Atlantic, Stetson graduate Christian Pregent chosen by New York Mets in 2023 MLB Draft
Atlantic High School and Stetson University graduate Christian Pregent is headed to the New York Mets.
The organization selected Pregent, a catcher and four-year captain for the Hatters, in the 10th round of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft (306th overall) Monday. He is the first Stetson player chosen since pitchers Mitchell Senger and Robbie Peto in 2019.
“It’s well, well, well deserved,” Stetson head coach Steve Trimper said. “Obviously, he’s an elite defender, and he’s always been that. There was always talk of him getting drafted, even during his junior year.
“What happened with him is, he really worked hard with our coaching staff, especially (assistant coach Shane Gierke), and really changed around his swing a little bit and added a lot of power and really added in all kinds of capabilities. The defensive tool was always there. Now, the offensive tool is there.”
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As a redshirt junior last spring, Pregent led all Division I catchers in fielding percentage. He set offensive career highs across the board — batting average (.315), home runs (12), RBIs (46) and OPS (.962).
The Hatters ended their season in the ASUN Conference Tournament with a 35-23 record.
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Pregent starred at Father Lopez Catholic High School and then transferred to Atlantic for his senior season, graduating in 2019.
After arriving at Stetson, he became the first freshman team captain in program history. He kept that title throughout his college career, making him the only four-year captain Trimper has coached in 26 years as a manager.
COVID canceled Pregent’s freshman year after 14 games. But in his first full season in 2021, he established himself as one of the premier defensive catchers in college baseball. He didn’t commit a single error in 2022.
After batting averages of .196, .222 and .209 during his first three years, Pregent broke out with the lumber in 2023 while maintaining his defensive prowess. The result: He’s a Day 2 draft pick.
“It’s so well-deserved because of the person he is,” Trimper said. “I can’t emphasize that enough because of how great of a person this guy is as a leader and just as a representation of Stetson and now the Mets.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: New York Mets select Stetson catcher Christian Pregent in MLB Draft
