Bimbi, Burns, Burleson selected on day three of 2024 MLB Draft

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A trio of WKU pitchers had their childhood dreams come true as they were selected on day three of the 2024 MLB Draft.

Left-handed pitcher Jacob Bimbi was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 11th round with the 324th pick while right-handed pitcher Mason Burns was scooped up by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 14th round with the 411th pick. Right-handed pitcher Grant Burleson rounded out the day for the Hilltoppers as an 18th round selection, 553rd overall, by the Houston Astros.

Overall, they are the 60th, 61st, and 62nd Hilltoppers to be chosen in the MLB Draft all time, including four during coach Marc Rardin’s two seasons on The Hill. CJ Weins was taken by the Boston Red Sox with the 178th pick in the sixth round in 2023, marking the first time Hilltoppers have been selected in consecutive drafts since Jacob Rhinesmith was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 18th round in 2018 and Jake Sanford was drafted by the New York Yankees in the third round in 2019.

Bimbi is the first Hilltopper to be drafted by the Pirates since Johnny Vance in 1971 while Burns is the first Hilltopper to be selected by the Cardinals since Danny Hudzina in 2016. Burleson is the first Hilltopper to be taken by the Houston Astros in WKU program history.

This marks the first time in 13 years WKU has had at least three players selected in the draft as Kes Carter, Phil Wetherell, Matt Rice, Logan Robbins, Chris Bullard, and Brian Edelen were all taken in the 2011 MLB Draft.

Bimbi started his career at Wabash Valley Community College before transferring to Tennessee for his junior season. He made 15 appearances on the mound and produced a 5.27 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched in one season for the Volunteers. The Crystal Lake, Ill. Native transferred to WKU for his final year of eligibility and helped the Hilltoppers achieve their most prolific season since 2009.

The southpaw made 14 starts, the most of any Hilltopper pitcher, and posted a 4-2 record with 72 strikeouts in 54.2 innings while earning wins against Bradley, Purdue Fort Wayne, FIU, and No. 8 Dallas Baptist. His best outing of the season came in a series-clinching win over the Patriots on April 6 when he tossed 5.2 scoreless frames and struck out eight batters with only one walk allowed.

After starting his career at Illinois State, Burns transferred to The Hill ahead of the 2023 season and appeared in 51 games during his two years as a Hilltopper. The senior closer finished off a historic 2024 campaign as the go-to guy out of the Hilltopper bullpen following an outstanding junior season in 2023. The right-hander’s 15 saves marked the most in a single season in program history, breaking the record previously held by Ian Thompkins, who had 14 in the 2014 season. His 19 career saves are the second-most by a Hilltopper pitcher in program history. Overall, Burns totaled a 3.40 ERA with a 9-5 record in 90.0 innings while recording 118 strikeouts during his time at WKU.

Prior to the start of the 2024 season, Burns was known as one of the top relief pitchers in the country as he was recognized by multiple media outlets including being named to Perfect Game USA’s “Top 75 College Seniors”, coming in at #48 on the list, as well as being selected to the Conference USA Preseason All-Conference Team as a relief pitcher. The recognition continued following the end of the 2024 season as Burns was one of 10 players selected as an NCBWA Stopper of the Year Finalist, an award given annually to the top relief pitcher in Division I baseball while also being named an NCBWA All-American and an NCBWA All-Midwest Region First Team member.

Burleson came to The Hill for his junior season following a two-year stint at Columbia State Community College. He made 17 appearances with 13 starts on the mound and totaled a 4-1 record with two complete games. In 2024, the right-hander appeared in 20 games while making four starts on the mound as one of the premiere arms out of the bullpen for the Hilltoppers. The Summertown, Tenn. Native posted a 2-1 record and struck out 39 batters in 34.0 innings of working with only 10 walks allowed. The right-hander fanned five batters in 3.2 frames against Middle Tennessee on April 27 to claim his second winning decision of the season.