After leading Fairfield baseball to a program-record 35 wins this past spring, two Stags will continue their careers in the professional ranks. Austin Pope ’20 was drafted in the 15th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, while Jack Gethings ’19 inked a free agent contract with the Kansas City Royals. The duo represent the 28th and 29th Stags in program history to sign MLB-affiliated contracts, including seven during the eight-year tenure of Head Coach Bill Currier.

Pope, who was an All-MAAC and All-New England Second Team selection as the ace of Fairfield’s pitching staff, led the Stags’ starting hurlers with a .201 batting average against and finished second on the team with four wins, 77.0 innings pitched, and 79 strikeouts.

The 18th Stag selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, Pope is in the midst of a two-week transition period before he reports to the Missoula Osprey, Arizona's Rookie Advanced affiliate in Montana.

The 2019 MAAC Player of the Year, Gethings is coming off of one of the best offensive seasons in Fairfield history. He roped a program-record 88 hits – including a record seven triples – and led the MAAC with a .364 batting average. Gethings was also an All-New England and ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team honoree.

Gethings will head to Surprise, Arizona – The Royals’ Rookie League affiliate – to begin his professional career this week in the Arizona Rookie League.