NC A&T P Xavier Meachem taken by Miami in MLB draft

NORTH CAROLINA A&T ATHLETICS

North Carolina A&T pitcher Xavier Meachem was drafted by Miami in the 10th round of the Major League Baseball draft.

Former North Carolina A&T pitcher Xavier Meachem has graduated to the professional ranks.

Meachem, a right-hander, was drafted Monday by the Miami Marlins in the 10th round of the Major League Baseball draft, the 293rd player taken overall. Meachem is the 21st Aggie drafted by a major league club and the first since the Texas Rangers took pitcher Leon Hunter in the 35th round of the 2019 draft with the 1,045th overall pick.

Meachem is the first Aggie selected as high as the 10th round since 2004 when Duron Legrande went to Montreal with the 294th overall pick and the highest an Aggie selected since the San Diego Padres took Al Holland in the fourth round with the 81st overall pick in 1975.

“I’m super excited for Meach,” A&T coach Ben Hall said in a statement. “He is a first-class person, and I know his best baseball is still ahead of him. It is always a fun time to see one of your guys accomplish a dream, especially one who has stepped up and really made it happen for himself. Xavier had a great year, and I couldn’t be happier for him.”

Meachem, who will earn his degree in business management in December became one of the most versatile pitchers in the nation last season out of necessity. As part of his recovery from an early-season injury, A&T moved him to the bullpen, where he recorded five saves and 12 strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched. Meachem eventually became a starter and finished the season 2-1 with a 5.59 ERA in 48.1 innings pitched.

Meachem, who posted 47 strikeouts to attract the attention of pro scouts and pitched in the inaugural HBCU Swingman All-Star Game, also earned a spot with the USA National Collegiate Team, where he pitched a scoreless ninth against Chinese Taipei on July 2 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

“Meach had all the metrics for the draft this year with a 97 miles per hour fastball with a big-time spin rate and a slider that has been up to 87 with a 3150-spin rate which would put him in the mix with MLB all-stars today,” A&T pitching coach Jamie Serber said. “He has always had the stuff, but Meach has the mental toughness to go with it. Great to see him wear a USA jersey and represent Aggie Nation in the MLB Draft.”

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