CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The University of Illinois had two players taken in this years MLB Draft. Left-handed pitcher Cole Kirschsieper, and first basemen Justin Janas. Illini commit Dylan O'Rae was also drafted. He was selected in the third-round pick 102 overall by the Milwaukee Brewers. The draft started on Sunday July 17 and ran through Tuesday July 19.
LHP Cole Kirschsieper: Miami Marlins, Round 12 Pick 352
Kirschsieper is coming off an All-Big Ten second team season as the Illini's Friday night starter and spent last summer on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.Â
Kirschsieper led the Illini pitching staff with a 3.40 ERA, seventh among all Big Ten pitchers, in 15 appearances. He finished third in the Big Ten in wins (7), fifth in innings pitched (87.1), seventh in strikeouts (88) and batters had the ninth lowest average against him (.232).Â
Kirschsieper is 13-6 in his Illini career with a 3.64 ERA and three saves. He has thrown 141 innings over three seasons with 145 strikeouts and 45 walks.Â
He was the first Illini drafted in the 2022 MLB Draft, which concluded today. Kirschsieper is only the second Illini to ever be drafted by the Marlins, first since Matt Milroy in 2012.
1B Justin Janas: Atlanta Braves, Round 12 Pick 365
Janas was an All-Big Ten second team performer in 2022 and the Big Ten batting champion in 2021.Â
Janas had the third highest on base percentage (.489) in the Big Ten last season, one year after leading the league in batting average (.391) and OBP (.506). He was 12th in the Big Ten in batting average (.343) in 2022.
Janas is a .368 career hitter at Illinois with a .501 career on base percentage and .503 slugging percentage. The lefty improved his power numbers as junior with the first six homers of his career and a jump of over 100 points in slugging percentage.Â
Janas was the second Illini drafted in the 2022 MLB Draft, joining Cole Kirschsieper. He will also join former Illini teammate Andrew Hoffmann who was drafted by the Braves last year.
