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The Big 10 Conference has witnessed some college baseball players who are capable of making it to The Show, or Major League Baseball, this past season. They stood out from other players in the conference and performed brilliantly this past season.
Here are the top five Big 10 players who fans should keep an eye on in the 2024 MLB draft.
Top 5 Big 10 Prospects to watch out for in 2024 MLB draft
#5. Cade Obermueller, LHP, Iowa
The 5-foot-11 sophomore has transitioned seamlessly from a relief pitcher to an everyday starter in just one season. The southpaw-throwing Obermueller started in 13 games for the Hawkeyes and finished with a 4-3 record and a 3.92 ERA.
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Obermueller, who formed a formidable pitching duo with teammate Brody Brecht, pitched a total of 59.2 innings and had 73 strikeouts. He allowed 31 runs, 39 hits and 41 walks this past season.
#4. Carter Mathison, OF, Indiana
Mathison has played three seasons with the Hoosiers and is a .280 hitter with 42 home runs and 150 RBIs. He has a career slugging percentage of .544 and his on-base percentage is .399. He has stolen a total of 17 bases and was struck out 185 times.
The left-hander had a standout season in 2022, smacking 19 HRs and 57 RBIs in 59 games for Indiana. His slugging percentage was .608 and his OBP was .393.
#3. Connor Foley, RHP, Indiana
Foley was a full-time starter for Indiana this past season, recording a 4.71 ERA in 63 innings pitched. Opponents struggled to hit the sophomore, as the right-handed hurler only allowed a batting average of .165 during his starts. He struck out 82 and walked 49 batters in 14 starts.
Overall, Foley is 8-4 with a 4.40 ERA in 92 IPs in two seasons with the Hoosiers. He accumulated 124 strikeouts and three saves along the way.
#2. Josh Kuroda-Grauer, SS, Rutgers
Kuroda-Grauer had an excellent year for the Scarlet Knights, batting .428 in 53 starts. Although his power numbers weren't great with five home runs and a .590 slugging percentage, the 6-foot shortstop out of Somerset, New Jersey had 95 hits and 19 doubles. He finished the 2024 season with 24 stolen bases and was only struck out 18 times.
In three seasons with Rutgers, Kuroda-Grauer hit .343 with 16 HRs, 115 RBIs and 40 SBs. His career OBP is .419 while his slugging percentage is .501.
#1. Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
Brecht proved to be the Hawkeyes' No. 1 pitcher as he had a 4-3 record and a 3.33 ERA this season. The 6-foot-4 right-hander pitched a career-high 78.1 innings and struck out 128 batters. He didn't allow hits to go beyond the field as evidenced by his three HRs allowed in 2024.
In three seasons with Iowa, Brecht has played for 49 games (32 starts) in 178.0 innings. He is 10-9 with a 3.49 ERA and 282 strikeouts.
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