AURORA | Recently graduated Grandview senior pitcher Ethan Wachsmann went in the third round of the Major League Baseball Draft, as the Minnesota Twins tabbed him with the No. 79 overall pick Saturday.

The hard-throwing right-hander — who signed with Wake Forest — had a gaggle of scouts watching every time he threw in the 2026 season. Riding a fastball that reached triple digits on the radar gun at times, Wachsmann performed very well with a 6-2 record with a 2.10 ERA and 66 strikeouts in just 36 2/3 innings.

The Colorado High School Activities Association Class 5A All-State first team performer, Centennial League Pitcher of the Year and Aurora Sentinel All-Aurora first teamer helped coach Scott Henry’s team win the Centennial League championship by defeating rival Cherry Creek. The Wolves’ season came to a close, however, the next week with a loss to Broomfield with a spot in the 5A Baseball Championship Series at stake.

In three varsity seasons, Wachsmann finished 15-5 with a 2.59 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 108 innings pitched. He threw seven-inning no-hitters in his junior season (against Cherokee Trail) and his senior season (against Mullen).

MLB’s site projects the 79th position in the draft to yield a contract worth approximately $1.05 million. Wachsmann can sign or go on to play in college and be drafted again in the future, a strategy that worked for former Grandview ace Kevin Gausman.

Gausman was originally taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth round of the draft after a standout season in 2010. He instead went on to play at Louisiana State, where dramatically increased his profile and two years later went with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 draft to the Baltimore Orioles.

The last player drafted out of Grandview as Gausman’s former batterymate in Greg Bird signed with the team that took him, as he passed on a chance to play at Arkansas. Bird made his debut with the New York Yankees in 2015 and played in 186 games in parts of four seasons before injuries curtailed his professional career.

Hudson Alpert, who helped Regis Jesuit win the 5A state championship and is signed to Vanderbilt, is another local prospect that could be taken before the draft concludes. Alpert made a very successful comeback from “Tommy John Lite” surgery.

Two other Colorado prep prospects went on Sunday, as Mountain Vista pitcher Keaton Maiorana went to the Milwaukee Brewers in the 15th round (461st overall) and Eaton pitcher Gunnar Garrison got picked by the Baltimore Orioles in the 18th round (530th overall).

Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports

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