Two Hudson Valley Baseball Players Selected in MLB Draft
Two Hudson Valley High School area graduates have been selected in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.
A lifelong dream has become a reality for two Hudson Valley area baseball stars as they each have been selected by a Major League Baseball team in this year's draft, which concluded on July 16th in Fort Worth, Texas.
Wappingers Falls, New York Native Selected in MLB Draft Xavier Kolhosser
Xavier Kolhosser, who played high school baseball at Roy C. Ketcham High School in Wappingers Falls, NY and two seasons in college at St John's University in New York was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 13th round of the MLB Draft on Tuesday. The 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher from Wappingers Falls was chosen after a solid career at St. John's University which saw him go 12-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 21 starts over two seasons, all after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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As a senior in 2021, Kolhosser was named Pitcher of the Year by the Dutchess County Baseball Coaches Association for a second time according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. Kolhosser's hometown the Town of Wappinger congratulated the 21-year-old star on the town's Facebook page saying, "On behalf of the nearly 30,000 people who live in the great Town of Wappinger, your hometown is proud of you Xavier!"
Wallkill, New York Graduate Selected
The other rising Hudson Valley baseball star selected in this year's MLB draft was recent Wallkill High School graduate Kyle DeGroat, who was selected in the 14th round with the #407 pick by the Kansas City Royals. The 18-year-old star is an all-state pitcher who has committed to play baseball at the University of Texas but, with being drafted by the Royals it could change his future as he told the Times Herald-Record recently that he will weigh whatever pro offer he receives before deciding whether to go the college or pro route.
Whichever route he chooses the sky's the limit for the Section 9 Class AA player of the year and division all-star.
Congratulations to both men on being selected to play baseball at the highest level! It is awesome to see that America's past time is alive and well on baseball fields across the Hudson Valley.
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