A former Yavapai College baseball player got picked up in the Major League Baseball Draft. Riley Nelson was selected in the fifth round by Cleveland. He was the 162nd pick overall.
The Toronto-born Nelson played for the Roughriders in 2024. He hit .412 with 13 home runs, 55 RBIs, 21 doubles, two triples, 48 runs scored, and a .788 slugging percentage. He was also selected to the All-Conference First Team.
This past season, Nelson played for Vanderbilt University. He was one of the Commodores’ top hitters with a .344 average, eight home runs, 47 RBIs, 13 doubles, one triple, 48 runs scored, seven stolen bases, and a .526 slugging percentage. All those stats got him named to the All-SEC Team. They also helped Vandy attain a record of 43-18 and win the conference championship.