YUMA, Ariz. – Arizona Western Matadors Baseball alum Eric Rataczak was selected on the final day of the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, going 484^th overall to the Miami Marlins in the 16^th round on Tuesday afternoon.

Rataczak played in 32 games for the Matadors in the 2022 season, helping the Matadors to 44 wins, batting .314 with four doubles and 11 RBIs. Following his time at Arizona Western, Rataczak attended Niagara University where he played his junior season in 2024.

This past spring, Rataczak led the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in batting average, hitting .396 with 14 doubles and 17 home runs, driving in 71 runs. Rataczak broke the Niagara baseball program record for hits, runs, home runs, and RBIs in a single season.

Following the season, Rataczak was named the MAAC Player of the Year and Second Team All-Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association.