Max Aude, a 2026 graduate of Pepperdine’s baseball program, has just inked an undrafted free‑agent deal with the Oakland Athletics, marking the latest step in a career that has already drawn attention for his clutch hitting.
A fresh wave of talent
During his final college season the Wave posted a .261 batting average, but his on‑base skills shone through a .432 OBP and a .330 slugging percentage. He particularly excelled with runners on base, hitting .333 in those situations and .360 with runners in scoring position, underscoring his knack for delivering in key moments.
Aude is not alone in making the jump. He joins a growing list of Pepperdine alumni who are carving out professional roles, from pitchers to position players, across a variety of leagues and farm systems.
A broader wave of Pepperdine alumni
Casey Euper, a right‑hander from the same class, earned a spot on the Cape Cod Baseball League East All‑Star team after posting a 3.11 ERA in 15 appearances and receiving a Western Conference All‑Conference honorable mention. Fellow alumni Jack Fowler, Arnold Wu and Tanner Wall also collected All‑Star nods in the California Collegiate League, highlighting the program’s depth.
Boston's surprising surge
In the American League East, the Boston Red Sox have rattled off a nine‑game winning streak, pulling them to within half a game of the final wild‑card spot. The club boasts four All‑Stars — Ranger Suarez, Aroldis Chapman, Ceddanne Rafaela and Willson Contreras — adding star power to a hot roster.
Minor league promotions and coaching returns
Detroit Tigers prospect John Peck was recently promoted to Triple‑A Toledo, where he has already logged his first Triple‑A hit and homer, finishing the season with a .288 average and a .792 OPS across 1,024 minor‑league at‑bats. Meanwhile, Wyatt Young, a speedy infielder in the New York Mets system, has stolen 15 bases at Double‑A Binghamton and has logged eight innings on the mound for the Rumble Ponies.
Ryan Christenson, who returned to the Athletics’ coaching staff, guided two of his former teammates to All‑Star selections, while veteran Billy Cook has become a mainstay on the Pittsburgh Pirates roster, having gone error‑free in over 135 innings of defensive play.