Mariners select Ryan Hawks in Eighth Round of 2023 MLB Draft

The right-handed pitcher is the third Louisville baseball player to be selected in the 2023 MLB Draft.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville right-handed pitcher Ryan Hawks has been selected by the Seattle Mariners with the No. 247 overall pick in the eighth round of the 2023 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

He is the third Cardinal to be selected in this year's draft, following shortstop Christian Knapczyk who was selected in the fifth round by Cleveland Guardians, and left-handed pitcher Tate Kuehner who was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh round. In Dan McDonnell's 17-year tenure as head coach, Hawks is Louisville's 102nd MLB Draft selection.

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.

The Bowling Green, Ky. native spent the first three years of his collegiate career as a reliever before being converted to a starter. During the 2022 season, he made a team-high 27 appearances, finishing with a 4.96 ERA over 49.0 innings pitched, as well as a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 65 to 16. He missed the 2021 season entirely due to injury, and made just five relief appearances in 2020 as a true freshman before COVID halted the season.

Should he sign with the Mariners, the 247th overall pick has a slot value of $191,100. He would finish his Louisville career with a 4.75 ERA over 64.0 innings pitched in 47 appearances and 15 starts, 149 strikeouts to 39 walks and a .290 opponent's batting average.

(Photo of Ryan Hawks: Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

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