The 2021 MLB Draft begins tonight on MLB Network. The Cotuit Kettleers are expecting to have many former and current players hear their names called over the next three days. After a shortened five-round draft in 2020, the 2021 draft has been expanded to twenty rounds. In the shortened 2020 draft, 11 former Kettleers were drafted.
Here are the details on the 2021 MLB Draft:
Where: Denver, Colorado
First 36 picks: Sunday at 7:00 PM, MLBNetwork
Rounds 2-10: Monday at 1:00 PM, MLB.com
Rounds 11-20: Tuesday at 12:00 PM, MLB.com
We’ll have an update on this article for every former Kettleer that is drafted, as well as individual articles on the site for each former Kettleer drafted within the first three rounds. Make sure to check back periodically on the site as well on all our social medias for updates on Kettleers being selected in the draft.
UPDATE, 2:20 PM, Monday
The first Cotuit Kettleer is off the board. John Rhodes (UKBaseball) has been selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Rhodes hit .303 with five doubles in nine games in Cotuit this summer. For more on Rhodes’ selection, click here.
UPDATE, 2:50 PM, Monday
The Baltimore Orioles love them some Cotuit Kettleers. The Orioles made it two straight rounds drafting a Kettleer as they took Donta Williams (Arizona) in the fourth round with the 106th overall pick. Williams was part of the 2019 Cotuit team that won the CCBL. In the playoffs, Williams scored five runs and drove in five. He hit .205 in 32 total games as a Kettleer.
UPDATE, 3:15 PM, Monday
The third Cotuit Kettleer is off the board. The San Diego Padres have selected Jackson Wolf (West Virginia) in the fourth round with the 129th overall pick. In the 2019 season, Wolf made six starts with the Kettleers. In 26.2 IP, he compiled a 3.03 ERA and struck out 27 batters. The southpaw made nine total appearances as a Kettleer.
UPDATE, 3:25 PM, Monday
The former Cotuit southpaws are coming off the board quick. Evan Justice (NC State) has been selected in the fifth round with the 140th overall pick by the Colorado Rockies. Justice made nine appearances as a Kettleer in 2019. Justice compiled a 5.87 ERA over 23 innings pitches in the Kettleers’ championship season.
UPDATE, 4:00 PM, Monday
The second 2021 Cotuit Kettleer has been selected. The Los Angeles Angels have taken Jake Smith in the sixth round with the 171st overall pick. Smith was dominant for the Kettleers this summer. In two starts, Smith didn’t allow a run over 10 innings. Smith also picked up a win in both of his starts. The right-handed pitcher struck out 12 batters and allowed just eight hits.
UPDATE, 4:10 PM, Monday
The sixth Kettleer is off the board. Grant Holman (California) has been selected in the sixth round with the 188th overall pick by the Oakland Athletics. Holman was a 2019 Cotuit Kettleer.
UPDATE, 4:30 PM, Monday
Another member of the 2019 Champion Cotuit Kettleers has been drafted. Joey Loperfido (Duke) has been selected in the seventh with the 208th overall pick by the Houston Astros. Loperfido was a key part of the 2019 team. In 26 games, the outfielder hit .295 and had 23 hits. Loperfido stole four bases and produced seven extra base hits.
UPDATE, 4:35 PM, Monday
Just six picks later, another Kettleer is taken. Parker Chavers (Coastal Carolina) has been selected by the Chicago Cubs in the seventh round with the 214 overall pick. Chavers was another big piece of the 2019 team. The outfielder was a 2019 Cape League All-star. He hit .274 in 44 games with the Kettleers. Chavers crushed seven homers and had 11 doubles. He drove in six runs in the playoffs.
UPDATE, 4:40 PM, Monday
The eighth round started with a Kettleer. Sean Sullivan (California) has been selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the eighth round with the 223rd overall pick. Sullivan was dominant on the mound for the 2019 Kettleers. In 10 starts, Sullivan compiled a 2.08 ERA over 43.1 innings pitched. He struck out 48 batters and walked just seven. He picked up two wins in the playoffs.
UPDATE, 4:50 PM, Monday
The Kettleers are coming quick off the boards now. Robby Martin (Florida State) has been drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the eighth round with the 230th overall pick. Martin appeared in 14 games as a Kettleer in 2019. He had five hits, three walks, and a triple.
UPDATE, 5:30 PM, Monday
The third current Kettleer has come off the board. Justin Meis (Eastern Michigan) has been selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th round with the 283rd overall pick. Meis was the Kettleers’ opening day starter and made four starts in Cotuit this summer. He compiled a 2.07 ERA over 17.1 innings pitched. Meis struck out 17 and allowed just 11 hits.
UPDATE, 12:25 PM, Tuesday
A Kettleer is off the board early on day three. Christopher Troye (UC Santa Barbara) has been selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 12th round with the 346th overall pick. Troye has made two appearances on the mound as a Kettleer this summer and also made an appearance in the 2019 season.
UPDATE, 12:35 PM, Tuesday
The second current Kettleer has been drafted in the 12th round. The New York Yankees have selected Ben Rice (Dartmouth) with the 363rd overall pick in the 12th round. Rice has been a main producer on this year’s Kettleers team. Rice is hitting .300 over 12 games as a Kettleer. The catcher has nine hits, three doubles, and nine RBI.
UPDATE, 1:06 PM, Tuesday
The strong day continues for the Kettleers. The St. Louis Cardinals have selected Andre Granillo (UC Riverside) with their 14th round pick, the 421st overall pick in the draft. Granillo has been dominant out of the Kettleers’ bullpen this summer. The right-handed pitcher has a 2.45 ERA in 11 innings pitched over four appearances. He has struck out 17 batters and walked just two.
UPDATE, 1:20 PM, Tuesday
Another Kettleer is off the board. The Kansas City Royals have selected River Town (Dallas Baptist) with the 437th overall pick in the 15th round. Town played in eight games as a Kettleer this summer as he hit .200. The outfielder slugged his first home run of the season on Monday night at Wareham.
UPDATE, 1:25 PM, Tuesday
It’s a two for one in the 15th round. Brooks Baldwin (UNC Wilmington) has been selected by the San Francisco Giants with the 446th pick in the 15th round. Baldwin has been an everyday starter this summer. Baldwin leads the team with 16 games played. He is hitting .224 with four extra base hits and five RBI.
UPDATE, 1:35 PM, Tuesday
The Kettle is extremely hot in the 15th round. Alaska Abney (Coastal Carolina) has been selected by the Cleveland Indians with the 456th overall pick. Abney has been another key piece of the Kettleers’ bullpen this summer. The sidearmer compiled a 2.79 ERA over 9.2 innings pitched in seven appearances in Cotuit. He struck out 17 and walked just three.
UPDATE, 1:45 PM, Tuesday
Four Kettleers came off the board in the 15th round. Christian Robinson (Stanford) was selected in the 15th round by the Atlanta Braves with the 457th overall pick. Robinson played in 26 games in 2019 with Cotuit. He had 9 RBI and 13 hits.
UPDATE, 1:50 PM, Tuesday
Ryan Long (Pomona-Pitzer) has been selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 17th round with the 497th overall pick in the draft. Long made three appearances and two starts as a Kettleer this summer. The right-handed pitcher threw 6.1 innings and allowed three earned runs. He struck out seven batters.
UPDATE, 2:05 PM, Tuesday
Mikey Perez (UCLA) was also drafted in the 15th round. Perez was taken with the 459th overall pick by the Minnesota Twins. Perez had one at-bat as a Kettleer this summer. That makes him the fifth Kettleer drafted in the 15th round.
UPDATE, 2:21 PM, Tuesday
Cam Williams (Texas) has been drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 19th round with the 559th overall pick. Williamns played in seven games as a Kettleer in 2019. One of his two hits was a home run.
UPDATE, 2:25 PM, Tuesday
The Cleveland Indians have selected Reid Johnston (NC State) in the 19th round with the 576th pick. Johnston was another part of the 2019 team and dominated on the mound. Over seven appearances, Johnston compiled a 1.75 ERA in 25.2 IP.