HICKORY, NC - Following an impressive two-year career at Lenoir-Rhyne, infielder Zach Evans has been drafted by the San Diego Padres in the ninth round (270th overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft. 

Evans becomes just the 10th MLB draft pick to come out of the LR baseball program, and the second highest all time. Hurler John Curtis was taken in the eighth round in 2017. 

Evans has been a constant for the Bears during his two years with the team, starting in all 105 games he has played. This season, the 6-4 infielder batted .321 with 62 hits, 54 runs, 44 RBI's, 15 doubles, 11 home runs, and two triples. Patient at the plate, Evans struck out just 20 times in 193 at bats, and notched a slugging percentage of .591. He held a .958 fielding percentage and led the team with 23 double plays turned. 

Lenoir-Rhyne MLB Draft Picks
Craig Corbett: 1981 - Montreal Expos (10th round, 251st overall)
Mike Tidwell: 1991 - Chicago Cubs (25th round, 658th overall)
Steve Davis: 1991 - Chicago Cubs (31st round, 814 overall)
Ivan Vieitez: 2015 - Los Angeles Dodgers (27th round, 822 overall)
Matthew De La Rosa: 2016 - Baltimore Orioles (28th round, 841st overall)
John Curtis: 2017 - Atlanta Braves (8th round, 230th overall)
Thomas St. Clair: 2017 - St. Louis Cardinals (24th round, 724th overall)
Justin Dean: 2018 - Atlanta Braves (17th round, 502nd overall)
Landon Whitson: 2018 - Arizona Diamondbacks (25th round, 759th overall)
Zach Evans: 2024 - San Diego Padres (9th round, 270th overall)