Ohio native Luke Lashutka selected by Marlins in MLB Draft

Recent Saint Leo University graduate starting pitcher Luke Lashutka was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 19th round with the 574th overall pick in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft last Wednesday afternoon.

Lashutka becomes the 55th player drafted from Saint Leo and is the most recent since Jared Beck was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2022.

"Every little leaguer's dream is one day to get a phone call from a Major League team on draft day, and I'm no exception to that," said Lashutka. This was my last year of eligibility, so going into this past season, I only had two goals in mind, and they were to have as much fun as possible playing with this team I love so much and to be able to make my 6-year-old self proud. If I could go back in time and talk to 6-year-old me and let him know all of what we have accomplished so far, I think he would be proud of me.”

The Ohio native had an astonishing season in 2024 as he notched a 10-1 record in 15 starts on the bump in addition to ranking third in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) with a 2.88 ERA. He paced the league with 39 strikeouts looking and earned 102 strikeouts in total.

Lashutka held opposing offenses to a .245 batting average. The Saint Ignatius product led the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio with a mark of 9.27.

"Luke has come such a long way," said previous Saint Leo head baseball coach Rick O'Dette. "He always had the work ethic and talent. Once he believed that he was a legitimate number one pitcher, he never looked back. As a person, he is as genuine as it gets.”

Lashutka was one of the country's top pitchers in NCAA Division II this past season as he garnered American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings, D2CCA, and National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-American honors. The starting pitcher was also tabbed a First Team All-South Region with D2CCA, ABCA/Rawlings and NCBWA.

Lashutka added, "The reality of getting drafted is still setting in. I have been blessed by the Miami Marlins to be given the opportunity to continue my baseball career and I am so excited to get to work. All glory goes to God as I have been blessed with a gift and He continues to give me opportunities to share my gift."

During his career at Saint Leo, Lashutka helped guide the Lions to three consecutive 30-plus win seasons along with two NCAA Tournament appearances in the last three years as Saint Leo grasped hosting rights for South Region 2 in 2022 and 2024.
 
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