Completed Event: Baseball versus Murray State on June 9, 2025 , Loss , 4, to, 5
/
Final
Baseball
4
vs Murray State
5
Marcus Johnson, Henry Williams
Williams, Johnson Selected in Top Four Rounds of MLB Draft
7/19/2022 10:29:00 AM | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – A pair of Duke baseball players – Henry Williams and Marcus Johnson – were selected on Monday as the MLB First-Year Player Draft continued in Los Angeles.
Williams, a right-handed pitcher from Darien, Conn., was drafted in the third round with the No. 91 overall pick by the San Diego Padres, while Johnson, also a right-handed pitcher from Fontana, Calif., went in the next round with the No. 112 pick to the Miami Marlins.
Williams and Johnson join signee Cole Young to comprise three Blue Devils taken during the Draft's first five rounds. It marks the ninth time over the last 10 drafts that at least one Blue Devil has been drafted in the top five rounds.
The pair of draft picks on Monday took Duke's total selections of current Blue Devils to 88 all-time and 34 under head coach Chris Pollard.
The 2022 MLB Draft concludes Tuesday with rounds 11-20.
Henry Williams – San Diego Padres – Round: 3; Pick: 91
Williams did not see action for the Blue Devils in 2022 as he recovered from arm surgery. He was in the Blue Devils' weekend rotation before arm tightness sidelined him in mid-April, finishing with a 3.65 ERA and 3-3 record and 45 strikeouts in 37 innings. A sophomore in 2021, Williams returned from the injury later that season and pitched for the Blue Devils in the NCAA Regional in Knoxville.
"On behalf of our coaching staff, let me say that we are all really happy to see Henry make the jump to professional baseball," said Pollard. "The Padres are getting one of the real steals of the draft. Now that the injuries are in the past, I am excited to watch him flourish in the San Diego organization."
Marcus Johnson – Miami Marlins -- Round: 4; Pick: 112
The Blue Devils' Friday ace, Johnson saw action in 13 games with 12 starts in the 2022 season. The junior from Fontana, Calif., fanned 76 against 25 walks in 69 innings to post a 5.61 ERA. The workhorse ranked ninth in the ACC in innings per game (5.31) and ranked eighth in the conference in strikeouts per game (9.91). A proven leader, Johnson was a team captain for the Blue Devils in 2022 and sat on the team's leadership council as a sophomore. He dazzled as a sophomore in 2021 in the closer role, posting a 3.05 ERA, seven saves, a 5-3 record in a team-high 30 appearances and the ACC's fourth-best opponent average of .196 in helping lead Duke to the ACC title and a berth in the Super Regionals.
"I am absolutely thrilled for Marcus," said Pollard. "It has been so much fun to watch him grow during his time at Duke. He has a comprehensive understanding of how to blend work ethic, process, competitive fight, and leadership. I have no doubt he will have a very long and successful professional career. Duke fans should never forget his performance in the 2021 ACC Championship, as it was absolutely one of the toughest and most selfless performances I have ever witnessed as a coach. I will be there in the stands when he makes his MLB debut."
For more information on Duke baseball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeBaseball".
#GoDuke
Williams, a right-handed pitcher from Darien, Conn., was drafted in the third round with the No. 91 overall pick by the San Diego Padres, while Johnson, also a right-handed pitcher from Fontana, Calif., went in the next round with the No. 112 pick to the Miami Marlins.
Williams and Johnson join signee Cole Young to comprise three Blue Devils taken during the Draft's first five rounds. It marks the ninth time over the last 10 drafts that at least one Blue Devil has been drafted in the top five rounds.
The pair of draft picks on Monday took Duke's total selections of current Blue Devils to 88 all-time and 34 under head coach Chris Pollard.
The 2022 MLB Draft concludes Tuesday with rounds 11-20.
Henry Williams – San Diego Padres – Round: 3; Pick: 91
Williams did not see action for the Blue Devils in 2022 as he recovered from arm surgery. He was in the Blue Devils' weekend rotation before arm tightness sidelined him in mid-April, finishing with a 3.65 ERA and 3-3 record and 45 strikeouts in 37 innings. A sophomore in 2021, Williams returned from the injury later that season and pitched for the Blue Devils in the NCAA Regional in Knoxville.
"On behalf of our coaching staff, let me say that we are all really happy to see Henry make the jump to professional baseball," said Pollard. "The Padres are getting one of the real steals of the draft. Now that the injuries are in the past, I am excited to watch him flourish in the San Diego organization."
Marcus Johnson – Miami Marlins -- Round: 4; Pick: 112
The Blue Devils' Friday ace, Johnson saw action in 13 games with 12 starts in the 2022 season. The junior from Fontana, Calif., fanned 76 against 25 walks in 69 innings to post a 5.61 ERA. The workhorse ranked ninth in the ACC in innings per game (5.31) and ranked eighth in the conference in strikeouts per game (9.91). A proven leader, Johnson was a team captain for the Blue Devils in 2022 and sat on the team's leadership council as a sophomore. He dazzled as a sophomore in 2021 in the closer role, posting a 3.05 ERA, seven saves, a 5-3 record in a team-high 30 appearances and the ACC's fourth-best opponent average of .196 in helping lead Duke to the ACC title and a berth in the Super Regionals.
"I am absolutely thrilled for Marcus," said Pollard. "It has been so much fun to watch him grow during his time at Duke. He has a comprehensive understanding of how to blend work ethic, process, competitive fight, and leadership. I have no doubt he will have a very long and successful professional career. Duke fans should never forget his performance in the 2021 ACC Championship, as it was absolutely one of the toughest and most selfless performances I have ever witnessed as a coach. I will be there in the stands when he makes his MLB debut."
For more information on Duke baseball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeBaseball".
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballDuke Baseball - Corey Muscara Opening Press Conference
Friday, June 27
Press Conference: Corey Muscara Introduction
Wednesday, June 25
Press Conference: Durham Super Regional Sunday
Sunday, June 08
Press Conference: Durham Super Regional Saturday
Saturday, June 07
