Five Arizona baseball players and one recruit have officially turned pro after signing with their respective teams after being selected in the 2023 MLB Draft. Another player signed a free agent deal after the conclusion of the draft, and seven total Wildcats will be going pro.

Chase Davis (OF): 21st overall pick, St. Louis Cardinals ($3.62 million) 

Davis posted a phenomenal .319 batting average, with 39 homers and 132 RBIs throughout his three-year career with the Wildcats. However, in his final year, Davis was a standout for the Wildcats, batting .362 with 21 homers and 74 RBIs. After his stellar 2023 season, Davis was named to several All-American teams, along with the 2023 Pac-12 All-Conference team. A five-tool outfielder, Davis has the potential to be a big-league star, as he brings power, speed, plate discipline, defense and character with him to St. Louis. 

TJ Nichols (RHP): 6th-round pick, Tampa Bay Rays ($307,300)

Over his three years with the Wildcats, Nichols made 50 appearances and collected a 15-12 record. Nichols, a right-handed pitcher with a missile for an arm, allowed opposing hitters to hit just .267 in 206.1 innings of work. The Rays have done a phenomenal job at developing pitchers, which makes them the perfect spot for Nichols to have the opportunity to succeed.

Kiko Romero (1B): 7th-round pick, New York Yankees ($197,500)

Romero lit it up offensively throughout his 2023 campaign with the Wildcats, batting .345 with 21 homers and setting the Arizona single-season RBI record with 89. Romero brings a combination of power and defensive efficiency with him to the Yankees, which are both favorites within the Yankees organization.

Chris Barraza (RHP): 10th-round pick, Los Angeles Angels ($7,500)

Barraza began his career at New Mexico State University before transferring to Arizona following his sophomore season. Barraza made 49 appearances with the Wildcats over two seasons, posting a 7-2 record with a 5.91 ERA. Barraza was one of the better arms in the Wildcat bullpen, striking out 62 batters and holding opposing hitters to a .270 batting average.

Nik McClaughry (SS): 10th-round pick, San Diego Padres  ($25,000)

McClaughry spent three seasons with the Wildcats, playing in 177 games. He batted .299, collecting 194 hits, 95 RBIs and 165 total runs. However, McClaughry‘s slick glove made him a game-changer and he was a key factor in the Wildcats’ success. His stellar defense helped him earn the 2023 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and a spot on the Pac-12 All-Conference and All-Defensive teams following the 2023 season. 

Blake Wolters (RHP): 2nd round pick, Kansas City Royals ($2.8 million)

Blake Wolters, one of the top high school pitching prospects in the 2023 class, committed to play for the Wildcats back in July of last year. However, after being drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the second of the MLB draft, Wolters has decided to sign with the Royals rather than attend the University of Arizona to play baseball next year. 

Tony Bullard (3B): free agent deal, Miami Marlins

After going undrafted in the 2023 MLB draft, Bullard inked a minor-league deal with the Marlins. Bullard saw plenty of success with the Wildcats over his five seasons with the team. Bullard posted a career batting average of .286 with 26 homers, 119 RBIs and 119 total runs. He had the most success in his final season with the Wildcats, where he batted .328 with 12 home runs and 42 RBIs.

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