From Bishop Carroll to the MLB Draft, Paul Schoenfeld keeps proving he belongs
Paul Schoenfeld never stayed satisfied with the level he had reached.
The Wichita native turned one season at Butler Community College into an opportunity at Division II Colorado Mesa, then used a breakout season to earn a place in the heart of West Virginia’s lineup.
On Sunday, that steady climb carried the Bishop Carroll graduate into professional baseball.
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Schoenfeld in the eighth round of the MLB Draft with the No. 236 overall pick.
The 5-foot-11, left-handed-hitting outfielder became West Virginia’s everyday center fielder and No. 3 hitter during his lone season with the Mountaineers. Known for his speed and relentless pursuit of balls in center field, Schoenfeld earned second-team all-Big 12 honors after batting .327 with a .422 on-base percentage.
His most memorable swing came with West Virginia’s season on the brink.
Facing elimination against Kentucky in NCAA regional play, Schoenfeld hit a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth inning as part of a five-run rally that lifted the Mountaineers to an 11-9 victory.
West Virginia returned the following day and defeated Kentucky 6-5 in 10 innings to advance to the Super Regionals. Schoenfeld added two hits and two RBIs in the regional-clinching victory.
The Mountaineers went on to win their Super Regional in Morgantown and advance to the College World Series for the first time in program history. West Virginia finished its historic season with a 47-17 record.
Schoenfeld finished the year with 83 hits, 48 runs, 52 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. He hit only four home runs, but the final one of his college career became one of the biggest swings in West Virginia history.
His rise to the middle of a Big 12 lineup was built by producing at every stop.
Schoenfeld began his college career at Butler, where he showed an early combination of power and speed with nine home runs and 17 stolen bases in 2022.
He then transferred to Colorado Mesa and developed into a standout during a three-year career. Schoenfeld started 100 games from 2023-25 and totaled 16 home runs, 108 RBIs, 156 runs and 34 stolen bases.
His breakthrough came during his final season at Colorado Mesa, when he batted .420 with 89 runs, nine home runs, 55 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. That production earned him the chance to test himself at West Virginia for his final college season.
Schoenfeld responded by moving from the Division II level to the No. 3 spot in a Big 12 lineup, helping the Mountaineers make program history and putting together a season that earned him an opportunity in professional baseball.
After signing, Schoenfeld is expected to report to the Diamondbacks’ player-development complex in Arizona before receiving his first minor-league assignment. He will begin his professional career somewhere in a Diamondbacks farm system that includes affiliates in Visalia, California; Hillsboro, Oregon; Amarillo, Texas; and Reno, Nevada.
Wichita State’s Jayson Jones drafted by Chicago White Sox
Jayson Jones needed only one season at Wichita State to turn his power into an opportunity in professional baseball.
The Chicago White Sox selected the Shocker third baseman in the eighth round of the MLB Draft on Sunday with the No. 225 overall pick.
Jones became one of the American Conference’s most feared hitters after transferring to WSU from Oklahoma State. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound slugger batted .355 with 15 home runs, 56 RBIs, 54 runs scored and a 1.013 OPS.
His impact was immediate. Jones homered in each of Wichita State’s first four games, driving in 12 runs during an opening-weekend sweep of Northern Colorado. He remained the centerpiece of the Shocker lineup and finished tied for second in the conference in home runs and RBIs.
Jones was rewarded with first-team all-conference honors, the league’s Newcomer Position Player of the Year award and all-region recognition.
The Texas native began his college career at Arkansas before spending the 2025 season at Oklahoma State. After batting .217 with five home runs for the Cowboys, Jones found his best form at Wichita State.
Now his combination of raw power and arm strength will give him a chance in the White Sox organization.
This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 1:35 PM.
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