Nevada starting pitcher Jason Doktorczyk was selected in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball draft Monday afternoon, going 278th overall to the Minnesota Twins.

The 6-foot-6, 230-poundDoktorczyk drew interest from scouts across the majors this season, his second at Nevada. The Seal Beach, Calif., native began his career at Division II Sonoma State before transferring to Nevada to play for coach Jake McKinley.Doktorczyk emerged as Nevada’s ace this season, becoming the Wolf Pack’s Friday starter.

Pitching at altitude in the Mountain West,Doktorczyk went 6-4 with a 3.95 ERA, the second best in the conference, this season. He struck out 91 batters over 84.1 innings while holding opposing batters to a .242 average. That earned Doktorczyk first-team All-MW honors. As a sophomore in 2023,Doktorczyk pitched to a6.45 ERA but showed flashes of his potential. A strong run at the prestigiousCape Cod League last summer garnered him attention heading into this season.

AtSonoma State in 2022, Doktorczyk went 5-1 with a 4.28 ERA and struck out 33 batters in 48.1 innings before signing with Nevada because of his fit with the Wolf Pack coaching staff. In Reno, he upped hisvelocity from the upper-80s to the mid-90s with hisability to command four pitches and stay in the strikeout being viewed as his top trait.

“I think he’s one of the better pitchers on the West Coast as it relates to his ability to just command a few pitches for strikes,” McKinley said this season. “When he throws balls, he throws them on purpose. He’s one of those guys who can strategically pitch to the edges. And he’s always ahead in the count. This is not groundbreaking stuff. In baseball, we’ve always thought if you get ahead you can be successful. He is always ahead in the court, and I think that’s what makes him good. He’s funky. He throws hard. And he’s gotten a ton better since he got here.”

Doktorczyk could return to Nevada for his senior season in 2025 to try and boost his draft stock, but he’s expected to sign with the Twins and forgo his final college season. The slot value for the 278th pick is $189,500, although teams can offer more or less.Doktorczyk should get near or above full slot as a junior with the leverage to return to school.

Doktorczyk is the third Wolf Pack pitcher to be selected in the last two drafts, joining Kade Morris, a third-round pick by the New York Mets last season, and Peyton Stumbo, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 20th round in 2023. Toward the end of this season,Doktorczyk said his life-long goal was to be drafted, which he accomplished Monday.

“It’s been my dream,” Doktorczyk said in May. “Whatever opportunity I get, I’m not going to let it down. I’m just going to give it my all. And that’s just been my mindset throughout all.”