Ryan Cusick Becomes Second-Highest Draft Pick in HiToms History
High Point/Thomasville, NC – 2020 HiTom Ryan Cusick was selected with the 24th pick in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft, becoming the 155th High Point-Thomasville player to be drafted. Cusick is the second-highest draft pick in HiToms history, behind 2002 HiTom Wade Townsend
Ryan Cusick was one of eight players selected to attend the 2021 MLB Draft in Denver, getting the opportunity to put a Braves jersey on at the Bellco Theatre in Denver. He waited through 23 selections before getting his name broadcast to the masses by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
A junior from Wake Forest, Cusick starred for the HiToms in the COVID-19-marred 2020 season. Cusick earned the CPL Pitcher of the Year award with a 1.14 ERA. Cusick dominated his opponents, striking out 40 batters in 23.2 innings. HiToms Cusick and Hogan Windish swept the CPL Hitter of the Year and Pitcher of the Year awards last season.
Out of Sudbury, Massachusetts, Cusick faced adversity in his first taste of collegiate pitching in the ACC. A freshman year 6.44 ERA shrank to 3.44 in his second season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Cusick was one of the best strikeout artists in a college rotation, putting it all together to raise his draft stock. Cusick was 4th in the ACC in total strikeouts, totaling 108 punchouts in 70 innings.
Cusick is the latest HiTom to be drafted by an MLB franchise, and just the second to be drafted in the first round. Rice pitcher Wade Townsend (’02 HiToms) was drafted 8th overall in both the 2004 and 2005 MLB Drafts. (Townsend did not sign with the Orioles in following the 2004 draft.)
Tomorrow, the HiToms will look to have more players drafted in rounds two through five. At least two players are mocked to For HiToms draft coverage, follow the HiToms’ twitter account, @HTHiToms, for the latest news on HiToms in the Draft and other note about your #HometownHiToms.