Hampson Selected By Mets In 18th Round

Wenatchee AppleSox infielder/pitcher Jace Hampson got to realize a dream come true when he was selected by the New York Mets in the 18th round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Tuesday.

Hampson, an incoming freshman at Everett Community College, made his AppleSox debut last Tuesday by appearing at third base against the Edmonton Riverhawks. He then made back-to-back starts at shortstop before making his summer pitching debut last Saturday against the Cascade Collegiate League Showcase team, striking out three hitters on just 17 pitches. Thirteen of those pitches went for at least 90-miles per hour, including hitting 94-miles per hour on his first pitch of the game.

The Snohomish native was the eighth-best prospect in Washington and the second-best at shortstop. Perfect Game also had him as the eighth-best prospect and the best at third base. Hampson hit .393 in nine games as a senior at Lynwood High School this spring and also did not allow any runs in three appearances with 30 strikeouts, three walks and five hits allowed over 13.2 innings.

Hampson joines Matt Halbach as players to have suited up for the AppleSox to be selected in the 2024 MLB Draft. Twenty two former AppleSox players have gone on to appear in at least one MLB game.