KU's Cranton, Shojinaga embrace remarkable stories which led to selections in MLB draft

LAWRENCE (KSNT) - KU baseball did not have a single player selected in the MLB draft from 2020-2023.

In the 2024 rounds, six Jayhawks were picked. The first two selected, Hunter Cranton and Kodey Shojinaga, both share incredible stories of growth in Lawrence.

Cranton was the first KU product off the board, going in round three to the Seattle Mariners. The call came after he posted impressive numbers in the spring of 2024, but it wasn't all smooth sailing for the Newport Beach, California native in college. He spent two years at Saddleback College before one with San Diego State and his final two college seasons with Kansas.

However, his first season in Lawrence was one he'll remember as the worst of his career. The Jayhawks tried out Cranton as a starter but realized he'd be better out of the bullpen. The change in role led to a stronger finish to the season and an offseason which he says saw things get better 'drastically.'

In his fifth and final year of college ball, Cranton earned four wins and seven saves while notching a 2.16 ERA. He struck out 38 batters in 25 innings pitched. The soon-to-be-pro pitcher is grateful KU's staff stuck with him.

"I think they deserve a massive amount of credit for even letting me come back," Cranton told 27 News. "It's hard to fill a roster spot when a guy struggled that much the previous year. They believed in me when it wasn't popular to do so... All the credit goes to them for sure. They stuck with me, they helped me develop along the way and I'm very grateful."

Shojinaga, sixth-round selection to the Phillies, committed to KU prior to the recent coaching change. However, he says he stuck with the Jayhawks because no one else offered. The Hawaii native proceeded to win Big 12 Freshman of the Year as a walk-on.

"I feel like I left the program better than I found it," the former Jayhawk infielder said. "...There's nothing that's really impossible and there's nothing that really can set you back. It's how hard you really want it and how much you really want it, the work you're willing to put in and the sacrifice you're willing to make."