Stetson University Baseball: A Legacy of Notable Alumni

Stetson University's baseball program boasts a rich history, dating back to 1895. The Stetson Hatters, an NCAA Division I college baseball program, compete in the ASUN Conference and play their home games at Melching Field at Conrad Park. Since joining Division I in 1972, the Hatters have participated in 18 NCAA tournaments, even hosting and winning their first regional in 2018. Over the years, a number of Hatters have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winners Jacob deGrom and Corey Kluber.

The Pete Dunn Era

Pete Dunn's influence on Stetson baseball is undeniable. He began his Stetson coaching career as an assistant in 1977 before taking over as head coach in 1980. During his tenure, ten of his former players were drafted by big-league organizations and eventually made it to the majors.

Notable Alumni

Here are some of the Stetson University baseball program's most notable alumni:

Brian Bocock

Position: Infielder
Drafted: Ninth round in 2006 by the San Francisco Giants.
Pro Career: Played for several different organizations between 2006 and 2014.
Majors: Played 32 games for the Giants in 2008 and six games for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010. He had 82 career at-bats and a .134 batting average.

Jacob deGrom

Position: Pitcher
Drafted: Ninth round in 2010 by the New York Mets.
Pro Career: Spent his entire professional career in the Mets organization.
Majors: Reached the majors in 2014 and has a record of 30-22 with a 2.74 ERA. He won the 2014 National League Rookie of the Year award and was selected for the National League All-Star team in 2015. During the Mets' run to the 2015 World Series, he went 3-1, losing his only Series start against the Kansas City Royals.

Lenny DiNardo

Position: Pitcher
Drafted: Third round by the New York Mets in 2001.
Pro career: Remained in the minor leagues through 2013, finishing with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League.
Majors: Debuted for the 2004 Boston Red Sox, who would win the World Series. Pitched in 94 games for three teams (Red Sox, Athletics, Royals) between 2004-2009, mostly as a reliever. Finished with a 10-18 career record and a 5.36 ERA. DiNardo said of making his major league debut: "It was, honestly, one of the best feelings of my life. I can't even describe the emotions that are going through my head right now. It's unbelievable. It's fantasy camp for me being with these guys. It's a dream come true."

Chris Johnson

Position: Infielder
Drafted: Fourth round in 2006 by the Houston Astros.
Pro Career: Reached the majors for good in 2011.
Majors: Played in 2016 for the Miami Marlins, his fifth different big-league organization. He has a career batting average of .275. His best year was 2013 when he batted .321 with the Atlanta Braves. He went 7-for-16 in the Braves' loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2013 National League Division Series.

Corey Kluber

Position: Pitcher
Drafted: Fourth round in 2007 by the San Diego Padres.
Pro Career: Traded to the Cleveland Indians in 2010 and reached the majors in 2011.
Majors: 58-44, 3.33 ERA, 2014 Cy Young Award; 3-1 with 0.74 ERA during current postseason.

Eric Knott

Position: Pitcher
Drafted: 24th round in 1996 by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Pro Career: Pitched for four different organizations and in the Mexican League from 1997 to 2007.
Majors: Pitched in three games for Arizona in 2001 and 13 for the Montreal Expos in 2003. He had a career record of 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA.

Kevin Nicholson

Position: Infielder
Drafted: First round in 1997 by the San Diego Padres.
Pro Career: Played for five organizations from 1997 to 2004, then two seasons for the Somerset Patriots in the independent Atlantic League. The Vancouver native played for Team Canada in the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Majors: Played in 37 games for the Padres in 2000, batting .216.

Wade Rowdon

Position: Infielder
Drafted: Eighth round in 1981 by the Chicago White Sox.
Pro Career: Played for four organizations from 1981 to 1988, then two seasons in Japan for the Hiroshima Carp, where he batted .300 with 22 homers in 1989.
Majors: In small parts of five seasons (1984-88) batted .217 in 157 at-bats.

Bill Swaggerty

Position: Pitcher
Drafted: 26th round in 1979 by the Baltimore Orioles.
Pro Career: In the Orioles organization from 1979 to 1986, then two years with the Royals’ Triple A team.
Majors: He was the first former Hatter to reach the majors. He debuted with the 1983 Orioles team that won the World Series (though he wasn't on the postseason roster). Pitched in 32 games from 1983-86, mostly in relief, and was 4-3 with a 4.76 ERA.

George Tsamis

Position: Pitcher
Drafted: 15th round in 1989 by the Minnesota Twins.
Pro Career: With three organizations from 1989-95, followed by three seasons in independent leagues.
Majors: Pitched in 41 games, all in relief, in 1993 for the Twins. Currently manages independent-league St. Paul Saints.

Stetson Hatters in the MLB Draft

The Stetson University baseball program has a long history of producing talented players who have gone on to be drafted by Major League Baseball teams. The following is a list of Stetson Hatters who have been drafted, along with the year they were drafted, their position, the round in which they were drafted, and the team that drafted them:

1957: Walt Jasinski (RHP), FA, Los Angeles (NL)
1958: Bob Vostry (1B/OF), FA, Chicago (AL)
1970: Pete Dunn (C), 36th round, Kansas City
1970: Ashby Frayser (INF), FA, Montreal
1972: Roy Tanner (OF), FA, Kansas City
1974: Stephen Kotenda (INF), 3rd round, Boston
1974: Ted Loehr (RHP), 20th round, Chicago (AL)
1974: Dave Braden (LHP), 28th round, Texas
1975: Jim Howard (OF), 25th round, New York (NL)
1976: Jesse Wright (LHP), FA, Oakland
1977: Jeff Brueggemann (RHP), 36th round, Minnesota
1978: Ronnie Pearce (RHP), 12th round, Montreal
1979: Bill Swaggerty (RHP), 26th round, Baltimore
1979: Dan Williams (1B), 27th round, Chicago (AL)
1981: Wade Rowdon (INF), 8th round, Chicago (AL)
1981: David Miller (OF), FA, Baltimore
1982: Bob Klusacek (LHP), 14th round, San Diego
1982: Mike Burgermeister (RHP), FA, San Francisco
1983: Mike Ullian (LHP), 15th round, St. Louis
1983: Jeff Pequignot (OF), 32nd round, Milwaukee
1984: Mike Ullian (LHP), 10th round, Houston
1985: Jay Nieporte (C), 11th round, San Diego
1985: Jeff Henderson (LHP), 16th round, Detroit
1985: Scott Gray (INF), 17th round, Houston
1985: Rick Malizia (OF), FA, Baltimore
1986: Chris Byrnes (LHP), 11th round, New York (AL)
1986: Kevin Wasilewski (RHP), 15th round, Houston
1986: Fred DeLamata (OF), FA, Baltimore
1987: Chris Dunham (1B), 19th round, Cleveland
1987: Steve Woide (LHP), FA, Toronto
1988: George Tsamis (LHP), 33rd round, Toronto
1989: George Tsamis (LHP), 15th round, Minnesota
1989: Darin Bruehl (INF), FA, Houston
1990: Mike Pinckes (INF), FA, Cleveland
1991: Jim Waring (RHP), 21st round, Houston
1991: Tom Hickox (RHP), FA, Milwaukee
1991: Craig Risdon (RHP), FA, Atlanta Braves
1992: Larry Hingle (LHP), 7th round, Los Angeles (AL)
1992: Wes Weger (INF), 9th round, Milwaukee
1992: Ernie Yaroshuk (OF), 18th round, New York (AL)
1992: Tibor Brown (LHP), 41st round, New York (AL)
1992: Christopher Thomas (C), 44th round, Milwaukee
1993: Willard Brown (RHP), 10th round, Los Angeles (AL)
1993: Aaron Iatarola (OF), 21st round, Los Angeles (AL)
1995: Jeff Smith (C), 20th round, Minnesota
1996: Mike Lyons (RHP), 20th round, New York (NL)
1996: Chuck Beale (RHP), 20th round, Boston
1996: Eric Knott (RHP), 24th round, Arizona Diamondbacks
1996: George Kauffman (RHP), 44th round, Kansas City
1996: Javier Gomez (RHP), FA, Detroit
1997: Kevin Nicholson (INF), 1st round, San Diego Padres
1997: Clint Chrysler (LHP), 17th round, Seattle
1998: Sammy Serrano (C), 2nd round, San Francisco Giants
1998: Brooks Stephens (1B), 47th round, Tampa Bay
1999: Jeff House (RHP), 40th round, Milwaukee
2001: Lenny DiNardo (LHP), 3rd round, New York Mets
2001: Jeff Christy (OF), 12th round, Oakland
2001: Frank Corr (OF), 17th round, New York (NL)
2003: Brian Snyder (INF), 1st round, Oakland
2003: Mike Wiley (LHP), 16th round, Colorado Rockies
2003: Roger Lincoln (LHP), 34th round, Cleveland
2003: Chris Westervelt (C), 40th round, Oakland
2003: Rusty Beale (INF), 45th round, Cincinnati Reds
2003: Andy Wilson (INF), FA, New York Mets
2004: Chris Westervelt (C), 11th round, Los Angeles Dodgers
2005: Ryan Dixon (RHP), FA, St. Louis
2006: Chris Johnson (INF), 4th round, Houston
2006: Brian Bocock (INF), 9th round, San Francisco Giants
2006: Nathan Nery (LHP), 18th round, Baltimore
2007: Corey Kluber (RHP), 4th round, San Diego Padres
2007: Braedyn Pruitt (INF), 14th round, New York (AL)
2007: Chris Ingoglia (LHP), 18th round, Miami Marlins
2007: Shane Jordan (OF), 43rd round, San Francisco Giants
2008: Justin Bass (OF), 19th round, Miami Marlins
2008: Brian Pruitt (OF), 34th round, Washington
2008: Nick Pugliese (RHP), FA, Los Angeles (AL)
2009: Jeremy Cruz (OF), 13th round, Los Angeles (AL)
2009: Casey Frawley (OF), 17th round, Cleveland
2009: Robby Donovan (RHP), 23rd round, Houston
2010: Jacob deGrom (RHP), 9th round, New York Mets
2011: Nick Rickles (C), 14th round, Oakland
2011: Lindsey Caughel (RHP), 35th round, Baltimore
2011: Tucker Donahue (RHP), 38th round, Texas
2012: Tucker Donahue (RHP), 4th round, Toronto
2012: Sam Kimmel (C), 18th round, Baltimore
2012: Lindsey Caughel (RHP), 23rd round, Los Angeles Dodgers
2012: Robbie Powell (RHP), 32nd round, Los Angeles (AL)
2012: Ben Carhart (INF), 35th round, Chicago Cubs
2012: Jake Boyd (RHP), 38th round, Los Angeles (AL)
2012: Kirk Schluter (RHP), 39th round, Boston
2013: Cameron Griffin (LHP), 23rd round, Pittsburgh Pirates
2015: Patrick Mazeika (C/1B), 8th round, New York Mets
2015: Garrett Russini (C/OF), FA, Pittsburgh Pirates
2016: Walker Sheller (RHP), 9th round, Kansas City
2016: Mitchell Jordan (RHP), 10th round, Oakland
2016: Vance Vizcaino (OF), 11th round, Kansas City
2017: Brooks Wilson (RHP), 24th round, Texas
2018: Logan Gilbert (RHP), 1st round, Seattle
2018: Brooks Wilson (RHP), 7th round, Atlanta Braves
2018: Jack Perkins (RHP), 11th round, Philadelphia Phillies
2018: Ben Onyshko (LHP), 24th round, Seattle
2018: Austin Hale (C), 28th round, Minnesota
2018: Joey Gonzalez (RHP), 28th round, Houston
2018: Mike Spooner (OF), FA, Cincinnati Reds
2019: Mitchell Senger (LHP), 26th round, New York Mets
2019: Robbie Peto (RHP), 26th round, Tampa Bay
2019: Vlad Nunez (RHP), FA, Chicago (AL)
2020: Robbie Peto (RHP), FA, Los Angeles Dodgers
2023: Christian Pregent (C), 10th round, New York Mets
2023: Austin Amaral (RHP), 16th round, Washington
2024: Gio Cueto (C), FA, Los Angeles Dodgers
2024: Aric McAtee (RHP), FA, Chicago (AL)
2025: Lorenzo Meola (SS), 4th round, San Francisco Giants 2025: Jonathan Gonzalez (LHP), 14th round, Philadelphia Phillies
2025: Isaiah Barkett (INF), 10th round, San Francisco Giants
2025: Ty Van Dyke (RHP), 10th round, St.

MLB Teams That Have Drafted Stetson University Baseball Players

Multiple MLB teams have drafted players from Stetson University. The following is a list of teams with Stetson draftees:

Read also: Explore Stetson Law

Arizona Diamondbacks: Eric Knott (RHP, 1996, 24th round)
Atlanta Braves: Craig Risdon (RHP, 1991, FA), Brooks Wilson (RHP, 2018, 7th round)
Baltimore Orioles: Bill Swaggerty (RHP, 1979, 26th round), David Miller (OF, 1981, FA), Rick Malizia (OF, 1985, FA), Fred DeLamata (OF, 1986, FA), Chris Byrnes (LHP, 1986, 11th round), Nathan Nery (LHP, 2006, 18th round), Lindsey Caughel (RHP, 2011, 35th round), Sam Kimmel (C, 2012, 18th round)
Boston Red Sox: Stephen Kotenda (INF, 1974, 3rd round), Chuck Beale (RHP, 1996, 20th round), Kirk Schluter (RHP, 2012, 39th round)
Chicago Cubs: Ben Carhart (INF, 2012, 35th round)
Chicago White Sox: Bob Vostry (1B/OF, 1958, FA), Dan Williams (1B, 1979, 27th round), Wade Rowdon (INF, 1981, 8th round), Vlad Nunez (RHP, 2019, FA), Aric McAtee (RHP, 2024, FA)
Cincinnati Reds: Rusty Beale (INF, 2003, 45th round), Mike Spooner (OF, 2018, FA)
Cleveland Indians: Chris Dunham (1B, 1987, 19th round), Mike Pinckes (INF, 1990, FA), Roger Lincoln (LHP, 2003, 34th round), Casey Frawley (OF, 2009, 17th round)
Colorado Rockies: Mike Wiley (LHP, 2003, 16th round)
Detroit Tigers: Javier Gomez (RHP, 1996, FA), Jeff Henderson (LHP, 1985, 16th round)
Houston Astros: Mike Ullian (LHP, 1984, 10th round), Scott Gray (INF, 1985, 17th round), Darin Bruehl (INF, 1989, FA), Jim Waring (RHP, 1991, 21st round), Robby Donovan (RHP, 2009, 23rd round), Chris Johnson (INF, 2006, 4th round), Kevin Wasilewski (RHP, 1986, 15th round), Joey Gonzalez (RHP, 2018, 28th round)
Kansas City Royals: Pete Dunn (C, 1970, 36th round), Roy Tanner (OF, 1972, FA), George Kauffman (RHP, 1996, 44th round), Walker Sheller (RHP, 2016, 9th round), Vance Vizcaino (OF, 2016, 11th round)
Los Angeles Angels: Walt Jasinski (RHP, 1957, FA), Larry Hingle (LHP, 1992, 7th round), Willard Brown (RHP, 1993, 10th round), Aaron Iatarola (OF, 1993, 21st round), Jeremy Cruz (OF, 2009, 13th round), Nick Pugliese (RHP, 2008, FA), Robbie Powell (RHP, 2012, 32nd round), Jake Boyd (RHP, 2012, 38th round)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Chris Westervelt (C, 2004, 11th round), Lindsey Caughel (RHP, 2012, 23rd round), Robbie Peto (RHP, 2020, FA), Gio Cueto (C, 2024, FA)
Miami Marlins: Chris Ingoglia (LHP, 2007, 18th round), Justin Bass (OF, 2008, 19th round)
Milwaukee Brewers: Jeff Pequignot (OF, 1983, 32nd round), Tom Hickox (RHP, 1991, FA), Wes Weger (INF, 1992, 9th round), Christopher Thomas (C, 1992, 44th round), Jeff House (RHP, 1999, 40th round)
Minnesota Twins: Jeff Brueggemann (RHP, 1977, 36th round), Jeff Smith (C, 1995, 20th round), George Tsamis (LHP, 1989, 15th round), Austin Hale (C, 2018, 28th round)
Montreal Expos: Ashby Frayser (INF, 1970, FA), Ronnie Pearce (RHP, 1978, 12th round)
New York Mets: Jim Howard (OF, 1975, 25th round), Mike Lyons (RHP, 1996, 20th round), Lenny DiNardo (LHP, 2001, 3rd round), Frank Corr (OF, 2001, 17th round), Andy Wilson (INF, 2003, FA), Jacob deGrom (RHP, 2010, 9th round), Patrick Mazeika (C/1B, 2015, 8th round), Mitchell Senger (LHP, 2019, 26th round), Christian Pregent (C, 2024, 10th round)
New York Yankees: Chris Byrnes (LHP, 1986, 11th round), Ernie Yaroshuk (OF, 1992, 18th round), Tibor Brown (LHP, 1992, 41st round), Braedyn Pruitt (INF, 2007, 14th round)
Oakland Athletics: Jesse Wright (LHP, 1976, FA), Jeff Christy (OF, 2001, 12th round), Brian Snyder (INF, 2003, 1st round), Chris Westervelt (C, 2003, 40th round), Nick Rickles (C, 2011, 14th round), Mitchell Jordan (RHP, 2016, 10th round)
Philadelphia Phillies: Jack Perkins (RHP, 2018, 11th round), Jonathan Gonzalez (LHP, 2025, 14th round)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Cameron Griffin (LHP, 2013, 23rd round), Garrett Russini (C/OF, 2015, FA)
San Diego Padres: Bob Klusacek (LHP, 1982, 14th round), Jay Nieporte (C, 1985, 11th round), Kevin Nicholson (INF, 1997, 1st round), Corey Kluber (RHP, 2007, 4th round)
San Francisco Giants: Mike Burgermeister (RHP, 1982, FA), Sammy Serrano (C, 1998, 2nd round), Brian Bocock (INF, 2006, 9th round), Shane Jordan (OF, 2007, 43rd round), Lorenzo Meola (SS, 2025, 4th round), Isaiah Barkett (INF, 2025, 10th round)
Seattle Mariners: Clint Chrysler (LHP, 1997, 17th round), Logan Gilbert (RHP, 2018, 1st round), Ben Onyshko (LHP, 2018, 24th round)
St. Louis Cardinals: Mike Ullian (LHP, 1983, 15th round), Ryan Dixon (RHP, 2005, FA)
Tampa Bay Rays: Brooks Stephens (1B, 1998, 47th round), Robbie Peto (RHP, 2019, 26th round)
Texas Rangers: Dave Braden (LHP, 1974, 28th round), Tucker Donahue (RHP, 2011, 38th round), Brooks Wilson (RHP, 2017, 24th round)
Toronto Blue Jays: Steve Woide (LHP, 1987, FA), George Tsamis (LHP, 1988, 33rd round), Tucker Donahue (RHP, 2012, 4th round)
Washington Nationals: Brian Pruitt (OF, 2008, 34th round), Austin Amaral (RHP, 2023, 16th round)

Melching Field at Conrad Park

Melching Field at Conrad Park, the home of the Stetson Hatters, is a baseball stadium in DeLand, Florida, with a seating capacity of 2,500. It officially opened on February 12, 1999, with the Hatters securing a 4-3 victory over Louisville.

Read also: Applying to Stetson University

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