Blue Sox past and present connect with MLB draft

By Graham Goodman

Today, July 11, is the Saturday before the MLB All-Star Game which, for baseball fans, means it is MLB draft day. 

Three former Valley Blue Sox are projected to be drafted this weekend. Two current players spoke about their close connections to two first round draft picks.

Former Blue Sox draft prospects

Blue Sox fans may remember these three names from the past two summers of baseball in the Valley: Kollin Ritchie (2024), Clay Burdette (2025) and Andrew Wertz (2024, 2025). 

Ritchie, previously drafted out of high school by the Baltimore Orioles in 2023, is projected to be the 84th overall pick in this year’s raft, which belongs to the Atlanta Braves. He only appeared in seven games for Valley two seasons ago, but made the most out of his time in the NECBL. In 31 plate appearances, he recorded an OPS of .993, racked up six RBI with seven hits. 

Two seasons after his stint in the Valley, Ritchie had a historic junior season at Oklahoma State University where he hit the most home runs by an Oklahoma State player since 1999. He also recorded a 1.266 OPS and was a semifinalist for USA baseball’s Golden Spikes award.

Ritchie was drafted out of high school by the Baltimore Orioles in the 19th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, but opted to go to college instead. His 2026 draft status shows him as a 50-grade prospect on the 20-80 scale according to MLB.com, with 55-grade power.

Wertz’s name was immortalized in the Valley last summer when he was named the NECBL’s 2025 Joe Nathan Top Relief Pitcher. In Wertz’s 17 appearances in 2025, he threw 22 innings and let in a single earned run, good enough for an astounding 0.41 ERA. 

Wertz struck out 33 and walked four, yielding only nine hits in 2025. Wertz was also an NECBL All-Star and a member of the all-NECBL First Team. Wertz transferred to Northeastern University for the 2026 season and built upon his summer success, posting a 2.61 ERA in 21 appearances and 37.2 innings pitched. He struck out 40 and allowed 11 earned runs.

Wertz is not projected on the MLB’s draft board of the top 250 prospects but attended the MLB draft combine July 1. 

Burdette thoroughly enjoyed his time with the Valley Blue Sox in 2025, posting an OPS of 1.001 in 18 games and 79 plate appearances. He slugged five home runs for the Blue Sox, the second most on the team, and had 17 RBI, all on 19 hits. 

Projected to be selected 248th in the 2026 MLB Draft, a pick that belongs to the New York Yankees, Burdette set the Big East on fire with Xavier in his 2026 season. He posted an OPS of 1.140, hitting for a .343 average. Burdette provided the power as well, mashing 17 home runs and 45 RBI.

MLB.com lists Burdette as a 40-grade prospect that has a 55-grade arm, glove, and power.

Current Blue Sox connected to the draft

The Blue Sox will luckily not lose any players this weekend to the MLB Draft, but two players are closely connected with 2026 first round draft picks.

First baseman Trevor Harmon (San Francisco) is a native of the bay area and attended Foothill High School. If you’ve been reading up on the number four pick in this year’s MLB Draft, that information may sound familiar. Harmon played baseball at all levels with now San Francisco Giant Jackson Flora, and was Flora’s catcher throughout his high school career.

“He's the man, dude,” Harmon said. “He's a super hard worker, super funny guy. Couldn't have happened to a better kid and a better family, of course.”

Harmon said he FaceTimed Flora on Saturday afternoon following the news.

“I'm excited to go see him soon and hopefully golf together and hang out,” Harmon said. “This guy, it's been a while since I've seen him but I’ve been super happy for him. He deserves it.”

Blue Sox’s catcher Josh Toole (George Mason) did not know number 22 overall pick and now Detroit Tiger Cameron Flukey prior to his freshman year with Coastal Carolina baseball, but got to know him after catching his bullpens in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.

“Catching him was the easiest thing ever,” Toole said. “He hit his spots no matter what. You didn’t even have to do anything. Just caught it and threw it back to him.”

Flukey’s 2026 season was cut short due to injury, missing a crux of the season. Toole said this did not stop Flukey from being a key clubhouse contributor.

“As a teammate, he was a great guy,” Toole said. “Just a great teammate, picking people up. Hardest work I've ever seen in my life.”