Columbia star selected in MLB draft. He now must decide between college and pro career

Recent Columbia High School graduate Dominic Voegele faces a difficult decision that would make him the envy of most athletes.

Already committed to the University of Kansas on a full ride baseball scholarship, Voegele on Tuesday heard his named called in the Major League Baseball draft. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected the former Eagles star in the 20th round at No. 595 overall.

Now, Voegele must decide between sticking with KU or beginning his professional baseball career in earnest.

“I haven’t made a final decision yet,” Voegele said Wednesday morning. “As of right now, I’m still going to KU and taking my summer classes and doing my workouts and the plans they have for me. I think everything has to be legally finalized by July 23. I feel like I’ll know for sure whether or not I’m going to go to KU this week or next week.”

Regardless of his decision, Voegele — 6-foot-2, 180 pounds — has a bright future, whether it’s in Lawrence, Kansas, or with the Diamondbacks. Hearing his name called in the draft was a thrill.

“I didn’t know it would be this late ... I figured I’d get drafted a bit earlier. But I was pumped to see it and was super excited,” Voegele said. “I was at home watching the draft with my dad and my brother. My brother was super excited. I think my dad was more shocked. My mom was actually at work. After it all happened she got a phone call and someone told her about it. She left work and came home.”

If he signs with Arizona, Voegele estimated his bonus would be in the range of $750,000 to $1 million. That seems unlikely, however, since the slot value for the final 10th round pick is $164,000.

“I don’t know what they would offer me. But I think that would be the signing range,” Voegele said.

Columbia baseball Neal O’Donnell was thrilled for Voegele.

“Obviously, I was super excited for Dom and his family,” O’Donnell said. “I don’t know what the future holds with what decision he ends up making. But when you have a player selected in the Major League draft it’s awesome to hear. It’s very gratifying but you also recognize the time and effort Dom puts into the game and you’re happy to see it pay off. All in all, this is pretty cool.”

Whatever Voegele decides, O’Donnell said KU or Arizona will get an ultra competitive player and a terrific teammate.

“Dom is probably the most competitive player that I’ve ever coached,” O’Donnell said. “They’re going to get somebody who will bring it every day. Regardless of where he ends up, they’ll be getting a great leader and a great teammate. He’s one of best teammates we have. I think everyone in our program would attest to that. I said it probably a million times this year, he’s just a great kid. I’m just happy when people like that have success.”

Voegele has a tie to the Diamondbacks after developing a relationship with one of the organization’s scouts at previous showcase events and camps. The scout also attended many of Voegele’s games at Columbia this spring.

“The Arizona scout and I are close. He has talked to me about the draft multiple times,” Voegele said. “We’ve just stayed in contact and in touch. He came to a good amount of our games this season. Every time I pitched I think he was there except maybe one or two times.

“I’d always talk to him when he was there and found time to go see him between warming up and the games starting.”

Voegele consistently throws 92-93 miles per hour while fashioning a plus slider and a curveball and changeup. If he signs with Arizona, Voegele is unsure if the Diamondbacks would project him as a starter or reliever.

“That probably would be more down the road. I feel like it would be more of a starter role. I’ve never really been a reliever or pitched in that spot but feel like I could if I had to,” he said.

Look back at CHS career

Tuesday’s news culminated an outstanding run for Voegele at Columbia.

Between playing shortstop and pitching, the two-sport standout enjoyed a spectacular season for the Eagles this spring, batting .488 with 12 home runs and 51 RBI. On the mound, Voegele went 10-0 with a 1.04 earned run average while striking 111 batters in 67 1/3 innings pitched.

His output helped the Eagles go 34-5 this spring while capturing second place in the IHSA Class 2A state tournament, which included throwing a complete-game shutout in the semifinals. For his outstanding performance, Voegele also was a first team selection for the All-State team.

Voegele also dominated on the mound in 2022, leading the metro-east in strikeouts with 113 while averaging more than 13 Ks per seven innings pitched in four postseason appearances. According to O’Donnell, Voegele’s 113 strikeouts were the most by a Columbia pitcher since Josh Mueller had 114 in 2007 en route to the state championship.

Voegele went 9-3 in 2022 while allowing just 34 hits in 65 innings pitched in helping the Eagles to a 27-8-1 mark and third place finish at the IHSA Class 2A state tournament.

He credited O’Donnell and his teammates for helping him get to this point.

“They’ve all been super encouraging and motivational,” Voegele said. “I played with a good of amount of those guys since I was young, either on the same team or against each other. Once high school came around, all of us started playing together and we just started bonding more and more and more. This year, it was pretty special to play with them one more time. To get to state again was pretty cool.”

Fun in the Mon-Clair League

Voegele currently is playing for the Valmeyer Lakers in the Mon-Clair League, primarily handling outfield duties while only pitching in a very limited role.

He recently helped the Lakers capture the Valmeyer Mid-Summer Classic championship for first in 20 years.

“It’s super fun playing for them,” Voegele said. “I played in the Fourth of July tournament the last three years. It’s always a blast to get down there and get the chance to play. Our manager always talks about three things: Ending the regular season at the top and then winning the Fourth of July tournament and the championship at end of the year.

“It had been 20 years since the Lakers last won it and our manager was on that team. It was pretty special for him.”

Otherwise, Voegele said, “I’m just playing catch every once in a while. I’ll throw a light bullpen here and there. I’m just try to slow it down and give the arm a break.”

Beyond baseball, Voegele also is a talented football player.

This past fall, Voegele rushed for 1,350 yards and 15 touchdowns on 156 carries in the fall, good for an average of 8.7 yards per rush. He also threw for 1,130 yards and 10 touchdowns while enjoying an excellent season as a kicker for the Eagles, who went 6-4 and reached the IHSA Class 4A postseason. He was an all-state selection in football as well.