Jack Brannigan has a long way to go to become the next Shohei Ohtani, but the Marist graduate will get his chance to follow in the Los Angeles Angels superstar’s footsteps as a two-way professional baseball player.

Brannigan, who succeeded as both a position player and a pitcher at Notre Dame, was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third round with the 83rd overall pick of the 2022 MLB draft.

“They want me to continue being a two-way player, to start there and kind of see how it evolves,” Brannigan said. “I’ve played the field my whole life and I just started pitching my junior year at Marist. Pitching is kind of new to me so it’s fun to keep learning some new stuff. But I’ve always loved hitting and I want to continue doing that.

“To get the opportunity to do both is special. It’s not something a lot of people get to do. I’m excited to see how it plays out.”

A pair of former high school teammates from the Southland were drafted.

Justin Janas, Brannigan’s fellow Marist alum, was taken in the 12th round by the Atlanta Braves after starring as an infielder at Illinois.

Lincoln-Way East graduate Ryan Ritter, a shortstop, was drafted out of Kentucky in the fourth round by the Colorado Rockies. Illinois pitcher Cole Kirschsieper, Ritter’s teammate with the Griffins in 2019, was taken in the 12th round by the Miami Marlins.

“That was awesome seeing Justin get drafted,” Brannigan said of Janas. “I’ve been playing with him since we were 9 years old, so this was pretty cool for both of us.”

Brannigan, an infielder, was watching the draft at home with his immediate family, anticipating the Pirates’ pick with a good feeling.

“I kind of knew beforehand they were going to pick me, so I was just waiting for it to pop up on the TV,” Brannigan said. “It did, and then they called me to tell me ‘welcome aboard’ and all that stuff. It was definitely a cool moment.

“It’s obviously a dream come true. Being drafted and hearing my name called is something I’ll never forget.”

Brannigan hit .291 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs and added two saves this season for the Fighting Irish, helping them reach the College World Series.

“It was a special ride,” he said. “It was a culmination of a few years of hard work at Notre Dame. Every year we got a little bit better as a team, and we always talked about Omaha. It was great to finally get there.”

Ritter, meanwhile, won the NCAA’s Gold Glove at shortstop for his stellar defensive play at Kentucky, where he also hit .283 with eight homers.

The Rockies were clearly impressed, drafting him with the 116th overall pick.

Ritter had the chance to celebrate with loved ones at his Tinley Park home.

“It was exciting,” he said. “I was with my family, and we were huddling around the TV waiting for a call to happen. When I saw my name on the TV, there was a feeling of excitement, happiness and some relief, too.”

Ritter was drafted out of Lincoln-Way East by the Cubs in the 33rd round in 2019 but chose to go to college. He played a year at John A. Logan before landing at Kentucky.

“I knew the goal was to run it back again and go higher up in the draft the second time,” Ritter said. “I knew it was going to happen. I believed it.”

Ritter also believed — from a young age — that he could be a professional baseball player.

“This is my dream and I manifested it,” he said. “I just can’t wait to see what it’s like — the everyday life of baseball.”

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

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