Texas A&M Catcher Jackson Appel Picked In 6th Round Of MLB Draft By White Sox

All-SEC Texas A&M catcher Jackson Appel was taken in the sixth round, 169th overall by the Southside Chicago baseball team.

May 17, 2024; College Station, Texas; USA: Texas A&M Aggies seniors Ryan Targac and Jackson Appel stand near the first-base line. / Matt Guzman - AllAggies on SI

And that's one more Texas A&M Aggie to the pros.

In a draft that has seen Braden Montgomery (Red Sox, 12th overall), Chris Cortez (Angels, 45th overall), and Ryan Prager (Angels, 47th overall) find their major league homes, All-SEC catcher Jackson Appel had his name called by the Chicago White Sox in round six, 169th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft.

The White Sox are a heavily struggling team in the pros right now, 5th in the American League Central division. Youth should be a big-time positive for the 2005 World Series champions going forward.

Texas A&M's Jackson Appel (20) slides safely into second base during a NCAA College World Series game between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb., on Saturday, June 22, 2024. / Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA

And when it comes to collegiate catchers, very few come like Jackson Appel does. Appel transferred to College Station after three seasons at the University of Pennsylvania. Appel was a crucial piece of the Aggies' stifling offensive production, batting with a .331 average, with 10 home runs and 41 runs batted in, with three of those long balls coming in one game against UTSA on April 9. Appel also produced a .534 slugging percentage, 78 hits, and 48 runs scored.

The new pro from Houston was also very productive in his defensive efforts behind the dish, finishing the season with a .997 fielding percentage, one of the highest in Division I baseball.

Following his 65 games of play this year for the Maroon and White, Appel was selected to the All-SEC first team at catcher for his professional-like season.

The 2024 MLB draft still has the rest of today and tomorrow for picks to be announced, with plenty more Aggies like Evan Aschenbeck still up for grabs.