NU Notes: McConnaughey Taken in Fourth Round of MLB Draft by Texas Rangers
Nebraska junior Mason McConnaughey was selected in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Texas Rangers on Monday morning. McConnaughey, who became the eighth fourth-round selection in NU history, was the No. 115 pick overall in the draft.
McConnaughey becomes the sixth Husker pitcher under head coach Will Bolt to be drafted in the first 10 rounds, joining Spencer Schwellenbach (2nd, 2021), Cade Povich (3rd, 2021), Emmett Olson (4th, 2023), Jace Kaminska (10th, 2023) and Brett Sears (7th, 2024).
The junior is the fifth Husker to be selected by the Rangers in the draft. McConnaughey went 1-1 in three starts in 2025 before suffering a season-ending injury vs. Sam Houston at the Frisco Classic.
McConnaughey began the 2025 campaign as a two-time preseason All-American and the first Husker named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List since 2016. The right-hander earned second-team All-Big Ten accolades after going 9-3 with a 3.45 ERA in 17 appearances, including 11 starts in 2024.
The Topeka, Kan., native totaled 91 strikeouts and held opposing hitters to a .239 batting average in 73 innings in 2024. As a second-team All-Big Ten honoree in 2024, McConnaughey struck out nine or more batters in five starts, including three games with at least 10 strikeouts and a season-high 11 against Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament.
Broderick Selected in 14th Round of MLB Draft by Colorado Rockies
Nebraska junior Luke Broderick was selected in the 14th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Colorado Rockies with the No. 407 pick overall in the draft on Monday afternoon.
Broderick becomes the eighth Husker pitcher under head coach Will Bolt to be drafted after Mason McConnaughey was selected by the Texas Rangers in the fourth round.
The junior is the fourth Husker to be selected by the Rockies in the draft. Broderick earned second-team All-Big Ten recognition and was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team and NCBWA’s Preseason and Midseason Stopper of the Year Watch Lists in his first season with the Huskers in 2025.
The right-hander went 4-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 27 relief appearances and totaled 13 saves, which ranks tied for third-most in a season and sixth all-time in program history. Broderick totaled 43 strikeouts in 36 innings and held opposing hitters to a .225 batting average.
Prior to joining the Huskers, Broderick was selected to the USA NJCAA All-Star Team and helped Team USA to a championship appearance at the historic Honkbalweek Haarlem last summer. The Omaha, Neb., native appeared in one game for the Stars and Stripes, allowing three hits with six strikeouts in 3.1 scoreless innings.
