NASHVILLE, Tenn. โ Vanderbilt left-handed pitcher Hunter Owen was selected in the fourth round with the 106th overall pick of the 2023 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals on Monday.
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Congrats Hunter๐ช#VandyBoys | @Royals pic.twitter.com/SZcIPkYCOo
โ Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) July 10, 2023
The junior from South Portland, Maine, had a breakout season in 2023 and was named all-region by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Owen tallied 12 starts on the mound for the Dores and led the staff with 76 strikeouts. Owen finished the season with a 4-0 record and a 3.52 ERA. He walked just 17 batters and held opposing hitters to a .219 average.
The southpaw turned in three quality starts on the season including a seven-inning outing at Alabama where he totaled nine strikeouts and gave up just one earned on two hits. He was named SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 20 after tossing a 96-pitch, two-hit, complete-game shutout vs. No. 3 Ole Miss with a career-high 11 strikeouts. Owen retired the final 23 batters he faced in win.
Owen is the second Commodore selected in this yearโs draft after Enrique Bradfield Jr. was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the first round Sunday. The draft continues through Round 10 on Monday before wrapping up with Rounds 11-20 on Tuesday.
