Rice Baseball: Rays draft Roel Garcia in 14th Round of MLB Draft

After completing his sixth season as a collegiate, Rice baseball pitcher Roel Garcia was selected in the 14th Round of the MLB Draft by the Rays.

Rice baseball hurler Roel Garcia served primarily as a reliever during the 2022 season, one of the best statistical campaigns of his career. He posted career-best marks in ERA (4.73), innings (45.2), strike outs (50) and appearances (16).

The strong year, combined with impressive arm talent, was enough to earn him a selection in the 2022 MLB Draft. He came off the board with the 434th overall pick in the 14th Round. He was one of 10 Conference USA players selected during the draft and the only Owl selected.

Garcia is the first Owl drafted since Trei Cruz, selected in the third round by the Tigers in 2020. Although Rice saw no players selected in the 2021 MLB Draft, that proved to be an outlier. The Owls have produced quite a lengthy list of draftees in recent years, even without perennial trips to Omaha.

Rice Baseball MLB Draft selections (last 10 years)