Abington athlete signs with Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays

Abington baseball

Penn State Abington baseball player Ryan McCarty led the entire NCAA Division III in seven categories including home runs and hits.

Credit: Penn State Abington

ABINGTON, Pa. — Penn State Abington standout and NCAA Division III National Player of the Year Ryan McCarty signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as an undrafted free agent following the Major League Baseball draft on July 19. Multiple teams showed interest in him, but the two-time All-American ultimately chose the Blue Jays.   
  
"I want people to know they can achieve anything they dream of if they truly believe it and put their mind to it," McCarty said. "I would not have accomplished this goal without the support of the Penn State Abington family who have had my back since I arrived on campus. God's plan and timing is perfect, and no matter how things work out in life you, should always trust him." 
  
McCarty, the first Abington player to sign professionally, heads to the Florida home of Toronto's single-A affiliate Dunedin Blue Jays this week for a two-week draft camp.  
  
"These are the best days for college coaches," Abington head coach David Miller said about McCarty signing with the Blue Jays. "Seeing one of your players achieve a dream makes you so emotional in a great way. I am so happy for Ryan. He will always have a home at Penn State Abington, but it's time for him to start his life as a professional athlete. We are all very proud of him and wish him the best." 
  

I would not have accomplished this goal without the support of the Penn State Abington family who have had my back since I arrived on campus.

—Ryan McCarty , student athlete, Penn State Abington

McCarty finished the 2022 season in historic fashion, winning the Division III regular season triple crown by leading the nation in batting average, home runs and RBIs. He led Division III in several offensive categories, including batting average (.529), RBIs (91), total bases (220) and slugging percentage (1.164). He finished second nationally with 100 hits, 27 doubles, 89 runs, and a .591 on-base percentage.   

McCarty set the Division III single season record with 220 total bases, and his 89 runs are second most in a single season. He was the second Division III player to ever record 100-plus hits in a single season.    

In the team's final regular season contest, McCarty tied the Division III record for most home runs in a game, launching four homers versus Gallaudet University.  He also went 6-for-7 at the plate with four runs and a career-high nine RBIs in that game. 
  
On the mound, McCarty appeared in 13 games during the season and sported a 4-2 record with four saves.  In 26.1 innings of work, he struck out 21 batters. 
  
McCarty received multiple awards last season including United East Conference (UEC) player of the year, All-UEC first team, D3Baseball.com Region 4 player of the year, D3Baseball.com All-Region 4 first team, ABCA/Rawlings Region 4 player of the year, and All-Region 4 first team. He was named the ABCA/Rawlings National Player of the Year with All-America first team honors, D3Baseball.com National Player of the Year with All-America first team status, and he was a semifinalist for USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award, a competition for the top amateur baseball player of the year nationwide. He was the only non-NCAA Division I player and only Penn State player to be nominated for the Golden Spikes. 
 
McCarty is Abington's all-time leader in batting average (.439), hits (284), doubles (77), triples (11), home runs (42), RBIs (210), runs (222) and walks (94). 
 
About Penn State Abington 

Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. With more than 3,000 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 24 majors, undergraduate research, the Schreyer honors program, NCAA Division III athletics and more.      

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