2023 MLB Draft | Louisville Baseball Recap

The 2023 MLB Draft is now complete, and here are all the players with Louisville ties that were selected:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 2023 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft is now officially in the books. Despite the draft getting a permanent reduction to only 20 rounds last year, it still had a heavy Louisville presence.

In total, four University of Louisville baseball players were drafted. It's the lowest amount of Cardinals taken in a draft through 20 rounds since they had just three taken during this span in 2015. Also for the first time since 2015, Louisville had no high school commits drafted.

Below is a list of every player who was taken in the draft. All draftees have until August 1st to sign their tender:

Christian Knapczyk

Selection: No. 161 overall, 5th round
Organization: Cleveland Guardians
Position: Shortstop

While Louisville did not have anyone selected on the first day of the draft, we didn't have to wait very long on day two for the first Cardinal to come off the board. Knapczyk had the honor of being the 100th MLB Draft selection during the Dan McDonnell era at UofL.

The 5-foot-9, 165-pound middle infielder has been one of the most reliable and consistent leadoff batters in the ACC for the last two years. This past season as a junior, he hit .331/.455/.408 with one homer, 24 RBI, eight doubles, a triple, 21 walks and a team-high 19 stolen bases in 45 games and 44 starts. His stolen base mark was good for fifth in the ACC, while his 19 hit-by-pitches came in second in the league and 29th nationally.

Tate Kuehner

Selection: No. 212 overall, 7th round
Organization: Milwaukee Brewers
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher

Despite not being viewed as a top-300 prospect by either MLB.com or Baseball America, that's exactly where Kuehner landed in the draft. Transitioning from a pseudo-starter role in 2022, the 6-foot-1 and 195-pound southpaw wound up being one of Louisville's better relievers this past season.

Making 19 overall appearances and two starts, Kuehner posted a 3.99 ERA over 38.1 innings pitched, while striking out 54 batters and only allowing 21 walks. Despite allowing multiple earned runs in five of his outings, 12 of his appearances on the year were clean sheets.

Ryan Hawks

Selection: No. 247 overall, 8th round
Organization: Seattle Mariners
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Shortly after Kuehner became the first pitcher off the board in this year's draft, Hawks was next, assuring that Louisville has had at least three players selected in each draft since McDonnell took over in 2007.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound right-hander started the 2023 season as Louisville's Friday night starter, and never relinquished that role. In 15 appearances and 14 starts, he posted a 4.58 ERA and 5-3 record over 76.2 innings pitched, while striking out a team-high 80 batters and allowing only 23 walks. He made five quality starts, and struck out eight or more batters six times.

Jack Payton

Selection: No. 330 overall, 11th round
Organization: San Francisco Giants
Position: Catcher

Payton was the final Louisville player to be drafted this year, and he suffered a massive slide down draft board. He was regarded as the No. 116 prospect in the draft by Baseball America, and was not selected until day three. This is presumably due to the fact that scout are not very high on his defensive ability behind the plate, because the 5-foot-11, 200-pound backstop was unquestionably Louisville's best offensive weapon during the 2023 season.

Playing in 48 of the Cardinals' 55 games with 47 starts, he posted a .374/.472/.642 slash line with 12 home runs, 41 RBI, 10 doubles and 22 walks. All three of his slash line categories led the team, as well as his 115 total bases, his home run total tied for the team lead, and his RBI mark came in third. Despite not making an All-ACC team, he was named one of the three finalists for the Buster Posey Award, which is given to the nation's top college catcher.

(Photo of Christian Knapczyk: Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

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