ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Navy right-hander Charlie Connolly was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 20^th round Tuesday afternoon. He is the 10^th Navy baseball player to be drafted since 2003, including the eighth pitcher.   
 
"First off, I want to thank the Los Angeles Dodgers for drafting me.  It's an honor to be part of such a great organization," said Connolly.  "I would also like to thank Coach Kostacopoulos and Coach Applegate for the opportunity they gave me to come to such a prestigious institution and be part of a great baseball program. I appreciate all the time and effort they put in to help develop me into a pitcher that was considered good enough to be drafted. Finally, I want to thank the Naval Academy for a great four years and all the opportunities that I've been given. It's an honor to be a commissioned officer in the United States Navy."
 
"I, as well as all of Charlie's teammates, are truly happy for him to be recognized as a 20^th- round selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers," said Navy head baseball coach Paul Kostacopoulos.  "He is a talented baseball player who worked extremely hard to become an elite level pitcher here at Navy.  He is a tremendous young man who all of us here at the Naval Academy can be proud of on and off the field." 
 
Connolly had the opportunity to play baseball right away and delay his active-duty service commitment, but decided to commission immediately into the surface warfare community.
 
Connolly, despite battling injuries most of the year, posted a 4-1 record and a 4.50 earned run average this year, giving up just 32 hits in 36 innings pitched. He walked 16 and struck out 45 while earning Second-Team All-Patriot League honors.
 
In a junior campaign that was shortened by COVID, he made four starts and went 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA while leading the Patriot League in strikeouts with 32 in 26 innings of work.
 
As a sophomore, Connolly was 4-3 with a 3.69 ERA and allowed opponents to hit just .196 at the plate.
 
Connolly will try to follow in the footsteps of Mitch Harris, who served his commitment before becoming the first Naval Academy graduate to appear in the major leagues since 1921 when he made his major league debut for the St. Louis Cardinals on April 25, 2015. 
 
Navy Baseball Draft Picks
2003 Matt Foster - P (13th round, Toronto) 
2007 Mitch Harris - P (24th round, Atlanta) 
2007 Jonathan Johnston - C (42nd round, Oakland) 
2008 Mitch Harris - P (13th round, St. Louis) 
2008 Oliver Drake - P (43rd round, Baltimore) 
2012 Alex Azor - OF (10th round, Toronto) 
2012 Preston Gainey - P (11th round, Milwaukee) 
2015 Stephen Moore - P (10th round, Atlanta) 
2016 Luke Gillingham - P (37th round, Toronto) 
2019 Noah Song - P (4th round, Boston)
2021 Charlie Connelly - P (20th round, Los Angeles Dodgers)