Here are the local baseball players selected in the 2024 MLB draft

SALT LAKE CITY — Dreams became a reality for collegiate and amateur baseball players during the 2024 Major League Baseball draft, including several from the state of Utah and Big 12 territory.

The Big 12 had 50 players selected by Major League ball clubs during the 20-round draft, the most by the conference since 2011 that included three Utah players and one from BYU.

In all, the incoming schools of Arizona, Arizona State and Utah combined for 11 selections during the three-day draft.

Utah's three selections gives the Utes 79 players drafted since the program's birth in 1965.

Kai Roberts, OF, Utah/Skyridge HS

San Diego Padres, Round 7, Pick No. 210

The highest draft pick from Utah since DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. was taken No. 124 overall by the Minnesota Twins in 2018, Roberts rose to become one of the most improved players in the Pac-12 from the 2023 to 2024 seasons. The 6-foot-5 outfielder raised his batting average by nearly 100 points to .356 in 2024, increased his slugging percentage from .393 to .562, and added a career-high 83 hits, 21 doubles, seven home runs and 58 RBVI en route to second-team Pac-12 all-conference and ABCA all-region second-team honors.

The top base-stealer in program history set a single-season record of 33 steals in 2024 to etch his name in the Utah record books with 66 career swipes.

Micah Ashman, LHP, Utah/Jordan HS

Detroit Tigers, Round 11, Pick No. 325

A three-year starter and two-time Pac-12 all-conference selection, Ashman made 72 appearances for Utah that included a program-record 20 saves. The rising senior went 4-8 on the hump with a 3.36 ERA including 11 saves in 2024 — the second-most by a Utah pitcher in a single season in program history, and sixth-most nationally.

Ben Hansen, RHP, BYU

Boston Red Sox, Round 20, Pick No. 597

The 6-foot-6 sophomore from Pleasanton, California, led the Cougars with 72.9 innings pitched, 51 strikeouts and five wins last year to go along with a 6.63 ERA in 14 starts. The son of former BYU basketball player Matt Hansen (1988) previously served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic.

Merit Jones, RHP, Utah

Minnesota Twins, Round 20, Pick No. 680

The 6-foot-4 right-hander from Idaho Falls is the third player selected by the Twins in Utah baseball history, and the first since Keirsey in 2018. He made 31 appearances in two seasons with the Utes, including 26 starts after going 3-5 with a 68 strikeouts in 13 starts as a sophomore.

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