pitches. I still have things to work on like getting some of the walks down and staying in the zone more.”

Brodersen “wouldn’t rule it out” if a team showed interest in him as a starter but feels confident in his place as a reliver for now.

As for what his pitch would be to a team that wanted to know what kind of person they’d be drafting, Brodersen said, “I am who I am. I’m a straightforward guy. Teams know that when they talk to me and talk to (Lane) Burroughs and (Cooper) Fouts I think. I’m a hard worker. I’ll go out there with the same mentality every time and I can pitch a lot and can bounce back and recover from ups and downs.”

Cole McConnell (OF)

McConnell, the Bulldogs’ top slugger, had a career year in 2024 with 18 home runs, 94 hits, a .378 average, and a .671 slugging percentage.

He led CUSA in average and hits, also good enough for the second-most hits in a single season in Tech history. A two-time First Team All- CUSA selection, McConnell put up 249 hits, 31 home runs, and 179 RBIs in five years at Tech.

With offensive power and ranging defense in center field, McConnell is hopeful he can earn a shot in the MLB.

“I’d say it’s been good so far. I’m continuing to hit and prepare for a shot at the next level,” Mc-Connell said. “I’ve been in contact with about seven to eight teams. I would just like an opportunity at this point. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid to play in the MLB, so this would just take me one step closer to achieving it.

“They’ve told me that they have an interest in me, so at this stage I’m just kind of waiting it out to see what happens,” he continued.

McConnell leaves Tech 5th in career RBIs, 6th in career hits, and 5th in career doubles (55) with a .347 career average., along with a .978 fielding percentage.

His pitch to an interested team centered on his love of baseball.

“I’m a very hard worker and have integrity and respect for the game,” McConnell said.

Ethan Bates (RHP)

Listing the two-way star as a pitcher may come as a surprise to Bulldog fans who watched Bates tear through CUSA on the mound and at the plate over the last two seasons.

However, draft experts and Bates himself agree that pitching is his most likely path to a sustained pro career.

“Most teams have talked about pitching. A couple have said hitting but honestly, I think I’ll just go pitch,” Bates said. “That’s been my focus for right now because I see myself progressing further with that.”

The CUSA Player of the Year and seven-time All-American selection led the nation and set the Tech single-season saves record (17) to go with a 3.34 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings. Opponents hit just .180 with only one home run against him in 2024.

At the plate, he finished with a .337 average, 87 hits, 74 RBIs, and 15 homers.

Bates has talked to “a handful of teams” throughout the process as he’s been back home in Arkansas working out in bullpen sessions.

But even he admits the pre-draft waiting game is a lot to manage.

“It’s been kind of crazy because you don’t really know what’s going to happen. I’ve just been trying to stay sharp on all my skills and make sure I don’t lose anything since I haven’t been playing in a while.”

Bates is eager to hear his name called over the next three days.

“I’m somebody that’s going to go out there and compete and work really hard and give my best,” Bates said.

Dalton Davis (1B/OF)

Davis’ positional versatility and strong offensive numbers have set him up nicely ahead of the draft.

After hitting .324 with 72 hits, 15 homers, and 53 RBIs, earning First Team All- CUSA in the process, Davis has crept up draft boards in recent weeks as a name to watch in the later rounds. Davis’ representation has been busy as a result.

“I’ve had an advisor reach out to teams on my behalf and gauge interest, and there’s interest from a handful of teams,” Davis said. “Position wise, I’ve told my advisor to tell teams I’m comfortable in a lot of different positions because I’ve played second and third and first and outfield throughout my college career.

“And I think teams have liked that and liked that I’m versatile in that way,” Davis added.

Between stints at first base and right field at Tech, along with numerous spots at Tyler Junior College, Davis doesn’t mind where he plays at the next level if given an opportunity.

Consistent mindset and production between the lines have carried him this far, leaving Tech as a .304 hitter with 28 home runs, 101 RBIs in only 103 games.

He doesn’t see a point in getting worried now.

Davis’ lack of overthinking led to having the fewest strikeouts (21) of any qualified hitter for the Bulldogs this year.

It helps when you’ve been working with Luis Ortiz, assistant hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox, like he has throughout the process.

“I’ve had a good five-year track record between my junior college and my last two years at Tech,” Davis said. “I’ve been consistent day-in and day-out. And I just want to thank my coaches at Louisiana Tech and Doug Wren at Tyler Junior College for getting me to where I am today and to have this opportunity.”

Jorge Corona (C)

The greatest catcher in Louisiana Tech history will try to form a new legacy in the pros.

Corona, a two- time All- CUSA selection who ranks 2nd in career homers (47), 4th in RBIs (182), 2nd in games played (237), 4th in hits (261), and 5th in doubles (54), also has the most putouts (1,846) in Tech history and committed only 20 errors in five years.

He has nothing left to prove in Ruston. But he knows the big leagues are a different beast when it comes to who can make it and who can’t.

And after injuries ended his last two seasons early, Corona has worked to get back to full strength to show teams he’s ready to compete.

“I’ve been working on everything but mostly my body, getting healthy and stronger,” Corona said. “My overall goal has just been to get in the best shape possible.”

Corona has had good conversations with the handful of teams interested in taking him and hopes his dreams can become a reality in the coming days.

“I’d just tell teams that I want an opportunity,” Corona said. “The round or price doesn’t matter much to me but rather just getting an opportunity to go play. I have tons of experience and still lots of room to grow and develop.”

The 2024 MLB Draft begins Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPN/MLB Network with the first and second round. Rounds 3-10 will begin Monday at 1 p.m., while Rounds 11-20 begin Tuesday at 1 p.m.

The final two days of the draft will be streamed on MLB.com.