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Rice Baseball: Dodgers select Davion Hickson in 5th Round of MLB Draft

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Rice pitcher Davion has been selected in the fifth round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Davion Hickson was an outstanding pitcher across two seasons with Rice baseball, finding success as a closer and then a Friday night starter. Those effort did not go unnoticed as Hickson was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros on Monday. He became the highest Owl drafted since Trei Cruz went in the third round to the Detroit Tigers in 2020 and a sixth top-five round selection for the program in the past six years.

Hickson was the most reliable arm the Owls fielded over the last two seasons, leading Rice in innings (73.0), strikeouts (90), ERA (3.82) and opponent batting average (.220) as a starter this past spring. He’s is the sixth Rice player drafted by the Dodgers and the first since Jeremy Rathjen (11th round) and Matthew Reckling (14th) were selected by Los Angeles in 2012.

Update: Reliever Garrett Stratton joined Hickson among MLB Draft selections, going to the Mets in the 20th Round

Rice Baseball MLB Draft selections (since 2015)

PlayerDraft YearTeamRound
Davion Hickson2025Dogers5
Garrett Stratton2025Mets20
Parker Smith2024Astros4
Justin Long2023Braves7
Hayden Durke2023Diamondbacks13
Matthew Linskey2023Diamondbacks16
Roel Garcia2022Rays14
Trei Cruz2020Tigers3
Matt Canterino2019Twins2
Evan Kravetz2019Reds5
Garrett Gayle2019Astros12
Roel Garcia2019Blue Jays27
Trei Cruz2019Nationals37
Addison Moss2019Rays37
Ford Proctor2018Rays3
Ricky Salinas2018Reds25
Cody Staab2018Marines30
Glenn Otto2017Yankees5
Dane Myers2017Tigers6
Tristan Gray2017Pirates13
Jon Duplantier2016Diamondbacks3
Blake Fox2016Brewers10
Jordan Stephens2015White Sox5
Leon Byrd2015Rangers10
Kevin McCanna2015Astros13
Austin Orewiler2015Reds14
Matt Ditman2015Roayls16
John Clay Reeves2015Nationals20
John Williamson2015Cubs23
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Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – July 9

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The 2025 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are making the most of their time in The Show. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

It was a rather modest week for Dane Myers, who has kept up his impressive start to the season, both with his bat and in the field. He was held to three hits over the last six games with two RBI. An All-Star candidate, Myers did not earn a spot in the midsummer classic.

Through July 9, Myers is hitting .283 with 12 extra-base hits, 13 walks and 46 strikeouts. His OPS is .721 and he’s collected 22 RBI.

Tristan Gray – Chicago White Sox

Myers was briefly joined at the Major League level by another former Rice baseball slugger, Tristan Gray, who the White Sox called up on July 7 as a part of roster juggling that saw him with the team for just a day. Gray was promptly reverted to the AAA affiliate on July 8.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon is slated to miss a significant amount of time following him surgery this spring. The bad news is another bump in an injury-plagued stint with the Angels; Rendon missed a chunk of last season with an oblique strain.

Matt Canterino – Twins AAA

Canterino was thought to have a real chance to crack the big league roster at some point this season, converting himself to a reliver this offseason in hopes of limiting the stress on his arm and preserving his health. Unfortunately, he’s set to miss a third consecutive season, undergoing shoulder surgery in early March. The Twins since released him and signed him to a minor league contract while he rehabs.

Knocking on the Door

The following Owls began the season in AAA:

  • Tristan Gray – Charlotte Knights (White Sox)
  • Evan Kravetz – Louisville Bats (Reds)
  • Glenn Otto – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros)
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – July 2

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The 2025 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are making the most of their time in The Show. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Another week, another thrilling play by Dane Myers, helping to encapsulate a truly remarkable season by the former Rice baseball great. This time, the big moment came on the basepaths, complementing another strong week in the field and with his bat.

Myers is on the All-Star Ballot. You can vote for him up to five times a day using this link.

Through July 2, Myers is hitting .298 with 12 extra-base hits, 12 walks and 41 strikeouts. His OPS is .770 and he’s collected 20 RBI.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon is slated to miss a significant amount of time following him surgery this spring. The bad news is another bump in an injury-plagued stint with the Angels; Rendon missed a chunk of last season with an oblique strain.

Matt Canterino – Twins AAA

Canterino was thought to have a real chance to crack the big league roster at some point this season, converting himself to a reliver this offseason in hopes of limiting the stress on his arm and preserving his health. Unfortunately, he’s set to miss a third consecutive season, undergoing shoulder surgery in early March. The Twins since released him and signed him to a minor league contract while he rehabs.

Knocking on the Door

The following Owls began the season in AAA:

  • Tristan Gray – Charlotte Knights (White Sox)
  • Evan Kravetz – Louisville Bats (Reds)
  • Glenn Otto – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros)
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – Jun 25

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The 2025 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are making the most of their time in The Show. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Myers had a brief scare when he was hit by a pitch this week and removed from a June 16 game against the Phillies, but returned to the lineup two days later and hasn’t seemed to miss a beat. He’s reached base successfully in every game since, maintaining an already superb .371 on-base percentage. Myers has managed that by playing superb defense like this play, where he did not secure the out, but did prevent a home run with an acrobatic leap at the wall.

Myers is on the All-Star Ballot. You can vote for him up to five times a day using this link.

Through June 25, Myers is hitting .320 with 12 extra-base hits, 10 walks and 36 strikeouts. His OPS is .827 and he’s collected 20 RBI.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon is slated to miss a significant amount of time following him surgery this spring. The bad news is another bump in an injury-plagued stint with the Angels; Rendon missed a chunk of last season with an oblique strain.

Matt Canterino – Twins AAA

Canterino was thought to have a real chance to crack the big league roster at some point this season, converting himself to a reliver this offseason in hopes of limiting the stress on his arm and preserving his health. Unfortunately, he’s set to miss a third consecutive season, undergoing shoulder surgery in early March. The Twins since released him and signed him to a minor league contract while he rehabs.

Knocking on the Door

The following Owls began the season in AAA:

  • Tristan Gray – Charlotte Knights (White Sox)
  • Evan Kravetz – Louisville Bats (Reds)
  • Glenn Otto – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros)
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – Jun 18

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The 2025 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are making the most of their time in The Show. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Game after game, Myers’ incredible season just keeps getting better and better. He’s moved well past a strong month and good fortune and has become a force for the Marlins on both sides of the ball. For one, he’s one of the most consistent hitters in the sport right now:

And if that wasn’t enough, he’s playing Gold Glove caliber defense in center field too:

What began as a feel-good story is a deserving case for an All Star bid. A gentle reminder, you can vote for him up to five times a day using this link. Fun fact: Juan Soto has a .861 OPS. Myers’ is at .862.

Through June 18, Myers is hitting .333 with 11 extra-base hits, eight walks and 32 strikeouts. His OPS is .862 and he’s collected 18 RBI.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon is slated to miss a significant amount of time following him surgery this spring. The bad news is another bump in an injury-plagued stint with the Angels; Rendon missed a chunk of last season with an oblique strain.

Matt Canterino – Twins AAA

Canterino was thought to have a real chance to crack the big league roster at some point this season, converting himself to a reliver this offseason in hopes of limiting the stress on his arm and preserving his health. Unfortunately, he’s set to miss a third consecutive season, undergoing shoulder surgery in early March. The Twins since released him and signed him to a minor league contract while he rehabs.

Knocking on the Door

The following Owls began the season in AAA:

  • Tristan Gray – Charlotte Knights (White Sox)
  • Evan Kravetz – Louisville Bats (Reds)
  • Glenn Otto – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros)
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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