SPRINGFIELD – Maddox Molony is on the path to Motown.
The 2023 Thurston High School graduate was drafted by Detroit in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday. The shortstop was selected with the 187th pick of the draft.
“Just excited,” Molony said. “I have been waiting for this opportunity and I got the call. Nothing but smiles.”
The 6-foot-2, 208-pound Molony expects to sign with the Tigers and forgo his senior season at Oregon.
“That’s the plan,” he said. “I am excited to get going.”
The two-time, all-conference selection played in 160 games for the Ducks while batting .281 with 37 home runs and 115 RBI. He earned all-conference honors during his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Molony said he had talked to the Tigers during the pre-draft process and got a text from his advisor that the Tigers were set to take him in the sixth round.
“He told me that my pick was up and then I looked at the screen and saw my name come up,” he said.
The slot value for Molony’s selection is $347,300 so he will likely sign with the Tigers soon and begin his career in the minor leagues.
Two former Springfield Drifters who were teammates of Molony’s at Oregon were also taken in the draft.
Second baseman Ryan Cooney was picked by Toronto with the 103rd overall pick in the third round. He batted .312 with 20 homers and 104 RBI in three seasons with the Ducks.
Cooney batted .351 for Springfield in 2023 after his senior season at Jesuit High School before he arrived at Oregon. He is the highest-drafted player ever for the Drifters.
Outfielder Jack Brooks was picked by the Washington Nationals in the 19th round with the 556th overall pick. He batted .232 with six homers and 35 RBI as a junior with the Ducks.
Brooks played for the Drifters last summer and batted .282 in 42 games. He set the club record with 12 doubles and 32 walks as well as 30 RBI.
