LI's Rafe Schlesinger and Sean Keys among four selected on Day 2 of MLB Draft

Rafe Schlesinger experienced all of the ups and downs of the MLB Draft in just a few minutes Monday afternoon.

The University of Miami lefthander, surrounded by his family in Holbrook, expected to be picked by either the Padres or Red Sox in the fourth round. Before either team was on the clock, the Guardians swooped in and erased any uncertainty.

Cleveland selected Schlesinger, a Sachem East High School alum, with the 113th overall pick.

“It’s an overwhelming feeling of pride, joy,” Schlesinger said. “It’s a lot of hard work and a lot of setbacks and doubters that set the way. That moment just felt like I got the last laugh.

“There’s still more work to be done and more laughs coming.”

The 6-3 Schlesinger, who finished his junior season, will forgo his remaining eligibility to sign with Cleveland. The 113th pick has a $643,500 slot value.

Schlesinger, 21, spent the last three seasons at Miami, though this past season was his first as a starter. The southpaw sidearmer made 15 starts, going 5-5 with a 5.83 ERA, a 1.68 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 78 2⁄3 innings, by far the most of his collegiate career. He walked 25 and hit 21 batters.

Schlesinger has a fastball that tops out at 97 mph, a slider and a changeup.

He was a force for Sachem East, earning Newsday All-Long Island first-team honors and the Paul Gibson Award as Suffolk’s top pitcher in 2021.

Schlesinger said both he and Cleveland believe he can be a starter. “I’m excited to get to the bigs one day and help them win a World Series,” he said.

Keys to Blue Jays

Bucknell third baseman and Harborfields product Sean Keys was one of the best hitters in the NCAA this past season. Now he will take his talents north of the border.

The Blue Jays selected Keys in the fourth round with the 125th overall pick. Keys, who completed his junior season, will forgo his senior year to sign with Toronto. The 125th pick is slotted at $572,200.

“Super-excited,” Keys said. “I’m glad to be able to spend the time with my family in that moment, and I’ve talked to a lot of people with the Blue Jays and really enjoyed what they were saying. They seem to really like me as a player, and I’m super-pumped.”

Keys, 21, slashed .405/.535/.798 in 46 games this spring. His batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS (1.333) each ranked in the top 15 in Division I.

Keys had 13 home runs, 57 RBIs, 35 extra-base hits and 44 runs scored. He had more walks (35) than strikeouts (26) and was named the Patriot League Player of the Year.

“Any MLB team that gives Sean a chance won’t regret it,” former Harborfields coach Casey Sturm said.

A pair of Friars

St. Anthony’s had not one but two of its former players taken at the end of Day 2.

The Athletics chose Boston College outfielder Cameron Leary (Bethpage) with the 286th overall pick in the 10th round. Seventeen picks later, the Mariners selected North Carolina outfielder Anthony Donofrio (Massapequa).

“Who would have thought that two kids from St. Anthony’s would be able to go in the same round of the draft this year?” Leary said.

The 286th pick is slotted at $186,400 and the 303rd at $181,100.

Leary, 22, had a 1.001 OPS, 15 homers and 23 stolen bases this year. His father, Rob Leary, was drafted by Oakland in the 27th round in 1991. The younger Leary spent a year at P27 Academy in South Carolina after four at St. Anthony’s.

Donofrio, 24, started at Division III Cortland from 2019-20 before starring at Quinnipiac in 2023 and UNC this past season. He slashed .326/.435/.547 with seven homers and 53 RBIs.

By Ben Dickson

benjamin.dickson@newsday.com@bendickson__

Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.