Junior right-handed pitcher Michael Salina made history for St. Bonaventure on Monday afternoon, becoming the highest MLB Draft pick in program history after being selected in the fourth round by the San Diego Padres.
Chosen 130th overall, the Webster, N.Y. native is the first Bonnie to be drafted since 2017, when Aaron Phillips was taken in the ninth round by the San Francisco Giants—previously the program’s top pick. Salina is now the 17th player in school history to be drafted.
He also stands out as the highest-selected player from the Atlantic 10 Conference in this year’s draft.
“St. Bonaventure baseball is a place where players can pursue a path to professional baseball, and Michael being picked in the fourth round is proof of that,” Bonnies head coach Jason Rathbun said. “We’re incredibly happy for him and his family. They trusted in our program, and we believed in him. He’s helped establish a new standard for our team’s future, and we couldn’t be prouder.”
Entering the 2024 season, Salina was recognized by Perfect Game and D1Baseball as the top MLB Draft prospect in the A-10. In his debut season with the Bonnies, he recorded 64 strikeouts in 58.1 innings, leading the team in both categories.
Renowned for his high-velocity fastball—hitting triple digits in fall workouts—Salina averaged nearly 10 strikeouts per nine innings and ranked among the top 10 in the conference for strikeouts in 2024.
His 2025 season was cut short by injury, limiting him to four starts. He struck out 26 batters in 17.1 innings before undergoing Tommy John surgery in the spring. He will now continue his recovery within the Padres organization.
Salina is the first St. Bonaventure player ever drafted by the Padres, whose minor league affiliates include teams in Lake Elsinore (A), Fort Wayne (High-A), San Antonio (AA), El Paso (AAA), and a rookie league squad in Arizona.
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