SEATTLE, Wash.- The Philadelphia Phillies must have liked what they saw in Fort Myers this season as after the Phils selected FSW pitcher Marty Gair in the 13^th round of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft, the 2008 World Champs doubled down, taking the Bucs AJ Shaver in the 17^th round of the draft. 

 

Shaver goes in the 17^th round to the Phillies after earning All-American honors for FSW in 2023. Shaver had the most productive offensive season of any player in program history this year, breaking single season and career records with a .403 batting average and 19 home runs.  He also topped the previous program record with 63 RBIs on the year, but was outdone by teammate Derek Williams to finish second in that category.  Not only did Shaver leave the yard a program record 19 times, but he also slashed 24 doubles which ties current Dodgers farmhand Jose Izarra for the school's single season best mark. Also a menace once on base, Shaver swiped 28 bases this season, making him one of just five players in the NJCAA ranks with 20 doubles and 20 steals in 2023. 

 

At season's end, Shaver became the first FSW position player in program history to earn All-American honors when he was given 2^nd Team honors while also becoming the first Buc to be named the Southern Conference Player of the Year.  

 

With Shaver's selection, FSW has now had nine players drafted in the past three seasons, the most of any junior college program in Florida and fourth overall in the Sunshine State behind only Florida, Florida State, and Miami.