Coming off a season filled with program records, the Terps continued the record-breaking in the 2023 MLB Draft. 

This year’s draft saw seven Terps selected, the most from the program since 2015. It all started with Matt Shaw being selected 13th overall, making him the highest draft pick in Maryland history. Four of the seven Terps selected were in the first nine rounds, another first in program history.

Matt Shaw – Infield – Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs selected the Big Ten Player of the Year 13th overall. Shaw became the sixth first-round pick in Maryland history and the first Maryland first-rounder since Brett Cecil in 2007.

Matt Shaw is the highest Terp drafted since John Hetrick in 1967 who was taken with the #17 pick by the Detroit Tigers.

Shaw had a memorable junior year, he hit 24 home runs with 69 RBIs and a .341 batting average and became the all-time Maryland home run leader. He now joins a Cubs farm system that is in need of infield help.

Luke Shliger – Catcher – San Francisco Giants

Luke Shliger would be the next Maryland player drafted when the San Francisco Giants selected him in round 6, 180th overall.

The Maryland leadoff hitter would finish his junior season with a .336 average, 11 home runs, and 52 RBIs. Shliger excels at getting on base as he led the team in walks with 69 and on-base percentage with .523, earning him All-Big Ten First Team honors.

There has been concern about whether Shigler would stay at catcher. However, San Francisco’s farm system is lacking at the position which could bode well for the former-Maryland captain.

Jason Savacool – Right-Handed Pitcher – St. Louis Cardinals

Five picks after Shliger, the St. Louis Cardinals selected Jason Savacool (round 6, pick 185).

Savacool followed up a stellar 2022 campaign with another solid season. He posted a 4.22 ERA with a 9-5 record in 16 starts, enough to earn him a Second Team All-Big Ten selection. The Cardinals took a plethora of pitchers but keep an eye on the Maryland ace to separate himself from the pack.

Nick Lorusso – Infield – New York Mets

The New York Mets took Lorusso in the 9th round at pick 276 after his record-breaking 2023 season.

Lorusso would finish the season leading the team in average (.379), hits (100), home runs (26), RBIs (105), and OPS (1.211). Not only did he lead the team in hits, homers, and RBIs but he set the single-season program record for each.

Lorusso is the fifth Terp taken by the New York Mets all-time. The Mets most recently took Hunter Parsons in the 19th round in 2019.

Nigel Belgrave – Right-Handed Pitcher – Miami Marlins

Nigel Belgrave is headed to the Miami Marlins who took him in the 15th round, pick 443. Belgrave fell further than his original #250 rank on MLB.com’s Draft Prospect Rankings.

Belgrave showed solid stuff in the 2023 season. He features a mid-90s sinker and a low-80s slider that has been effective in producing groundballs. He finished the season with a 6.42 ERA and struck out 43 batters in 33.2 innings pitched.

Belgrave is only the second Terp taken by the Marlins all-time. The other was Jared Price, a 37th-round pick in 2017.

Nick Dean – Right-Handed Pitcher – Chicago Cubs

Dean joins Shaw as one of the newest Chicago Cubs after being selected in round 19, pick 566.

He started 15 games in his senior season where he had a 5.54 ERA, a 3-2 record, and 77 strikeouts. This would earn Dean a Third Team All-Big Ten selection for the second season in a row.

Tommy Kane – Left-Handed Pitcher – San Francisco Giants

Just when you thought the Terps were done, the Giants took Tommy Kane in the 19th round, pick 570. He and Shliger are two of five Terps drafted by the Giants.

Kane spent just one season in College Park where he made 17 appearances. In 28.1 innings pitched he would collect 29 strikeouts with a 7.31 ERA.