FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Milwaukee Brewers selected Florida Gulf Coast University junior
Jason Woodward in the fourth round of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft Monday. The 119
th pick overall, he led off a trio of Eagles drafted that included
Mason Miller and
Edrick Felix. This year's draft picks were the first for FGCU since 2019.
"We are extremely happy for Jason, Mason, Edrick and our program. They have all worked very hard to be selected in the 2023 Major League draft," head coach
Dave Tollett said. "The guys are looking forward to getting started on their professional journey and continuing the success of making it to the show like our past alumni."
.
Woodward (
Titusville, Florida/Titusville High School) becomes the third Eagle drafted by the Brewers. Pitchers Jordan Desguin and Jacob Barnes were chosen in 2015 and 2011, respectively.
Woodward made three starts this year, tossed 13.2 innings and sported a 2-0 record and a 1.32 ERA before suffering a season-ending injury. The junior right-hander struck out 18 batters with a season-high of 10 strikeouts in five innings of scoreless work in win over the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Woodward fanned three in 2.2 innings during the upset victory of No. 16 Florida State University.
Junior left-hander Miller (
Odessa, Florida/Mitchell High School) was the second Eagle drafted, picking up the 409
th overall pick in round 14 by the Kansas City Royals, joining 2018 draft pick Josh Dye and 2017 pick Julio Gonzalez.
Miller was primed for a great year before an early season-ending injury. He had a 5.68 ERA across seven starts with a 2-0 record. He had 35 strikeouts in just 25.1 innings pitched.
Miller threw a season-high five innings in the win over UMass Lowell, striking out a season-best 11 batters. He registered six strikeouts in the win over Hofstra University and five in wins over FAMU and Liberty University. Miller posted four strikeouts in the win over FSU.
The third draft pick for the Green & Blue was sophomore infielder Felix (
Orlando, Florida/Victory Charter High School/College of Central Florida), who was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 14
th round as the 419
th pick.
Felix was one of three All-Americans to lead a stacked 2023 Eagles squad. He was named a second-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and second-team distinction from two other publications. The sophomore infielder put the ASUN Conference on notice by leading the league in RBIs (83) and home runs (25) en route to becoming the first ASUN Player of the Year in program history. His 25 homers broke FGCU's single-season record. Felix started all 60 games and finished the season nationally ranked top 10 in four categories: total bases (188), home runs, RBIs, and in RBIs per game (1.38).
Below is a list of FGCU's all-time draft picks and free agent signees.
FGCU DRAFT HISTORY
| Year |
Player |
Rd. |
Pick |
Team |
Pos. |
| 2004 |
Chris Brown* |
N/A |
|
Minnesota Twins |
OF/1B |
| 2005 |
Billy Phillips* |
N/A |
|
Boston Red Sox |
RHP |
| 2006 |
Justin Stiver |
17 |
519 |
Houston Astros |
RHP |
|
Jason Louwsma |
29 |
864 |
Cincinnati Reds |
3B |
|
Ryan Williams* |
N/A |
|
Cincinnati Reds |
LHP |
| 2007 |
Luis Pardo |
9 |
291 |
Houston Astros |
RHP |
|
Jason Kiley |
25 |
784 |
New York Yankees |
RHP |
|
Justin Miller* |
N/A |
|
Detroit Tigers |
RHP |
| 2008 |
Richard Bleier |
6 |
183 |
Texas Rangers |
LHP |
|
Casey Coleman |
15 |
461 |
Chicago Cubs |
RHP |
|
Jason Peacock |
26 |
778 |
Florida Marlins |
1B |
| 2010 |
Chris Sale |
1 |
13 |
Chicago White Sox |
LHP |
|
Pete Woodworth* |
N/A |
|
Tampa Bay Rays |
RHP |
| 2011 |
Granden Goetzman# |
2 |
75 |
Tampa Bay Rays |
OF |
|
Jacob Barnes |
14 |
431 |
Milwaukee Brewers |
RHP |
|
Jack Wagoner |
33 |
998 |
Cleveland Indians |
RHP |
|
Stephen Wickens |
33 |
1018 |
Minnesota Twins |
SS |
|
Zach Maxfield* |
N/A |
|
Detroit Tigers |
1B |
|
Tim Roberson* |
N/A |
|
Boston Red Sox |
C |
| 2012 |
Jason Forjet |
31 |
958 |
San Francisco Giants |
RHP |
| 2013 |
Harrison Cooney |
6 |
187 |
Los Angeles Angels |
RHP |
|
Brandon Bednar |
7 |
222 |
San Francisco Giants |
2B/SS |
|
Ricky Knapp |
8 |
236 |
New York Mets |
RHP |
|
Sean Dwyer |
11 |
319 |
Colorado Rockies |
OF/1B |
|
Brandon Bixler |
16 |
470 |
Minnesota Twins |
LHP |
|
Mike Reeves |
21 |
625 |
Toronto Blue Jays |
C |
|
Kyle Buchanan |
40 |
1214 |
New York Yankees |
OF |
| 2014 |
Michael Suchy |
5 |
161 |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
OF |
|
Dash Winningham# |
8 |
235 |
New York Mets |
1B/LHP |
|
Zach Tillery |
13 |
380 |
Minnesota Twins |
RHP |
|
Ryan Atwood |
30 |
897 |
San Diego Padres |
LHP |
| 2015 |
Michael Murray |
32 |
968 |
Oakland Athletics |
RHP |
|
Jordan Desguin |
36 |
1081 |
Milwaukee Brewers |
RHP |
|
Nick Rivera^ |
38 |
1129 |
Houston Astros |
1B/DH |
| 2016 |
Jake Noll |
7 |
214 |
Washington Nationals |
2B |
|
Dimas Ojeda# |
17 |
507 |
Seattle Mariners |
OF |
|
Brady Anderson* |
N/A |
|
Minnesota Twins |
RHP |
|
Tyler Selesky* |
N/A |
|
San Diego Padres |
INF/OF |
| 2017 |
Michael Lagrange* |
N/A |
|
Texas Rangers |
LHP |
|
Kutter Crawford |
16 |
491 |
Boston Red Sox |
RHP |
|
Julio Gonzalez |
17 |
510 |
Kansas City Royals |
SS |
|
Garrett Anderson |
35 |
1039 |
Tampa Bay Rays |
RHP |
| 2018 |
Josh Dye |
23 |
692 |
Kansas City Royals |
LHP |
|
Mario Leon |
23 |
699 |
Arizona Diamondbacks |
RHP |
| 2019 |
Evan Lumbert |
24 |
714 |
San Francisco Giants |
RHP |
|
Keegan Collett |
35 |
1043 |
San Diego Padres |
RHP |
| 2023 |
Jason Woodward |
4 |
119 |
Milwaukee Brewers |
RHP |
|
Mason Miller |
14 |
409 |
Kansas City Royals |
LHP |
|
Edrick Felix |
14 |
419 |
Chicago White Sox |
LHP |
|
Marty Gair # 13 403 Philadelphia Phillies RHP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# - Committed but did not attend FGCU
* - Signed as an undrafted free agent
^ - Did not sign with team
