Sparks Picked by the Cardinals in the 2024 MLB Draft
7/16/2024 4:00:00 PM
By: Ari Ross, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
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University of Rochester senior right-hander Nolan Sparks was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 381st pick in the 13th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft.
Sparks becomes just the third player drafted in the MLB Amateur Draft in program history, and the first since the Cincinnati Reds took John Ghyzel in the 18th round of the 2017 MLB Draft.
“I’m very happy for Nolan,” Head Coach Joe Reina said. “This is something he has wanted to have happen and worked hard for it. I’m proud of him.”
The Aurora, CO native is also just the second NCAA Division III player drafted so far this year, following Transylvania University’s Trent Youngblood’s selection in the 10th round.
A two-time Liberty League Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-Liberty League selection, Sparks capped off a remarkable career with D3baseball.com Fourth-Team All-America honors this past season while adding his second-straight College Sports Communicators Academic All-America selection, earning first-team recognition this year.
Sparks went 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 60.0 innings pitched this season, striking out 80 batters while walking just 19. The senior led the Liberty League in strikeouts and ranked in the top five in ERA, WHIP, opponent batting average, wins and games started and finished in the top 50 in NCAA Division III in ERA (30th), WHIP (47th) and strikeouts (49th).
For his career, Sparks went 19-5 over 38 starts and 43 appearances with a 3.06 ERA and 248 strikeouts in 209.0 innings pitched. Sparks became UR’s all-time leader in strikeouts this season, and also graduates ranked second all-time in starts, fourth in wins, seventh in innings pitched, ninth in opponent batting average and 10th in ERA.