Back to the Appalachian State Mountaineers Newsfeed

Mariners' Steensma, Cardinals' Best Selected in 2025 MLB Draft

ATLANTA — App State Baseball had two pitchers selected Monday in the 2025 MLB Draft, as the Seattle Mariners picked Jackson Steensma in the ninth round and the St. Louis Cardinals chose Liam Best in the 19th round.

Steensma and Best became the 48th and 49th draft picks from App State, increasing the total to eight since head coach Kermit Smith arrived before the 2017 season. The Mountaineers have had at least one pitcher taken in five of the nine drafts during that time.

With Steensma going 272nd overall and Best being taken with the 570th pick, App State had two players selected in the top 20 rounds for the first time since 2012, when pitcher Nathan Hyatt went in the 13th round and catcher Tyler Tewell was drafted in the 14th round.