BLACKSBURG – Tabbed for his all-around potential heading into his junior season on the diamond, Virginia Tech baseball third baseman Carson DeMartini was named to D1Baseball's list of the top 100 college prospects ahead of next summer's 2024 MLB Draft, as presented by the outlet on Monday.
DeMartini placed No. 42 overall in D1Baseball's listing, making him the fourth highest third baseman by position ranking and the 12th highest player to hail from the ACC.
Earning 2023 All-ACC Third team honors, DeMartini batted .323 and slugged .593 while playing in all but one of Tech's 53 games. Building on consensus Freshman All-American praise he received following the 2022 season, he belted 13 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs this past spring, leading or co-leading the Hokies in runs scored (58), RBIs (54) and walks (46).
Limited to Tech's designated hitter role after sustaining a midseason injury, DeMartini showcased his grit by starting 21 of the Hokies' final 22 contests. From his new home in the lineup, he cranked out a .321 batting average and slugged 13 extra-base hits – including triples during each of his first two games in his new job.
With DeMartini's 2024 outlook weighing high on scouting clipboards, Virginia Tech is in line to further its recent history of producing robust MLB Draft picks. Since 2020, the Hokies have witnessed five players come off the board inside the first 100 selections – highlighted by Gavin Cross becoming the program's highest all-time draft choice in 2022 (No. 9 overall, Kansas City Royals) – while eight of the program's last 16 picks have been taken during the draft's opening five rounds.
DeMartini and Virginia Tech will be in action on Friday, Oct. 13, when the Hokies take on Georgetown during a fall exhibition game at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park. Game information, including first pitch time, will be released at a later date.
