CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Five current and former Tom Sox players — including an incoming UVA freshman — were selected on the third and final day of the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, as announced by their respective clubs Tuesday. Included in the day three selections were 2024 ‘Sox outfielder James Nunnallee (UVA incoming freshman), 2023 pitcher Jordan Little (Virginia Tech), 2022 pitcher Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman (East Carolina), 2022 infielder Christian Martin (Virginia Tech), and 2021 pitcher Chase Centala (UCF).

Kicking off the Day 3 selections was Nunnallee, who becomes the first ‘Sox player to appear on the team’s active roster but be selected before appearing in a game for Charlottesville. However, Nunnallee has made his way to Charlottesville and will be on the active roster for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.

The first former Sock off the board on day three was Virginia Tech’s Jordan Little, who was selected in the 15th round by the Cincinnati Reds. Little put forth one of the best seasons by a loaded Tom Sox pitching staff last season, going 1-0 in five appearances with a 1.20 ERA and 28 strikeouts to only two walks. Little transferred from East Carolina to Virginia Tech during the 2023 summer and found an important role in the Hokie bullpen this past season. In 21 appearances for VT, Little worked to a 6.66 ERA across 25.2 innings, striking out 34 and walking nine.

Next up was Little’s former ECU teammate Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman, who was selected with the 483rd overall pick (16th round) by the Seattle Mariners. Lunsford-Shenkman was a key anchor to the 2022 championship pitching staff, finishing with a 4.05 ERA in 20 innings and striking out 25.

One of the best hitters in ‘Sox history, Virginia Tech’s Christian Martin was selected with the 531st overall pick (18th round) by the St. Louis Cardinals. Alongside fellow draftee Carter Cunningham, Martin put up one of Charlottesville’s all-time best seasons in 2022 on his way to an All-Valley League selection. His .493 on-base percentage stands as Charlottesville’s single-season record, and he ranks among the top ten in batting average (.391, 4th), slugging percentage (.582, 4th), and runs (35, 4th).
On the year for the high-flying Hokies, Martin finished with a .313 batting average, .949 OPS, 59 runs, and 36 RBI.

Finally, 2021 ‘Sox pitcher Chase Centala was selected with the 604th overall pick by the Miami Marlins. Centala put forth an exceptional season for Charlottesville en route to the 2021 regular season championship, going 3-0 across 21 innings with a 3.43 ERA, 24 strikeouts, and six walks.

The five Day 3 selections join the four former ‘Sox selected across the draft’s first two days. The nine Tom Sox selected are the third-most in an MLB Draft, trailing 2019 (13) and 2023 (10)

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