WESTFIELD, Massachusetts  (July 18, 2024) – Two Westfield Starfires alumni were selected in the 2024 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, as Justin Sinibaldi was taken in the 14th round, 409th overall, by the Chicago White Sox, and Braden Quinn was also picked in the 14th round, 434th overall, by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

It marks the third consecutive season that the Starfires franchise has had at least two alums selected in the draft, as the team saw Reggie Crawford and Pat Gallagher taken in 2022, with Crawford taken in the 1st round, 30th overall, before having a league-high five selections in 2023.

“To have nine draft picks in the last three seasons, all of players who were part of the formative years of our franchise, is a fact that we are tremendously proud of and speaks to the work our team does in identifying and developing talent. When you come to Bullens Field for a Starfires game, you know you’re seeing the stars of tomorrow,” said Chris Thompson, the team’s owner. “We are immensely proud of Justin and Braden for the work they have done to get to this special moment,” he added.

Sinibaldi was the ace of the staff on Westfield’s first-ever playoff team in 2022. He went 3-0 in nine appearances, including seven starts, in that campaign, striking out 43 against just seven walks in 43 innings and accumulating a 2.93 earned run average. The lefty from Bridgewater, New Jersey and Rutgers University was named to the 2022 Futures Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game, as well as to the All-Futures League Second Team. More recently, he was recognized as one of the selections to the franchise’s Fifth Anniversary Team.

Quinn made his collegiate-level debut with Westfield as an 18-year old in 2021 and dazzled with a 2-0 record in eight appearances, including six starts. He posted a 2.36 ERA and struck out 34 in 38 innings of work on the mound before the New Fairfield, Connecticut native went on to three strong seasons at the University of Connecticut. He joins Gallagher in Starfires from UConn to be selected, as well as 2023 draft pick Alec Baker on the list of alums selected by the Diamondbacks franchise.