Cary-Grove grads Jack Wenninger, Ryan Ignoffo selected in MLB Draft

Cary-Grove graduates Jack Wenninger and Ryan Ignoffo were selected in the sixth and 20th rounds, respectively, of the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft in Seattle, Washington.

Wenninger, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-handed pitcher, was selected by the New York Mets in the sixth round with the 186th overall pick Monday. Wenninger just finished his junior season at Illinois.

Wenninger graduated from C-G in 2020 and played his freshman season at Murray State, where he was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference Freshman Team. He transferred to Illinois as a sophomore and mostly pitched out of the bullpen.

His junior year, Wenninger made 15 starts and was 7-4 with a 4.84 ERA in 87.1 innings, striking out 79 and walking 29. He was named to the All-Big Ten second team.

Ignoffo (5-10, 195) was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 20th round with the 593rd overall pick Tuesday. He was an All-Ohio Valley Conference first-team member this past season at Eastern Illinois and one of five finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year after playing both shortstop and pitcher.

Ignoffo, a 2018 C-G grad, helped lead EIU to its first NCAA regional since 2008 as a senior. He hit .335 with 15 homers, 60 RBIs and a single-season school record 29 stolen bases. He also pitched 44 innings with 49 strikeouts and a 4.91 ERA.