WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest junior pitcher Griffin Roberts was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the No. 43 overall selection in Competitive Balance Round A of the 2018 MLB Draft on Monday night.
"Without a great group of guys surrounding me each year, including coaches Tom Walter, Joey Hammond, Bill Cilento and Matt Hobbs especially, I wouldn't be where I am today," Roberts said. "I started somewhat near the bottom of college baseball and with them and the great program in place at Wake Forest, I've been able to put myself where I am today. I'm forever thankful for my decision to come to Wake, and grateful to be selected by the Cardinals tonight."
He becomes the highest Demon Deacon pitcher selected since Kyle Sleeth went third overall in 2003.
"Griffin was essentially unrecruited out of high school," head coach Tom Walter said. "For him to be selected in the top 50 picks just three years later is a testament to his work ethic and commitment to excellence. He is a fierce competitor and super talented. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in a big league dugout later this season."
Roberts shattered the program's career strikeouts per nine innings record, fanning 228 batters in 165.2 innings for a 12.39 Ks/9 rate. This season, Roberts went 5-4 with a 3.82 ERA and an ACC-best 130 strikeouts, most for a Deacon in more than 25 years.
After joining Wake Forest as a walk-on in 2016, he broke onto the scene as the Deacon closer in 2017, when he tallied a 2.19 ERA and eight saves, striking out 80 batters in 53.1 innings. Roberts was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 29th round, but elected to return for his junior season.
One pick prior to Roberts' selection, Wake Forest signee Grant Lavigne was picked No. 42 overall by the Colorado Rockies.
This marks the 39th-straight year that Wake Forest has had either a current player or an incoming signee selected in the MLB Draft, including the 25th-consecutive season a current Deacon has been picked.
"Without a great group of guys surrounding me each year, including coaches Tom Walter, Joey Hammond, Bill Cilento and Matt Hobbs especially, I wouldn't be where I am today," Roberts said. "I started somewhat near the bottom of college baseball and with them and the great program in place at Wake Forest, I've been able to put myself where I am today. I'm forever thankful for my decision to come to Wake, and grateful to be selected by the Cardinals tonight."
He becomes the highest Demon Deacon pitcher selected since Kyle Sleeth went third overall in 2003.
"Griffin was essentially unrecruited out of high school," head coach Tom Walter said. "For him to be selected in the top 50 picks just three years later is a testament to his work ethic and commitment to excellence. He is a fierce competitor and super talented. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in a big league dugout later this season."
Roberts shattered the program's career strikeouts per nine innings record, fanning 228 batters in 165.2 innings for a 12.39 Ks/9 rate. This season, Roberts went 5-4 with a 3.82 ERA and an ACC-best 130 strikeouts, most for a Deacon in more than 25 years.
After joining Wake Forest as a walk-on in 2016, he broke onto the scene as the Deacon closer in 2017, when he tallied a 2.19 ERA and eight saves, striking out 80 batters in 53.1 innings. Roberts was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 29th round, but elected to return for his junior season.
One pick prior to Roberts' selection, Wake Forest signee Grant Lavigne was picked No. 42 overall by the Colorado Rockies.
This marks the 39th-straight year that Wake Forest has had either a current player or an incoming signee selected in the MLB Draft, including the 25th-consecutive season a current Deacon has been picked.
