After no international prospects got selected in round 18 of the MLB Draft, four were chosen in round 19. Here are facts and stats on each of them.
Ryan Minckler
The Washington Nationals selected Ryan Minckler from Niagara University with pick number 560 in the 2024 MLB Draft. Minckler was born in Thailand and later moved to New Hampshire. In New Hampshire, Minckler shined as a high school pitcher, being ranked the second-best pitcher in the state, according to Perfect Game.
Before attending Niagara University, Minckler redshirted at the University of Virginia but transferred to Niagara University due to a lack of playtime. The high school phenom picked off right where he left off in New Hampshire.
In Minckler’s second season at Niagara University, the Thailand native had an impressive 5-2 record out of the bullpen and a 4.21 ERA. Additionally, Minckler held hitters to a .253 batting average. Minckler is a strikeout artist; in 15 games, Minckler struck out two or more batters. Minckler was far and away Niagara’s best relief pitcher and was named to the All-MAAC second team in 2023.
The Nationals have obtained a great development piece in Ryan Minckler, who has an extremely high ceiling. Minckler does not have a lot of wear and tear on his arm, only making 34 appearances in the last three years. Because of this, teams do not have a lot of film on Minckler to study, and the 21-year-old right-handed pitcher’s risk of Tommy John surgery is low.
Brendan Lawson
Brendan Lawson recently announced he committed to Florida but was drafted in the 19th round with pick 561 of the 2024 MLB Draft.
MLB ranked the Canadian shortstop as the 156th draft prospect, but he will play at Florida to help him improve. He is from the Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute in South Carolina. According to Perfect Game, Lawson was also ranked as Canada’s #1 Class of 2024 Prospect.
This past season, Lawson came down with a severe sinus infection that affected how he was scouted, but he did return to play in the mid-May Perfect Game tournament, where he impressed scouts.
He recorded a 6.96 60-yard dash in 2023 with an exit velocity of 90 mph. Scouts also believe he will be a 20-homer player who projects more as a third baseman or left fielder rather than a shortstop, which Florida might do when they see him practice.
Owen Pote
Owen Pote from Canada was selected with pick 569 of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Pote is a right-handed pitcher who recently played with the Sylvan Lake Gulls, part of the Western Canadian League. He pitched well in 8 games, having a 3.18 ERA in 22.2 innings of work and striking out 17.
With his towering 6 foot 5 inch frame and the skills he’s been developing at the Absolute Human Performance Baseball Academy in Canada, Pote has immense potential.
As measured in March 2023, he can throw a fastball between 87 and 88 mph that tops out at 89 mph, a slider between 77 and 78 mph, and a changeup between 83 and 84 mph.
Vicarte Domingo
San Diego Padres selected Vicarte Domingo with pick 570. Domingo is a native of Vancouver, Canada, and is a right-handed pitcher.
𝓑𝓘𝓡𝓓𝓢 → @Padres
A huge congratulations to RHP Vicarte Domingo on being drafted by the San Diego Padres! Thank you for everything you’ve done for the UBC Baseball program, and we can’t wait to watch you compete at the next level! #GoBirdsGo #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/2YpAaQTFpc
— UBC Baseball (@ubc_baseball) July 16, 2024
Domingo has served as a relief pitcher for the University of British Columbia for the past three seasons. Over those three seasons, he has appeared in 49 games and has a record of 4-6 with a 2.93 ERA. He has struck out 119 batters in 83 innings over his career.
Domingo has also played summer ball for several seasons in Canada. His current season with the Edmonton Riverhawks of the West Coast League in Canada has been his best summer ball season. Domingo has transitioned into a role as a starter for Edmonton, where he is 5-0 in five starts. Through those five games, he has a 0.93 ERA. He was recently selected to play in the North Division All-Star team in the WCL.
The Padres hope Domingo can continue his success this summer and contribute to their farm system once he gets there. Domingo will look to bolster the San Diego rotation either as a starter or reliever.
Photo Credit: A general view of the stage during the Arizona Diamondbacks selection in the first round during the 2024 MLB Draft presented by Nike at Cowtown Coliseum on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
