Pitre could become latest Canadian Kentucky Wildcat to be drafted
Kentucky Wildcats second baseman Émilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) could become the latest Canadian to play for the Wildcats to be drafted. Photo: University of Kentucky Athletics
July 12, 2024
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
Six Canadians have been selected in the MLB draft after playing for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Wildcats second baseman Émilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) is likely to become the seventh this year. This year’s draft begins on Sunday night and runs through Tuesday.
An ABC and Junior National Team alum, Pitre is the No. 4 prospect on the 2024 Canadian Baseball Network Draft List after his excellent junior season with the Wildcats in 2024. While some project him to go fourth-to-seventh round, others say he could go higher than that.
In 62 games with the Wildcats this year, he batted .301 with 10 homers, 58 RBIs and a .939 OPS. He also had 26 stolen bases and a .992 fielding percentage to help the Wildcats set a school record with 46 wins and lead them to an SEC regular season championship. The Wildcats also advanced to the College World Series for the first time.
Wildcats coach Nick Mingione has described Pitre as “perhaps the best all-around player he’s coached in his 20 years in college baseball.”
For his efforts in 2024, Pitre was named a D1 Baseball Third Team All-American.
Other Canadians from the Kentucky Wildcats that have been drafted:
2008 - LHP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.), 10th round, 315th overall, San Diego Padres
2009 - LHP James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.), first round, 37th overall, Toronto Blue Jays
2010 - 2B Chris Bisson (Ottawa, Ont.), fourth round, 124th overall, San Diego Padres
2017 - RHP Zach Pop (Brampton, Ont.,) seventh round, 220th overall, Los Angeles Dodgers
2018 - C Cole Kottam (whose father dominated on Burlington, Ont. diamonds), fourth round, 130th overall, Boston Red Sox
2018 - OF Tristan Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.), third round, 89th overall, Miami Marlins
Complete List of Kentucky Wildcats Players Drafted
Photo: University of Kentucky Athletics
Photo: University of Kentucky Athletics
Photo: University of Kentucky Athletics