INDIANAPOLIS – The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Butler right-handed pitcher
Ryan Pepiot in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft on Tuesday afternoon. The junior from nearby Westfield, Ind. is now the highest draft pick in Butler baseball history.
"We are so happy for Ryan," Head Coach
Dave Schrage said after the selection. "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."
Pepiot broke two school records during the 2019 season. He struck out 126 batters in 78 innings of action to set the new single-season strikeout record. The three-year weekend starter also set the career strikeout record at Butler with 306.
In 2019, Pepiot went 4-4 on the mound with a 3.92 ERA. He ranks 11th in the NCAA in total strikeouts (126) and third in strikeouts per nine innings (14.54).
Top performances in 2019 include a pair of 13-strikeout games and a season-high, seven-inning outing vs. Creighton. Pepiot struck out a career-high 13 batters at Xavier in mid-April and matched that total with 13 more in a contest at Georgetown on May 16. He struck out 10 batters against Creighton at Bulldog Park on April 12.
Pepiot showed great command on the hill during his junior campaign. He only walked one batter over four starts from March 9-29. During that stretch he struck out 39 batters. The 'Dawgs went 3-1 during those games before the start of the BIG EAST season.
Career statistics for Pepiot include a 14-8 overall record with a 3.61 ERA. He threw 219.1 innings at Butler, striking out 306 batters. Opponents only hit .209 against the right-hander. He ended his outstanding career with just 117 walks.
Pepiot is just the third player at Butler to be drafted since the program joined the BIG EAST Conference in 2013.
Connor Mitchell went in the 27th round to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 and Eric Stout was picked by the Kansas City Royals in the 13th round of the 2014 draft.
Two-time MLB all-star Pat Neshek was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the sixth round of the 2002 draft while Butler represented the Horizon League. 10 Bulldogs entered the MLB from 1980-2012.
Bulldog fans can continue to watch draft coverage on MLB.com. Rounds 3-10 will be completed today. Rounds 11-40 will begin tomorrow at 12 PM.
