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Baseball By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations

Aaron Leasher Selected by the Padres in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State junior lefthanded pitcher Aaron Leasher was selected Tuesday by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Leasher was the third pick of the sixth round and the first Ohio Valley Conference player selected in 2017. He was the 168th overall pick in the draft. He is the sixth Eagle athlete to be drafted in the last three seasons and the seventh player in program history to be selected in the top 10 rounds. Leasher's pick by the Padres makes him the highest Eagle draft pick since Jon Rauch in 1999 (third round, White Sox), and he is the first-ever Morehead State player to be drafted by the Padres' organization.

"I'm very happy and excited for Aaron. This is a great day for Aaron and the Morehead State baseball program," said head coach Mike McGuire.

Leasher led the entire Ohio Valley Conference in wins with nine in 2017 and was tabbed First-Team All-OVC. He finished the year with 105 strikeouts, the fourth highest single-season total in program history, and became just the second pitcher in program history to record back-to-back 100-strikeout seasons.

Leasher recorded a team-best 9-3 record with a 4.19 ERA in 2017, and he walked only 32 in 92 innings pitched. He wrapped up junior year with 248 career strikeouts, which ranks in the top 10 in Morehead State history. Leasher had a season-high 10 strikeouts in eight innings in a win over Alabama State. He also notched nine punchouts in a seven-inning outing in an OVC Tournament win over Austin Peay.

As a sophomore in 2016, Leasher ranked third in single-season MSU history with 107 strikeouts. He pitched two complete-game shutouts, notching a career-high 15 strikeouts at SIUE and tallying a nine-inning no-run gem versus Belmont.

"To watch his growth and development over the last three years result in being an early draft pick is very gratifying," McGuire said. "This didn't happen overnight.  He worked for it, and he's very deserving."

Leasher came to Morehead State from Mt. Pleasant (Mich.) High School, where he was named Morning Sun and Saginaw News Player of the Year as a senior in 2014.

Morehead State has now had draft picks in three straight seasons. Last year Matt Anderson was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th round, and pitcher Tyler Keele went in the 15th round to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Pitcher Patrick McGuff was taken by the Minnesota Twins in the 36th round. Kane Sweeney (New York Yankees) and Brandon Rawe (Miami Marlins) were picked in 2015.

"Aaron has represented Morehead State very well as a student athlete, and I have no doubt he will continue to represent us well as a professional athlete," McGuire concluded.

Below is the history of Morehead State Baseball and the MLB Draft.
 
Name Year Round Organization
Aaron Leasher 2017 6 Padres
Patrick McGuff 2016 36 Twins
Tyler Keele 2016 15 Diamondbacks
Matt Anderson 2016 10 Pirates
Kane Sweeney 2015 29 Yankees
Brandon Rawe 2015 34 Marlins
Drew Lee 2010 12 White Sox
Henry Mabee 2007 19 White Sox
Jon Rauch 1999 3 White Sox
Rick Cercy 1999 13 Rockies
Brad Allison 1996 41 Diamondbacks
Jay Sorg 1994 15 Reds
Jason Chandler 1993 25 Reds
Sean Hogan 1993 51 Cubs
Brett Roberts 1991 4 Twins
Matt Michael 1988 60 Yankees
Willie Blair 1986 11 Blue Jays
Daniel Smith 1985 2 Dodgers
Robert Williams 1985 18 Expos
Drew Hall 1984 1 Cubs
Norm Brock 1984 17 Astros
Steve Heatherly 1983 6 Angels
Joe Mitchell 1983 24 Brewers
Robert Shipp 1983 29 Brewers
Glenn Jones 1981 14 Giants
Walt Terrell 1980 33 Rangers
Larry Hamilton 1979 19 Rangers
Charles Merlo 1967 57 Mets
William Craig 1967 6 Braves
Joe Campbell 1965 44 Mets
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Players Mentioned

Matt Anderson

#11 Matt Anderson

RHP
6' 2"
Senior
R-R
Tyler Keele

#40 Tyler Keele

RHP
6' 3"
Senior
R-R
Patrick McGuff

#21 Patrick McGuff

RHP
6' 2"
Senior
L-R
Aaron Leasher

#24 Aaron Leasher

LHP
6' 3"
Junior
L-L

Players Mentioned

Matt Anderson

#11 Matt Anderson

6' 2"
Senior
R-R
RHP
Tyler Keele

#40 Tyler Keele

6' 3"
Senior
R-R
RHP
Patrick McGuff

#21 Patrick McGuff

6' 2"
Senior
L-R
RHP
Aaron Leasher

#24 Aaron Leasher

6' 3"
Junior
L-L
LHP