McCrystal selected by Cincinnati in 9th round of 2024 MLB Draft

East Carolina junior catcher Ryan McCrystal was taken in the ninth round (269th overall) of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft Monday by the Cincinnati Reds. He represents the 25th Pirate draft pick under head coach Cliff Godwin.
 
McCrystal enjoyed a breakout 2024 season in the Purple and Gold, starting 35 games as ECU's designated hitter and 16 at catcher. He hit .346 (65-for-188) with 26 runs scored, 10 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 39 RBI, 98 total bases, 16 walks and two stolen bases on the way to All-American Athletic Conference Second Team honors.

McCrystal then went 8-for-18 (.444) in the AAC Tournament before registering a team-best .417 (10-for-24) batting average in the NCAA Greenville Regional to earn a spot on the All-Regional Team.
 
As a freshman, McCrystal was part of a Pirate squad that won the American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and the NCAA Greenville Regional before hosting Texas in the NCAA Greenville Super Regional.
 
East Carolina Draft Selections Under Cliff Godwin
2015 – Reid Love, Baltimore Orioles (10th Round/Pick 313)
2015 – Luke Lowery, Arizona Diamondbacks (14th Round/Pick 406)
2015 – David Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers (20th Round/Pick 601)
2017 – Evan Kruczynski, St. Louis Cardinals (Ninth Round/Pick 274)
2018 – Dwanya Williams-Sutton, San Diego Padres (Fifth Round/Pick 141)
2018 – Chris Holba, St. Louis Cardinals (11th Round, Pick 333)
2018 – Connor Litton, Philadelphia Phillies (20th Round/Pick 587)
2019 – Jake Agnos, New York Yankees (Fourth Round/Pick 135)
2019 – Bryant Packard, Detroit Tigers (Fifth Round/Pick 142)
2019 – Spencer Brickhouse, Arizona Diamondbacks (Seventh Round/Pick 212)
2019 – Trey Benton, Cleveland Indians (15th Round/Pick 460)
2019 – Evan Voliva, New York Yankees (18th Round/Pick 555)
2019 – Turner Brown, Colorado Rockies (19th Round/Pick 579)
2019 – Jake Washer, Chicago Cubs (29th Round/Pick 882)
2020 – Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals (Second Round 2crB/Pick 70)
2021 – Gavin Williams, Cleveland Indians (First Round/Pick 23)
2021 – Connor Norby, Baltimore Orioles (Second Round/Pick 41)
2021 – Thomas Francisco, St. Louis Cardinals (19th Round/Pick 571)
2022 – Carson Whisenhunt, San Francisco Giants (Second Round/Pick 66)
2022 – Zach Agnos, Colorado Rockies (10th Round/Pick 296)
2023 – Josh Grosz, New York Yankees (11th Round/Pick 342)
2023 – Tyler Bradt, St. Louis Cardinals (16th Round/Pick 485)
2024 – Trey Yesavage, Toronto Blue Jays (First Round/Pick 20)
2024 – Jacob Jenkins-Cowart, Miami Marlins (Eighth Round/Pick 244)
2024 – Ryan McCrystal, Cincinnati Reds (Ninth Round/Pick 269).

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