A Quiet Night for the Blue Devils
The 2025 MLB Draft concluded with only one current Duke player hearing his name called, right-handed pitcher Aidan Weaver, who was chosen in the eighth round by the Oakland Athletics. Weaver, who finished his college career with a 10-13 record and a 6.43 ERA across 120.1 innings, will now attempt to translate his collegiate performance to the professional arena.
The draft also brought three former Blue Devils alumni to the big leagues. Outfielder AJ Gracia, who hit 29 home runs and posted an OPS above 1.000 over two seasons at Duke, was selected ninth overall by the Atlanta Braves. Catcher Macon Winslow, a two-year starter for Duke, went in the sixth round to the Philadelphia Phillies, while two-way player Kyle Johnson was picked by the Tampa Bay Rays in the same round.
These selections come amid a period of mixed fortunes for the program. Under head coach Cory Mascara, Duke finished the 2026 season with a 26-31 record, marking a challenging chapter for a school that has historically produced only two first-round draft picks – Marcus Stroman in 2012 and Bryce Jarvis in 2020.
The draft night underscores the unpredictable nature of player development, as prospects who once wore the blue and white now embark on divergent professional paths. While Weaver looks to carve out a future with the Athletics, Gracia, Winslow and Johnson each join storied franchises with rich histories and recent championship aspirations.