Even though it took another nine rounds to see another ASU baseball player selected at the 2024 MLB Draft after catching commit Nick Montgomery landed with the Atlanta Braves in the fifth round, another Sun Devil was eventually chosen.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Ryan Schiefer, a junior right-handed pitcher for Arizona State, was drafted with the No. 426 pick in Round 14 by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Schiefer ➡️ Tampa Bay
Congrats to Ryan Schiefer on being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays!#MLBU /// #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/51P0CQNbqF
— Sun Devil Baseball (@ASU_Baseball) July 16, 2024
Schiefer went to Campo Verde High School in Gilbert where he pitched 42.2 innings across three varsity seasons. He racked up 68 strikeouts and 54 in just his senior season in 2021.
After graduating high school, he stayed in Arizona and committed to GCU. For the Lopes, the 6-foot-3, 175-pounder posted a 5.87 ERA with nine strikeouts in 7.2 innings in his freshman year.
Looking for more playing time in his sophomore season, Schiefer would then transfer to Central Arizona College in Coolidge in 2023 and appeared in 15 games, striking out 33 opposing batters in 16.2 innings.
Continuing to switch schools, he transfered for a second time as he committed to ASU when he was a junior this past season. In the most games he played in one season collegiately, Schiefer pitched in 23 games and 42.1 innings, accumulating 47 strikeouts, 18 strikeouts, three saves and a 1-3 record as a reliever.
With him now being drafted, Schiefer could elect to begin his professional career in the minors or remain in college for a fourth season in 2025.
Either path he goes, the Gilbert native was selected by a Rays organization whose develops underrated talent arguably better than most in the MLB. They might not have the flashiest names on the roster, but they have formed teams who made the playoffs each season since 2019.
Schiefer joins Montgomery, ASU catcher Ryan Campos (No. 109 pick, St. Louis Cardinals) and outfielder Nick McLain (No. 78 pick, Chicago White Sox) as three ASU players drafted this year.
Braves draft ASU commit Nick Montgomery in fifth round out of high school
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
