Wingate's Avant and Farris Drafted in Ninth and 14th Rounds of 2023 Major League Baseball Draft

Corey Avant drafted by Oakland A's in ninth round of MLB draft; first D2 player drafted in 2023

Oakland, Calif.----Wingate University redshirt sophomore right-hander Corey Avant has made history for the Wingate University Bulldogs, being drafted in the ninth round of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft Monday afternoon by the Oakland Athletics. Avant was the 256th overall pick of the draft. He is the highest draft pick in Wingate's history as an NCAA Division II university, becoming only the second in the D2 era to be selected on day two of the draft, joining Brody McCullough, who was drafted by the Cubs in the 10th round of the 2022 draft. Avant was the first player in all of NCAA Division II to be selected in the 2023 draft.

"Thanks to my family, Coach Gregory and Coach White, and all the coaches at Wingate and prior, my teammates and the Oakland A's organization," Avant says. "I'm excited for this next chapter, and I can't thank Wingate University enough!"

"I'm thrilled for Corey to be selected in this year's Major League Baseball draft," head coach Jeff Gregory says. "He's worked extremely hard over his time here to realize this goal. I'm really happy for him at this moment and for what his future brings for him in professional baseball."

Avant is the seventh Bulldog to be drafted since the 2012 season and gives Wingate a draft pick for the third straight year, after McCullough went in the 10th round last year and Hunter Dula was selected in the 18th round of the 2021 draft to the San Francisco Giants. In addition, Tommy McCollum signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2021. Avant is the 24th player in Wingate history to be drafted. In Wingate's recent history, All-American outfielder Dodson McPherson went in the 30th round of the 2012 draft, while All-American Thomas Spitz was taken by the Cardinals in the 32nd round in 2015. Two-time All-American Shane Billings went in the 13th round of the 2016 draft, which was previously the highest draft pick from Wingate as an NCAA Division II school. Left-handed pitcher Kory Behenna was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 25th round of the 2017 draft. Prior to Wingate's Division II days, Jim Fortenberry went in the fifth round of the 1984 draft. Ron Grout went in the sixth round of the 1977 winter draft, when Wingate was a junior college. Richard Motsinger was a first-round pick in the 1969 winter draft.

A two-time All-SAC honoree, Avant has also earned Academic All-America honors each of the last two years. He made a team-high 23 appearances on the mound for the Bulldogs in 2023, notching four saves and adding a win. Avant piled up 57 strikeouts in 39 innings of work, holding opponents to a .264 average. He went 3-1 with two saves and a 3.41 ERA in 2022, striking out 51 in 29 innings of work. In his two years at Wingate, Avant struck out 108 strikeouts in 68 innings of work.

Avant has accumulated a 4.00 GPA at Wingate, majoring in Mathematics. A two-time SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree has been named to the Wingate President's List all six semesters of his career. He was a Commencement Marshal at the 2023 Wingate University Graduation ceremony. The two-time Academic All-America honoree is also a two-time Academic All-District selection.

Mitch Farris selected in 14th round of MLB draft by Atlanta Braves

Atlanta, Ga.----For the first time since 2005, the Wingate University Bulldogs have had multiple players selected in the Major League Baseball draft, with redshirt junior left-hander Mitch Farris being selected in the 14th round by the Atlanta Braves Tuesday afternoon. He was the 429th overall pick of the 2023 MLB draft. Farris joins redshirt sophomore right-hander Corey Avant, who was taken in the ninth round of the draft by the Oakland Athletics Monday afternoon. The last time Wingate had multiple players taken in the same draft was in 2005, when Eric Brown went to the New York Mets in the 18th round and Matt Trent was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 30th round. 

"It's good to see hard work pay off and dreams come true," Farris says. "Go Braves!" 

"I'm extremely proud of Mitch," head coach Jeff Gregory says. "This has been a goal of his since he arrived at Wingate and to see it happen for him, I couldn't be happier. He has been a huge piece of our success since he has joined our program and I look forward to following his professional career."

Farris is the eighth Bulldog to be drafted since the 2012 season and gives Wingate four draft picks over the last three seasons. Avant's ninth round selection Monday was the highest in Wingate's NCAA D2 history, topping the 10th-round selection of Brody McCullough in the 2022 draft by the Chicago Cubs. Hunter Dula went in the 18th round of the 2021 draft to the San Francisco Giants. In addition, Tommy McCollum signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2021. Farris is the 25th player in Wingate history to be drafted. In Wingate's recent history, All-American outfielder Dodson McPherson went in the 30th round of the 2012 draft, while All-American Thomas Spitz was taken by the Cardinals in the 32nd round in 2015. Two-time All-American Shane Billings went in the 13th round of the 2016 draft, which was previously the highest draft pick from Wingate as an NCAA Division II school prior to McCullough in 2022 and Avant this year. Left-handed pitcher Kory Behenna was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 25th round of the 2017 draft. Prior to Wingate's Division II days, Jim Fortenberry went in the fifth round of the 1984 draft. Ron Grout went in the sixth round of the 1977 winter draft, when Wingate was a junior college. Richard Motsinger was a first-round pick in the 1969 winter draft.

Farris had a huge season in 2023, piling up the honors while ranking among the nation's best in nearly every category. The left-hander went 11-1 on the season with a 1.21 ERA, striking out 127 batters while walking just 16 in 89 innings of work. Farris posted a 0.62 WHIP while holding opponents to a .128 average, giving up just 39 hits in his 89 innings of work. Farris was named the SAC Pitcher of the Year, while also taking home Region Pitcher of the Year accolades from the ABCA, NCBWA and D2CCA. Farris was a consensus first team All-American, earning the honors from the ABCA, NCBWA and D2CCA. He was named the SAC Pitcher of the Week seven times in 2023, adding four Region Pitcher of the Week awards and a pair of National Pitcher of the Week selections. He was the lone Division II player named to the Golden Spikes Watch List in 2023. 

Farris led the nation in WHIP and hits allowed per nine innings, ranking second in ERA and strikeouts, third in strikeout-to-walk ratio and eight in wins. He went at least five innings in all 12 starts, going at least seven innings in each of his final nine starts, including three complete games. Farris did not allow a run in five of those starts, allowing one run in four starts and two runs in one start, while allowing three runs just one time and never allowing more. Only one of his 12 starts saw opponents collect more than four hits, holding opponents to two hits or less on six occasions including five two-hit performances. Farris struck out at least nine in all 12 starts, hitting double figures eight times, which included an 18-strikeout effort in eight innings against LMU and a 13-strikeout performance at #7 Lenoir-Rhyne, when he went the distance allowing a run on just three hits.  In his 15 starts over the last two seasons, Farris went 13-0 with a 0.98 ERA, striking out 149 while walking just 17 in 110 innings of work, giving up just 12 runs on 47 hits.