BOSTON – Three standout #AEBASE performers were selected in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft over the past two days, as Caleb Leys, Zach Rogacki, and Holden DeJong all heard their names called.

This marks the third consecutive year that three former America East standouts have been drafted, the third straight year a Maine Black Bear was selected, and the second year in a row for a Binghamton Bearcat to be drafted.

Caleb Leys, the 2025 #AEBASE Pitcher of the Year from Maine, was the first off the board, selected in the 4th round (129th overall) by the Detroit Tigers. Leys is the highest America East draft pick since 2018, when former Black Bear Justin Pena was taken 102nd overall. He finished the 2025 season with a conference-best 2.69 ERA and ranked second in strikeouts with 74 over 67 innings pitched. Over his career with the Black Bears, Leys recorded 214 strikeouts in 204 innings, showcasing his consistency and dominance on the mound. He was also a key contributor to the 2023 squad, earning a spot on the America East All-Championship Team after a standout performance in the semifinals, where he threw eight innings, allowed just one run, and struck out eight to help Maine advance to the America East Championship Game and secure a bid to the Coral Gables Regional.

Zach Rogacki of Binghamton was selected in the 9th round (257th overall) by the Colorado Rockies. The 2025 #AEBASE Elite 18 Award winner led the America East in doubles (17) and sacrifice bunts (11), while also belting eight home runs. He earned First-Team All-Conference recognition and was named to the America East All-Tournament Team. After transferring from Division III Alvernia, Rogacki made an immediate impact over two seasons with the Bearcats, hitting .346 with a .427 on-base percentage. In 79 games, he collected 100 hits, including 36 extra-base hits, and drove in 56 runs. He closed out his collegiate career with 213 total hits and played a pivotal role in Binghamton’s 2025 America East Tournament run.

Holden DeJong of NJIT was selected in the 11th round, 334th overall by the Baltimore Orioles. The left-hander made six starts before a season-ending injury, finishing with a 3.41 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 29 innings. In 2024, DeJong made 17 appearances, including 12 starts, and served as the team's No. 2 starter. He ranked second for the Highlanders and sixth in the conference with 61 strikeouts, including a career-high nine strikeouts in back-to-back outings vs. UAlbany and Bryant. DeJong becomes only the second NJIT student-athlete to be selected in the MLB Draft.


ABOUT AMERICA EAST

Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.