Only two international players were selected during rounds five and six of the MLB draft. Here is everything you need to know about the prospects chosen.
Washington Nationals selected Randal Diaz out of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, in the fifth round, 141 overall. Diaz played his college ball at Indiana State University.
Welcome to the @Nationals, Randal!
With the 141st pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Nats select SS Randal Diaz from Indiana State. pic.twitter.com/BJLpO4uEO1
— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) July 15, 2024
Diaz is a dynamic infielder with a solid athletic build who has showcased his speed. At the 2021 World Showcase, he demonstrated his quickness by running a 6.79 in the 60-yard dash.
Over three seasons with the Indiana State Sycamores, Diaz received several awards for his stellar play. During his junior season, he batted a career-best .360 with 18 homers and 55 RBIs. He was awarded the NCAA Lexington Regional All-Tournament Team for his play in the NCAA Tournament. A reliable player, Diaz suited up in all 59 games for the Sycamores in 2024. He ended the season with a 38-game on-base streak.
Diaz was also the Missouri Valley Conference’s Most Outstanding Player in 2023 and made the MVC All-Conference First Team. Over his three college seasons, Diaz had a .322 batting average with 35 home runs.
The Nationals get an experienced player who they hope can contribute to their future infield and pair with rising star C.J Abrams and number two overall prospect James Wood.
Josiah Romeo, a native of Canada, was just selected by the Oakland Athletics as the 166th pick of the MLB Draft.
Romeo is a 6’3” 18-year-old pitcher out of Mayfield SS in Ontario who committed to Florida State in December 2023.
Romeo’s fastball tops at 92.2 mph and ranges between 88-92. But his best pitch is his slider, having between a 79-82 velocity range and a 2293 average spin rate, which is something the Athletics can continue to develop if he chooses to sign with them.
Before the draft, Romeo gained valuable experience in the MLB Draft League with the Trenton Thunder. His performance was impressive, with a 2.51 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 4 games, demonstrating his potential to be a dominant pitcher.
Photo Credit: A view of MLB Draft signage prior to the 2024 MLB Draft presented by Nike at Cowtown Coliseum on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
