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 10^th round, and pitcher Tyler Keele went in the 15^th 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