Four pitchers, two schools

When University of Maryland junior right-hander Mike Shawaryn was selected in the fifth round (148th overall pick) by the Boston Red Sox in last month’s MLB draft, his former teammate, 2016 Gloucester Catholic graduate Tyler Mondile, texted him congratulations.

Twenty picks later, Shawaryn, Gloucester Catholic Class of 2013, returned the favor, as the right-hander Mondile was selected in the same round, 168th overall, by the Cincinnati Reds.

Shawaryn and Mondile were two of the four pitchers taken in the annual draft, previously on the mound for local Catholic high schools, that hope to soon push off the rubber in the big leagues.

University of North Carolina junior Zac Gallen, Pennsauken’s Bishop Eustace Prep Class of 2013, was picked by the Saint Louis Cardinals in the third round (106th overall), and San Jacinto (Texas) North Community College left-hander Devin Smeltzer, a 2014 graduate of Bishop Eustace, was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers (fifth round, 161st overall).

Four pitchers. Two schools.

This year, Mondile finished the season 6-1 with a 0.87 ERA, and 65 strikeouts and nine walks in 47 innings for the Rams. He is a Florida State recruit, but at press time, the 18-year-old expected to sign with the Reds, and shortly fly out to California for rookie ball.

Mondile credited his success to his father, who “has done anything and everything for me. I learned the changeup at 7 years old,” and the slider later on, he said.

He also said working with Shawaryn benefited him in “pushing me, helping me to get better,” he said.

Shawaryn, 21, was 6-3 with a 3.18 ERA this season for the Maryland Terrapins, striking out 97 with 26 walks in 99 innings. In his three years at the school, he set career records for wins (30), strikeouts (307) and innings pitched (307 1/3).

Gallen, 20, was 5-6 this season as a junior for North Carolina with a team-low 2.68 ERA. In his 90 2/3 innings pitched, he had 95 strikeouts and 21 walks.

Smeltzer, 20, was 9-3 with a 1.18 ERA this season as a sophomore for San Jacinto North, with 128 strikeouts and 23 walks in 91 2/3 innings.