Shrewsbury native and BC Ace John West drafted by Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Shrewsbury native and Boston College pitcher John West in the 12th round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Tuesday, July 16.

Before his collegiate success, West was a standout athlete at Shrewsbury High School. He excelled in basketball and baseball, leading the Colonials baseball team to the Division 1 state final in his junior year. He also played a crucial role in the 2019 Shrewsbury Post 397 American Legion World Series team.

During his junior year, West emerged as the ace of the 2024 BC Eagles’ pitching staff. He started a team-high 14 games and recorded the lowest ERA among BC’s starting pitchers. In his senior season, West tallied five or more strikeouts in eight of his 14 starts, accumulating a team-high 66 strikeouts. He led all BC starters in ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched. His 14 starts as a senior rank seventh all-time for most single-season starts by a BC pitcher. West earned Third-Team All-ACC honors.

West’s journey to the MLB was marked by consistent improvement. He played for the Worcester Bravehearts in the Futures Collegiate League in 2020. His career highlights at Boston College include nine strikeouts over five innings against Villanova and a memorable outing at Fenway Park against Notre Dame, where he struck out four and earned a win in the ALS Awareness game.