The recognition keeps on coming for Dalton Harper after helping SUNY Niagara win the NJCAA Division III National Championship.
First up was him being named an All-American then came him being named the NJCAA Division III Player of the Year. Now, he can add another honor to that list, MLB Draft Pick.
Harper was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 16th round with the 472nd overall pick. He is one of five catchers that the Braves selected in the 20 round draft.
The selection makes Harper the 11th SUNY Niagara player to be drafted and the first since Matt Barr was selected in 2025.
“As a coach you get into coaching to change kids’ lives,” SUNY Niagara head coach Matt Clingersmith said. “Now you’re changing another life and a dream come true. Every kid dreams of being a pro, whether it’s in their backyard tossing a baseball up or hitting in little league. … It’s awesome.”
This year, Harper hit .556 with 26 doubles, four triples, 17 home runs, 91 RBIs and 85 runs. Defensively, the catcher had 423 putouts and 31 assists for a .987 fielding percentage. He finished in the top 10 at the NJCAA Division III level in batting average, hits, runs batted in, run scored and home runs.
Late in the Thunderwolves season more and more scouts came to watch Harper, which gave Clingersmith an idea Harper could be drafted. In the predraft process, Harper worked out for the Braves, the San Diego Padres, the Texas Rangers, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Now, the Penn State commit will be forgoing his college eligibility and turning pro. Clingersmith’s expectations for Harper as he starts his professional journey are to be the same person and player he always is.
“The same thing he always does just be Dalton,” Clingersmith said. “I told him, don’t try to be superman, you’re already superman, be who you are. … I think Atlanta got a steal.”