Three Eagles headed for Major League Baseball
- Shane Harvell
- July 18, 2024
- Athletics
- Contributors: James Greco, Photography
3 – minute read
Friday night starter Davian Garcia and outfielder Ian Farrow were selected in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft, while Florida Gulf Coast University teammate Jacob Lojewski signed a free-agent deal to play professionally.
Garcia came off the board in the sixth round of the draft to the Washington Nationals, while Farrow was picked in the 14th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lojewski signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.
“We are extremely excited for our three players that have been chosen to play at the major league level,” said head FGCU baseball coach Dave Tollett. “They have been great players for us, and they are truly a class act on and off the field. We wish them the very best.”
FGCU baseball has groomed an Eagle pitcher to be selected in the draft for the second consecutive year since 2019, as Garcia joins former Eagle standouts Jason Woodward and Mason Miller.
Garcia, pick No. 170 to the Nats, donned the Green and Blue for just one season after transferring from Pasco Hernando State College for his junior campaign. He made the transition from the Eagles bullpen to his starting role almost halfway through the Atlantic Sun Conference slate.
Garcia earned ASUN First Team honors as one of only three pitchers selected across the conference to appear on the first-team list. In 16 total appearances, the junior started eight games – earning a 6-3 record, a 3.10 ERA and one save. In conference play, he held a league-leading 2.89 ERA.
The native of Oceanside, California, punched out 71 batters in 61.0 innings of work, surrendering only 20 free passes. He tossed a scoreless inning at No. 5 TCU in his first-ever appearance and picked up his first win on the road against Florida International University as the Eagles edged the Panthers 8-7. Garcia pitched seven scoring frames in a 6-0 win at Stetson University.
He was credited with a save against Kennesaw State University in March and later nearly advanced FGCU into the ASUN Championship game in May, tossing seven strong innings in a 4-3 defeat. ASUN batters managed to hit just .204 against the junior.
Farrow emerged as the second Eagle taken in this year’s draft, selected in the 14th round (pick No. 414) by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Farrow, an ASUN Second Team honoree in 2022, became a First Team All-ASUN designated hitter after leading FGCU in batting average (.375) and was second overall in homers (15) during the 2024 campaign despite missing nine games due to an injury.
He returned to anchor the third spot in the FGCU lineup as the designated hitter. Farrow was also named ABCA First Team All-Region and earned Second Team All-America status.
The senior smashed a home run in each of the three-game series at No. 5 Texas Christian University. Farrow also had two multi-home run games against Bellarmine and Austin Peay universities. The Merritt Island native produced 23 multi-hit outings, 12 multi-hit games in ASUN play.
Lojewski’s free agent signing wrapped up FGCU’s involvement in the 2024 draft, an ASUN Third Team honoree for the second time in his career.
The shortstop from West Palm Beach had seven RBI game in the regular season finale at the University of North Florida. In addition, he drove in five runs and scored the game-winner in a walk-off win over Jacksonville University to complete a sweep of the Dolphins.
He closed the season as FGCU’s leader in RBI with 55.
- Read more about FGCU’s history in the MLB Draft