University of Iowa junior Brody Brecht was selected by the Colorado Rockies on Sunday in the Competitive Balance-A round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft. Brecht was the 38th pick overall.
Brody Brecht, a junior from the University of Iowa, made headlines after being selected by the Colorado Rockies as the 38th overall pick in the Competitive Balance-A round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft. This selection marked a significant achievement for both Brecht and the Iowa baseball program under head coach Rick Heller.
Brecht, originally from Ankeny, Iowa, showcased impressive skills during the 2024 season, where he compiled a 4-3 record with a 3.33 ERA across 15 starts. His performance included five quality starts and an impressive 128 strikeouts over 78.1 innings pitched. Notably, Brecht ranked among the top pitchers in the nation with a strikeouts per nine innings rate of 14.71, placing him fourth overall, and he was seventh in total strikeouts.
Beyond his 2024 achievements, Brecht holds the distinction of being Iowa’s all-time leader in single-season and career strikeouts. Throughout his collegiate career, he amassed 281 strikeouts across 178 innings, maintaining a 10-9 win-loss record with a career ERA of 3.49 in 32 starts.
Under Rick Heller’s guidance, Brecht becomes the 30th player drafted from Iowa, setting a new benchmark as the highest draft pick during Heller’s tenure. The University of Iowa baseball team concluded the 2024 season with a 31-23 overall record, securing a fourth-place finish in the Big Ten regular season standings and extending their streak to nine consecutive appearances in the Big Ten Tournament.
Brecht’s journey from a dual-sport athlete with Iowa’s football team to becoming a standout pitcher in college baseball has culminated in a milestone draft selection, offering promising prospects as he transitions to professional baseball with the Colorado Rockies organization.
