Three Former Reivers Selected in the MLB Draft

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - Three former Iowa Western Baseball pitchers heard their names called during the 2023 MLB Draft.  Left-hander Jared Simpson was selected on day two of the draft, going to the Washington Nationals in the 8th round, while Ernie Day and Will Stevens were taken on day three, going in the 14th and 15th rounds.

Simpson (2018-20), was a part of the 2019 JUCO World Series runner-up team and earned a record of 8-2 over his two seasons with the Reivers, with a 3.27 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 63.1 innings.  He then moved on to the University of Missouri for one year, transferring to the University of Iowa in 2022. With the Hawkeyes, Simpson made 35 appearances over two seasons, going 4-4 with 87 K's in Iowa City.  This past season he picked up the win against the #1 team in the country and eventual national champion, LSU, tossing 4.2 innings while allowing just two runs and striking out eight batters in a 12-4 victory on February 25th. 

Day (2020-22), taken by the Seattle Mariners in the 14th round, made 15 starts for IWCC in his two years in Council Bluffs.  The right-hander from Chicago went 8-1 with a 3.76 ERA and 74 strikeouts.  He then transferred to Campbell University where he went 1-1 with 28 K's in 21.1 innings pitched during his junior year for the Camels.

Stevens (2019-21) was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 15th round, he appeared in 16 games for the Reivers over a pair of seasons.  The right-hander from Kansas City earned a record of 4-0 with two saves, striking out 46 batters in 31.2 innings.  He then moved on to Wichita State, appearing in 10 games for the Shockers.  Stevens then moved on to Tarleton State this past season, making five starts before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.