The second day of the MLB Draft brought a wave of celebration to the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where two of its most accomplished pitchers heard their names called by major league clubs.
Right‑hander Cooper Allen, who closed out his collegiate career with a career‑high eight wins and a 2.79 earned run average, was selected by the Washington Nationals, a pick that reflected his dominance on the mound.
Allen’s statistical line reads like a pitcher’s dream: a .210 opponent batting average, a 1.01 WHIP and 96 strikeouts across 87 innings, achievements that earned him second‑team All‑Coastal Athletic Association honors and three weekly pitcher‑of‑the‑week recognitions.
A Draft to Remember
Connor Marshburn followed suit, sliding to the Seattle Mariners after a season in which he logged a career‑high 80.2 innings while allowing just two home runs, underscoring his control and durability.
A two‑time league pitcher‑of‑the‑week, Marshburn finished the year with a 4‑5 record but left a lasting impression as a workhorse who can eat innings without surrendering big flies.
The draft also yielded a third selection for Seattle, fourth‑round pick Trevor Lucas, adding depth to the Mariners’ pitching pipeline and extending UNCW’s streak of producing major‑league talent.
Overall, the university now boasts 104 draft picks since 1965, a milestone that reflects the program’s sustained ability to develop elite arms and keep the pipeline flowing.