By: Michael Pitts
FORT WORTH, Texas – Kennesaw State pitcher
Blake Aita was selected 177th overall in the sixth round of the 2024 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft Monday afternoon by the Boston Red Sox.
Aita's selection marks the 16
th-consecutive year an Owl has been drafted not counting the shortened 2020 MLB Draft. He is the second-straight Owl taken by the Red Sox after
Blake Wehunt was drafted in 2023.
The sophomore had a tremendous season in a KSU uniform with 16 starts and a 7-4 record in 2024. He was named to the All-Atlantic Sun First Team, the ASUN All-Academic Team and the ASUN All-Tournament Team. He was awarded a CSC Academic All-District honor following the season.
On March 9 he threw six innings allowing just four hits and zero earned runs in a win at No. 25 Kentucky. He allowed just one Lipscomb hit in 6.2 frames on May 16 against the Bisons.
Aita posted a career ERA of 4.08 with 122 strikeouts in 121.1 innings and nine wins. He is the third Owl drafted since
Ryan Coe became head coach at KSU before the 2022 campaign.
The Canton, Ga. native is the 74
th draft pick in program history.
Owl baseball enters Conference USA in 2025 in year four under Coe following a runner-up finish at the 2024 Atlantic Sun Championship. KSU finished with a 32-24 overall record, 19-10 in ASUN play and a 13-6 home record.
Kennesaw State toppled No. 10 Clemson, 18-1, on Feb. 23, handing the Tigers their worst home loss since 1936. Coe's Owls also took two of three from No. 25 and eventual SEC regular season champion Kentucky.
