The Coastal Plain League announced that 50 players, both former and current, were selected during the 2021 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Trey Sweeney (Wilson) went 20th overall to the New York Yankees and Ryan Cusick went to the Atlanta Braves 24th overall as the first two off the board.

Sweeney, a shortstop out of Eastern Illinois, spent the 2020 summer in the CPL turning heads with the Wilson Tobs where he put up First Team All-CPL numbers. He finished second in the league in batting with a.397 average, seven doubles and four home runs in 17 games played. Sweeney continued his rise up the draft boards in the spring with Eastern Illinois were he posted a .382 average, 10 doubles and 14 home runs on his way to First Team All-American honors.

Cusick, a 6-6, 225-pound sophomore from Wake Forest pitched for the HiToms during the 2020 season, finishing as the CPL’s Pitcher of the Year with a 1.14 ERA across five starts and 23 2/3 innings pitched.

“Cuse [Cusick] was so much fun to coach,” said 2020 HiToms head coach Mickey Williard. “I had heard coming in about the sheer arm talent, but watching him compete to show off the things that would take his game to next level was great to see. He exhibited increased fastball control to the tune of 40K/9BB and showed more consistent flash of a plus breaking ball offering. Couldn’t be happier for such a hard worker who is very deserving.”

As noted by Williard, his control was on display all season as the right-hander managed a league leading 40 strikeouts while walking only nine for a 15.21 strikeout per nine ratio. In total he allowed only 12 hits for a .114 opponent batting average and 0.53 WHIP while allowing only three earned runs all season.

In total, 13 of the current 15 CPL clubs saw a player selected in the 2021 draft, with the Tri-City Chili Peppers and Spartanburgers being the only two not represented as they both are in the midst of their inaugural season. The Lexington County Blowfish and Savannah Bananas led the way with 8 former and current players selected, followed closely by the Wilson Tobs with seven. Former CPL franchise Gastonia, along with Holly Springs, HP-Thomasville and Macon saw four former players selected each while Martinsville and Wilmington each had three. Next was Asheboro, Forest City, Peninsula and former CPL franchise Edenton with two each while Florence and Morehead City rounded out the group with one player selected.

The complete list of CPL players taken in this year’s draft is below: