Hertzler and Horn Are Selected on Day 2 of the MLB Draft

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Liberty Flames pitchers Cole Hertzler and Garrett Horn were chosen during Day 2 of the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft earlier this afternoon.

Hertzler was taken in the fifth round (163^rd overall pick) by the Houston Astros, while Horn was selected in the sixth round (195^th overall pick) by the Texas Rangers.

With their selections, Liberty has now had 77 players taken in the MLB Draft during the 51-year history of its program. The Flames have had at least one player chosen in each draft since 2000, except for the 2020 draft which was limited to five rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hertzler was named to the CUSA All-Conference second team this season. The right-hander from Barto, Pa., and Liberty's No. 1 starter, made 15 appearances and 14 starts in 2024. The junior posted a 6-6 record with a 4.16 ERA over 84 1/3 innings. He struck out a team-high 94 batters, walked 33 and held opponents to a .229 batting average. He finished the year third in CUSA in strikeouts, fourth in innings pitched, fifth in opponent batting average, sixth in ERA and wins.

Hertzler also was voted to the CUSA All-Tournament team after allowing one run over 7 2/3 innings in Liberty's 9-3 win over Sam Houston in the Flames' opening game of the CUSA Baseball Championship at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park on May 29. The right-hander was in control throughout the Flames' victory. The junior scattered four hits over the longest outing of his career. The right-hander struck out five and walked three.

In his three seasons with the Flames, Hertzler posted a 10-7 record with three saves and an ERA of 4.54 over 121 career innings. Primarily a reliever during his first two seasons, he struck out 145 and walked 54 in 36 appearances.

Horn was selected to the 2022 and 2023 ASUN All-Conference second team and was named a Freshman All-American in 2022. This past season, the left-hander was 2-1 with a 4.05 ERA over 20 innings pitched before an arm injury.

For his career, the Kernersville, N.C., native posted a 13-7 record with a 3.28 ERA over 137 1/3 innings. In 36 appearances (26 starts), Horn struck out 196 and walked 81. He held opponents to a .203 batting average.

Horn posted a 6-1 record with a 1.93 ERA, the fifth lowest in program history when he was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball News and the NCBWA in 2022. His efforts helped the Flames receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Gainesville, Fla. Regional.

Schedule

Hertzler and Horn Are Selected on Day 2 of the MLB Draft

Players Mentioned

Cole Hertzler

Garrett Horn