The Miami Marlins selected incoming Tennessee baseball transfer signee Eric Rataczak with the 19th pick in the 16 round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Tuesday night. It is unclear whether the Niagara first baseman will sign with Miami or opt to play one more collegiate season at Tennessee.
Rataczak committed to Tennessee baseball last week over Wake Forest and other SEC schools. The first baseman took visits to first Wake Forest and then Tennessee before committing to Tony Vitello and his staff.
Despite already having committed to Tennessee, there was no certainty that Rataczak would make it to campus. A rising redshirt senior, Rataczak is already 23-years old and an older MLB Draft prospect. After committing to Tennessee, Rataczak discussed balancing his desire to play a season in the SEC with his desire to play professional baseball with RTI.
Last season at Niagara, Rataczak won MAAC Player of the Year honors by hitting .396 with 17 home runs, 32 extra-base hits and 71 RBIs. The left-handed hitting first baseman posted a .396/.485/.696 while posting a 8.7% strikeout rate and 11.7% walk rate.
Rataczak has one of the more wild college baseball journeys imaginable. He started his college career as a student playing club baseball at the University of San Diego before playing at both Wabash Community College in Illinois and Arizona Western Community. The power hitting first baseman went back to San Diego and played more club baseball before transferring to Niagara before the 2024 season.
Rataczak is one of five commits that Tennessee baseball’s added in the transfer portal to date. The Vols have landed a number of key infielders in the portal. In addition to Rataczak, Tennessee landed Ole Miss third baseman Andrew Fischer and Louisville middle infielder Gavin Kilen.
It’s been a fantastic MLB Draft for Tennessee baseball. The Vols led the way with the most players drafted through both the first and second day of the draft. Christian Moore and Blake Burke went in the first round, Billy Amick and Kavares Tears went in the second round, Drew Beam went in the third round, Kavares Tears went in the fourth round, AJ Causey went in the fifth round and Aaron Combs went in the eighth round.
Things also went well for Tennessee’s highly touted signing class as just three Vol signees have been selected.
