Jake Jekielek, Derek Clark, Griffin Kilander and Zach MacDonald Selected in 2024 MLB Draft
Jake Jekielek, Derek Clark and Griffin Kilander
By Mark H. Stowers – Royal Oak Leprechuans Media & Public Relations Director/ Public Address
Draft day continued for Royal Oak Leprechaun alumni and current players. Zach MacDonald from the 2021 team, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in round 15, the 446th pick overall. Griffin Kilander a 2022 and 2024 Leprechaun was taken by the Boston Red Sox in the 16th round, the 447th overall pick.
Kilander played collegiately at Wayne State University where he Played three seasons. He appeared in 34 games, started 23, 14-6 record. In 154.2 IP, 3.61 ERA, 136 strikeouts to 43 walks. With the Leprechauns, Kilander pitched in three games this season winning one and pitched 10.1 innings with 13 strikeouts.
MacDonald was a 2021 Great Lake Summer Collegiate League All Star outfielder for the Leprechauns. He played collegiately at Miami University. He spent the 2022 season playing for the Kalamazoo Growlers in the Northwoods League. A three-year starter at Miami (OH), MacDonald slashed .337/.462/.683 across 54 games this spring with the RedHawks. While driving in 62 RBI, MacDonald tied the program record with 20 home runs and ended his career second all-time with 43 home runs.
A First-Team All-MAC and MAC All-Defensive Team member, MacDonald led the MAC in slugging percentage, while finishing second in home runs and OPS. For his stellar year, MacDonald was the first Miami player to be named to the ABCA/Rawlings East All-Region since 2012.
Jake Jekielek, a member of this year’s team who was recently selected as a Northwoods LeagueAll Star was drafted by the Texas Rangers as the 315th pick overall in the 10th round. Earlier, former player, Derek Clark – a member of the 2021 team – was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels with the 262nd pick overall in the ninth round. Both players were coached collegiately and with the Royal Oak Leprechauns by Jonathan Vance at Northwood University.
Jekielek has been a stalwart reliever for the Leprechauns this season. Now in his second season in the NWL having played with Battle Creek last season. He’s been on fire on the mound appearing in 13 games garnering two wins, one loss and seven saves over 24.2 innings pitched. He’s given up only 10 hits and four runs (two earned runs) while collecting 29 strikeouts, giving up 10 walks to post a .073 ERA.
The Northwood University senior reliever has a career 4.46 ERA in 105 innings over 70 appearances.
Clark spent one season at West Virginia University after transferring from Division II Northwood University. A left-handed pitcher, Clark tossed four complete games, throwing 97.2 innings with a 3.23 ERA. He finished with 91 strikeouts while walking only 23 batters. Clark, a 5-foot-9 left-handed pitcher, became the first former Northwood player taken since 2019, when the St. Louis Cardinals took David Vinsky in the 15th round.
He holds Northwood records for career wins (23), innings pitched (264) and strikeouts (259). He also holds season records for innings pitched (103) and strikeouts (104). He was named an NAIA all-American in 2023.
