Oakland, Calif.----Wingate University redshirt sophomore right-hander Corey Avant has made history for the Wingate University Bulldogs, being drafted in the ninth round of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft Monday afternoon by the Oakland Athletics. Avant was the 256th overall pick of the draft. He is the highest draft pick in Wingate's history as an NCAA Division II university, becoming only the second in the D2 era to be selected on day two of the draft, joining Brody McCullough, who was drafted by the Cubs in the 10th round of the 2022 draft. Avant was the first player in all of NCAA Division II to be selected in the 2023 draft.

"Thanks to my family, Coach Gregory and Coach White, and all the coaches at Wingate and prior, my teammates and the Oakland A's organization," Avant says. "I'm excited for this next chapter, and I can't thank Wingate University enough!"

"I'm thrilled for Corey to be selected in this year's Major League Baseball draft," head coach Jeff Gregory says. "He's worked extremely hard over his time here to realize this goal. I'm really happy for him at this moment and for what his future brings for him in professional baseball."

Avant is the seventh Bulldog to be drafted since the 2012 season and gives Wingate a draft pick for the third straight year, after McCullough went in the 10th round last year and Hunter Dula was selected in the 18th round of the 2021 draft to the San Francisco Giants. In addition, Tommy McCollum signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2021. Avant is the 24th player in Wingate history to be drafted. In Wingate's recent history, All-American outfielder Dodson McPherson went in the 30th round of the 2012 draft, while All-American Thomas Spitz was taken by the Cardinals in the 32nd round in 2015. Two-time All-American Shane Billings went in the 13th round of the 2016 draft, which was previously the highest draft pick from Wingate as an NCAA Division II school. Left-handed pitcher Kory Behenna was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 25th round of the 2017 draft. Prior to Wingate's Division II days, Jim Fortenberry went in the fifth round of the 1984 draft. Ron Grout went in the sixth round of the 1977 winter draft, when Wingate was a junior college. Richard Motsinger was a first-round pick in the 1969 winter draft.

A two-time All-SAC honoree, Avant has also earned Academic All-America honors each of the last two years. He made a team-high 23 appearances on the mound for the Bulldogs in 2023, notching four saves and adding a win. Avant piled up 57 strikeouts in 39 innings of work, holding opponents to a .264 average. He went 3-1 with two saves and a 3.41 ERA in 2022, striking out 51 in 29 innings of work. In his two years at Wingate, Avant struck out 108 strikeouts in 68 innings of work.

Avant has accumulated a 4.00 GPA at Wingate, majoring in Mathematics. A two-time SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree has been named to the Wingate President's List all six semesters of his career. He was a Commencement Marshal at the 2023 Wingate University Graduation ceremony. The two-time Academic All-America honoree is also a two-time Academic All-District selection.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 38 undergraduate majors as well as seven master's and four doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; the Thayer School of Education; and the School of Sport Sciences. 
 
Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 15 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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