Sharks’ Silva Selected By Atlanta Braves In 2022 MLB Draft
William Silva’s Major League dream is one-step closer to becoming a reality.
The right-hander, who played this past season at Miami Dade College, was selected in the 15th round of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday by the defending World Series Champions the Atlanta Braves.
Silva was the only MDC baseball player selected in the 20-round draft.
“[When] we saw my name come out, it was just a very emotional moment,” said William Silva, who was watching the draft on his laptop with his mom and sister when the pick was announced.
The 21-year-old had a breakout year for the Sharks’ this past season. He had 39 strikeouts in 22 appearances while boasting a 2.48 ERA and was selected the Southern Conference Fireman of the Year.
Like many players, he was eligible to redo his sophomore season because of COVID.
Silva came to MDC after a standout career at Miami Coral Park Senior High School. As a junior, he was selected to the All-Dade First Team by the Miami Herald while serving as a pitcher and outfielder. Silva was 5-0 with a 1.66 ERA and 44 strikeouts and he also had a .380 batting average and 17 RBI.
The following season, Silva was 6-4 with a 1.58 ERA. He struck out 64 batters in 57.2 innings and led the Rams to a 9A District 14 championship.
But Silva struggled his first two years at MDC. College players, he soon realized, were stronger and mentally tougher.
“It was a different level of baseball,” Silva said.
As a freshman, he had a lackluster 10.29 ERA in seven appearances, striking out 15 batters in 14 innings. In 2021, he had a 5.08 ERA and three saves, striking out 47 hitters in 44 innings.
However, last summer things changed. Pitching coach Bryan Morgado helped Silva fine-tune his pitching mechanics, he started relying more on his two-seam fastball, mixed in a slider and change up and channeled his favorite player’s—the late Marlin right-hander José Fernández—tenacity.
“I really liked his demeanor and I pushed myself to be like him,” Silva said. “He wasn’t afraid of anything. He just went out there and pitched.”
It worked. His performance helped power MDC to a 39-win season and they came within one win of qualifying for the national tournament.
“I am very happy and proud of William,” said Sharks’ Head Baseball Coach Adrian Morales. “He has been one of our leaders; it is nice to see one of our guys [get] drafted.”
Silva is scheduled to report to Braves minicamp at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida on Monday. That is where he will learn if he is a starter or a reliever and to what minor league team he is assigned to.
“Getting drafted is honestly the greatest opportunity any baseball player can have,” Silva said. “It doesn’t matter what team you get drafted by or what round—as long as you get the opportunity.”
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