Ryan Pepiot pitches during a game this past season. Pepiot was selected in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Collegian file photo.
CHRIS BROWN | SPORTS EDITOR | cbbrown@butler.edu
Butler baseball pitcher Ryan Pepiot on June 4 became the highest-drafted player in school history, as he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft.
The right-handed starter just completed his junior season with the Bulldogs, pitching to a 4-4 record and 3.92 ERA while striking out 126 batters in 78 innings. Pepiot, a Westfield, Indiana native, owns a cumulative 3.61 ERA and 12.6 strikeouts/nine innings ratio in nearly 220 college innings.
The Los Angeles @Dodgers selected Ryan Pepiot in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Pick 102 overall #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/iwjUUx0ZY5
— Butler Baseball (@ButlerUBaseball) June 4, 2019
In his final appearance of the 2019 season, on May 16 against Georgetown, Pepiot struck out 13 batters to set a new Butler single season strikeout record. Pepiot passed current Philadelphia Phillies reliever and 13-year MLB veteran Pat Neshek for first on the list.
On Tuesday, Pepiot passed Neshek on another list, as he was drafted three rounds higher than the veteran right-hander, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2002 draft by the Minnesota Twins.
“We are so happy for Ryan,” Butler head coach Dave Schrage said in a statement. “He has worked so hard to give himself this opportunity. It’s great to see the development he made in our program. He is not only a great player, but a great person.”
In addition to setting the new Butler single season strikeout high, Pepiot also set a program record in career strikeouts, with 306 in his three seasons with the Bulldogs.
