New York Yankees select Ruegger in 2018 MLB Draft
Charles O'Brien
SECAUCUS, N.J. (June 6, 2018) – Stevens Institute of Technology junior pitcher
Charlie Ruegger was drafted with the 997th overall pick by the New York Yankees in the 2018 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft Wednesday. Ruegger is only the second player in program history to be selected in MLB's First Year Player Draft, and the first in 45 years. Dave Garcia was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 23rd round of the 1973 MLB Draft.
"I would like to thank my family for always supporting me with everything," Ruegger said "I also want to thank my teammates and coaches who have pushed me to be the best player I can be. To be drafted is a great honor that I really have no words for. I am extremely grateful that the New York Yankees organization saw my ability and potential. The whole process has been very exciting and I am beyond thankful that it ended with this outcome. I'm excited to see where this journey will take me, but I will always be a Duck!"
"I am very happy for Charlie," added head coach
Kristaps Aldins. "He's a great person and has worked really hard throughout his time at Stevens both on and off the field. I know that his best is still yet to come."
In just his first season as a full-time starter, Ruegger posted one of the best seasons on the mound in program history. The Morris Plains, New Jersey native went 8-2 with a sparkling 2.58 ERA and set a new program record with 97 strikeouts, en route to earning First Team All-New York Region recognition from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). The tall right-hander, named Empire 8 Conference Pitcher of the Year, hurled 80 1-3 innings, spun three complete games, including one shutout, and led the E8 in both wins and ERA. Ruegger fanned at least six in every start and posted a pair of double-digit strikeout performances, highlighted by a one-hit, 15-strikeout gem against SUNY Canton on March 30, which garnered Division III National Pitcher of the Week honors for the junior hurler from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Over his three seasons on Castle Point, Ruegger has 11 wins against only three losses with 142 strikeouts in 133 innings. The right-hander spent his sophomore campaign at the back end of the Stevens bullpen and finished tied for 14th in the country with eight saves.
After pitching in the Coastal Plain League between his sophomore and junior campaigns, Ruegger is currently pitching for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters of the prestigious Northwoods League.
David Garcia is the only other Duck ever drafted. The pitcher was taken by the Minnesota Twins in the 23rd round (530 overall) in 1973. He played for eight years in the minor leagues with the Twins, Royals, Tigers and Pirates organizations, reaching as high as AAA.