A former Fresno State baseball player may not have to travel far to continue his professional career.
Monday, the Colorado Rockies selected two-way player Tommy Hopfe in the 9th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.
The big picture: Hopfe joins the Rockies after four years with the Diamond ‘Dogs, where he earned All-Mountain West honors in back-to-back seasons.
- He had a .329 batting average throughout his collegiate career, totalling 194 hits, 41 doubles, 6 triples and 23 home runs to go along with a .536 slugging percentage and a .408 on-base percentage.
- Hopfe also pitched 92.2 innings throughout his career, posting a 4.86 ERA with 78 strikeouts.
- During the 2024 season Hopfe was Fresno State’s primary first baseman and led the team with a .360 batting average as the Diamond ‘Dogs won the Mountain West Championship.
State of play: Hopfe’s selection in the 9th round continued decades of consistent production from Fresno State, marking the 22nd straight season with at least one Bulldog selected in the first 10 rounds of the draft.
- The Rockies, who were founded in 1993, have now selected nine players out of Fresno State.
What we’re watching: With the Fresno Grizzlies serving as the Rockies’ Single-A affiliate, Hopfe could soon find himself playing at Chukchansi Park as he works his way through the Minor Leagues.
- He could follow a similar path to former Diamond Dog EJ Andrews, who played for the Rockies rookie league team in 2021 for a short stint after he was drafted before heading to the Grizzlies in 2022.
