This year’s MLB Draft saw 9 players from Valley-based schools get selected by an MLB team. Let’s take a look at this year’s draftees and how they got here.

Cam Caminiti, Saguaro: RD 1 PK 24, Braves

The consensus #1 Player from Arizona, Caminiti was the only player from Arizona with a real shot of going early in this year’s draft. Mock Drafts had Caminiti going as high as #10, however, the Saguaro Ace ended up dropping all the way to the #24 Spot. To say Caminiti had a monster season would be a true understatement. The LHP posted a perfect 9-0 record this season as Saguaro’s number one arm. He posted a dominant 0.93 ERA and 119 Punch-outs, only allowing 19 hits, 14 walks, and 7 earned runs all year. Caminiti was also a force at the plate. He hit .493 to go along with 28 RBIs and 3 Home Runs. Saguaro finished the year atop the 4A Conference on the back of Caminiti, who brought home the Sabercats a championship with 11 K’s, only allowing 2 hits and one run. The LSU-Commit just recently signed a $3.55M deal with the Braves, and figures to be one of the best pitching prospects in the Draft Class.

Ryan Campos, Red Mountain: RD 4 PK 109, Cardinals

The Second Draftee in this year’s draft was Red Mountain-Alumnus Ryan Campos. A 4-Year Varsity starter for Red MTN, Campos has been playing at Arizona State for the last 3 Years. The catcher has posted impressive numbers for the Sun Devils, with his best season so far coming this previous year, batting .364 with 86 hits, 56 RBIs, and 11 HRs in 58 Games played, all of which he started. Campos’ career .369 AVG for ASU is amongst the Top 20 All-Time for the Sun Devils.

Clark Candiotti, Chaparral: RD 4 PK 135, Padres

Former Chaparral/University of Arizona RHP Clark Candiotti was taken by the San Diego Padres in the 4th Round of the MLB Draft last week. Before heading to Tucson for college, Candiotti was a starter at Chaparral for 3 Seasons. Last season, Candiotti shut-down UCLA with 12 Strikeouts in a complete-game W versus UCLA. The RHP finished last season with a 7-4 record with 103 K’s and a 3.39 ERA. In 3 seasons with the Firebirds, Candiotti helped lead the team to 3 straight playoff appearances.

Tyler Wilson, Hamilton: RD 8 PK 241, Yankees

Taking a jump from the previous pick, next up is Hamilton/GCU Alumni Tyler Wilson. Wilson was a 3 Year Varsity starter for the powerhouse Huskies. Before heading to GCU, Wilson’s final season at Hamilton saw him post stats of a .412 AVG, 42 Hits, 31 RBIs, and 7 Home Runs. This last season, Wilson provided support for the Lopes with a statline of .378 AVG, 88 H, 17 HR, and 65 RBI. Tyler is the older brother of Liam Wilson, one of the major contributors for last season’s Hamilton team, who is a Harvard commit and one of the best prospects in Arizona.

Daniel Avitia, Alhambra: RD 12 PK 362, Cubs

The next player from Arizona to go in the draft was former Alhambra RHP Daniel Avitia. The pitcher has spent the last 3 season with the Lopes at GCU. Avitia has prior history with the Cubs. He was drafted by the team in his senior year at Alhambra in 2021, however, he elected to play with GCU instead. Once again, Chicago takes a late round chance on Avitia. Avitia was a star for the Alhambra Lions. In 4 years of varsity play, he went 21-9 with a 2.37 Career ERA, most notably helping lead the Lions to a state championship appearance in his senior season (2021). In that season, he went 8-1 with a dominant sub-1 ERA of 0.84 in 58.2 Innings. His older brother, David, also has ties to the Cubs, as he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2021.

Ryan Schiefer, Campo Verde: RD 14 PK 426, Rays

Arizona State RHP Ryan Schiefer was the next player from AZ to be selected in the draft. Schiefer, who played in high school at Campo Verde, and later Central Arizona and Grand Canyon University for his college career, was selected with the 426th pick in the draft. Schiefer was the ranked as the #1 RHP and #3 Overall Player in the Class of 2021. Originally committed to GCU, Schiefer transferred to Central Arizona after a tough season for the Lopes. He rebounded in a major way with the JUCO Vaqueros, a historically successful and MLB-talent producing school. He posted numbers of 33 Ks in 16.2 Innings. He returned to the D1 level this past season as a junior, going 1-3 with a 3.83 ERA and 47 Ks.

Gavin Smith, Valley Christian: RD 17 PK 517, Blue Jays

One of Valley Christian’s best from this last season, infielder Gavin Smith was a key role in leading the Trojans to a 3A State Title in 2023-2024. Smith hit 0.472 on the season, racking up 40 RBIs, 3 HRs, on 42 Hits. The Trojans were unstoppable this season, going 28-2 en route to a 3A Championship. Smith led the 3A Conference in runs this past season.

Mason Russell, Casteel: RD 20 PK 599: Reds

The backbone of the 5A Conference-winning Casteel Colts, Arizona-Commit Mason Russell was picked in the final round of the 2024 MLB Draft, and with his skill, why wouldn’t you take a chance on Russell? Though it is likely the LHP will still take his talents to Tucson this upcoming year, Cincinnati clearly sees something in Russell, and for good reason. Russell was the 97th ranked prospect heading into the draft. However, as Tucson.com reports, it is likely that teams are not expecting Russell to sign a contract at this point in time. With that being said, UofA will have a true weapon in the bullpen when the former Casteel ace steps on campus. Russell went a perfect 7-0 last season with a 2.02 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 13 appearances to boot. Russell capped off an elite season (and high school career, for that matter), as he and the Colts shut down Sunrise Mountain in the 5A Championship game.

Ky McGary, O’Connor: RD 20 PK 613: Astros

Sandra Day O’Connor’s Ky McGary was the final player from Arizona to be selected in this year’s draft. McGary was the best bat in the dugout for the Eagles all of last season, and was a leader amongst the large Senior Core that propelled O’Connor to the 6A Championship Game. Though McGary’s Eagles were on the losing side of the game to the previously mentioned Russell-led Colts, McGary had an outstanding game himself, starting off the game hot to get the Eagles out in front early. McGary is committed to Arizona State. It would be assumed that he will pass up on the MLB for now, and play with the Sun Devils.