Holden deJong Selected to the Orioles in the 2025 MLB Draft

NJIT left-handed pitcher Holden deJong has been selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 11th round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft Monday afternoon. 

DeJong, drafted by the Orioles in the 11th round, 334th overall, is the highest-drafted Highlander to date.

Others from NJIT who played professionally include Mark Leiter, Jr., a right-handed reliever currently pitching for the New York Yankees drafted in 2013 by the Philadelphia Phillies; James Schak, picked in 1973 by the San Francisco Giants; Tripp Davis, who signed with Kansas City as an undrafted free agent in 2013; and Ed Charlton, drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2015.

This season, deJong made six starts before suffering a season-ending injury. He posted a 3.41 ERA and struck out 31 batters over 29 innings of work. On February 21, deJong allowed one run over six innings of work while striking out seven to earn his first win of the year at Sam Houston.

In 2024, he made 17 appearances on the mound, including 12 starts and finished the season as the team's number two starting pitcher. deJong ranked second on the squad and sixth in the America East with 61 strikeouts and struck out a career-high nine (twice), in back-to-back outings at UAlbany and vs. Bryant.

In three seasons at NJIT, deJong has appeared in 43 games (20 starts), striking out 117 batters and posting a 6.06 ERA.