SEATTLE — Columbia baseball catcher
Weston Eberly '23CC was selected by the Chicago White Sox with pick No. 479 in the 16th round of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday.
Eberly is the first Lion to be drafted since Liam McGill '20CC was selected by the Atlanta Braves with the 277th pick in the ninth round in 2021. The Maitland, Florida native is the 12th player during head coach
Brett Boretti's tenure to be drafted by a Major League Baseball franchise and the 30th player in program history to be selected in the draft.
"I'm very happy for Weston," Boretti said. "He has been so valuable for our program since he arrived. He's a fantastic player and a better person. Congratulations to him and his family on getting drafted."
In 2023, Eberly appeared in 44 games and made 42 starts behind the plate. The senior captain was a Second Team All-Ivy League selection and was named one of 13 semifinalists on the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List. He picked off five runners on the basepaths and caught 14 runners stealing, which was the most in the Ivy League.
At the plate, Eberly batted .309 with 51 hits, 11 doubles, nine home runs, 41 RBIs, and posted a .435 on-base percentage. On April 25, Eberly hit the team's record-breaking 65
th home run of the season.
Lions shortstop
Andy Blake '23CC signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels. The 2023 Ivy League Player of the Year and First Team All-Ivy selection appeared and started in all 45 games.
The senior captain reached base in every game and recorded a hit in all but five games. Blake had 20 multi-hit games and led Ivy League hitters in seven offensive categories, including batting average (.366), hits (75), and runs (53). He set the program's single-season record for hits with 75.
"I'm very excited for Andy to get the opportunity to play professional baseball," Boretti said. "It's something he has worked for and wanted his whole life. Congratulations to him and his family."
For the latest on Columbia baseball, follow @CULionsBaseball on Twitter and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
