San Marcos High School’s Cole Schoenwetter was selected No. 105 overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the 4th round of the 2023 MLB Draft on Monday.
“It was pretty surreal,” Schoenwetter said of being drafted. “You spend a lot of time in the weight room and on the field to make this dream come true. It’s a pretty amazing feeling being able to do this for my family and to represent the 805.”
Schoenwetter signed a letter of intent with UC Santa Barbara in the spring. If he opts for the professional contract, the fireball-throwing right-handed pitcher could join the minor league system of the Reds for the end of the 2023 season, or he will begin in the organization during the off-season to prepare for 2024.
Schoenwetter is coming off a dominant senior year with the Royals where the team won its third straight Channel League title and reached a CIF-Southern Section championship game for the first time in program history.
He ended the season with a 0.91 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 61.2 innings while holding opponents to a batting average of .101. This success earned Schoenwetter a Channel League Co-MVP honor as well as a place on the All-CIF-SS Division 3 team.
In his high school career, he ended with a 1.82 ERA across three seasons with the varsity team to go along with 211 strikeouts in 123 ⅓ innings pitched.
With the 105th pick in the 2023 #MLBDraft, the Cincinnati Reds select RHP Cole Schoenwetter from San Marcos HS (CA).
Welcome to Reds Country, Cole❗️ pic.twitter.com/NKLrwHZA4E
— Reds On The Rise (@RedsOnTheRise) July 10, 2023
His pitch mix includes a fastball that can reach the mid-90s, a spike curveball with plenty of movement and a fading changeup. The 6-foot-3 starter has also improved with the movement of his pitches throughout his high school years.
“[The Reds] are going to be a competitor,” Schoenwetter said. “I’m going to do what I can to make it to the big leagues as fast as possible. There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done, and hopefully, I can become a big leaguer and help them get into the postseason and win a World Series one day.”
Schoenwetter is the highest high school draft pick out of Santa Barbara since Santa Barbara High right-handed pitcher Kevin Gowdy in 2016. He was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies as the No. 42 pick in the second round of the 2016 draft.
Schoenwetter gained notice from MLB team scouts at scouting service camps and tournaments.
“My biggest shoutout would be to my parents,” he said. “They’ve sacrificed so much for me to be able to be in this spot… I wouldn’t be here without them.”
The 20-round MLB Draft continues through Tuesday.