Junior catcher Ryan McCrystal of East Carolina University was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth round (269th overall) of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft. This marks the 25th draft pick under head coach Cliff Godwin’s tenure at East Carolina.
McCrystal had a standout 2024 season with East Carolina, playing 35 games as the designated hitter and 16 games as catcher. He boasted a .346 batting average with 26 runs scored, 10 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, and 39 RBI, earning him All-American Athletic Conference Second Team honors. McCrystal continued his impressive performance in postseason play, batting .444 in the AAC Tournament and leading East Carolina with a .417 average in the NCAA Greenville Regional, earning a spot on the All-Regional Team.
As a freshman, McCrystal was part of East Carolina’s championship-winning squad in the American Athletic Conference and NCAA Greenville Regional, advancing to the NCAA Greenville Super Regional.
Under Cliff Godwin’s leadership, East Carolina has seen several players drafted into MLB, including notable picks such as Gavin Williams (Cleveland Indians, 2021), Alec Burleson (St. Louis Cardinals, 2020), and Jake Agnos (New York Yankees, 2019).
The selection of Ryan McCrystal by the Cincinnati Reds underscores East Carolina’s reputation for developing top baseball talent and continues the tradition of excellence under Coach Cliff Godwin.