MOREHEAD, Ky. – After hearing his name called during last week's 2019 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Morehead State baseball left-hander Dalton Stambaugh has inked his first professional contract, signing with the Baltimore Orioles.

"Dalton has meant so much to us the last four years," remarked head coach Mike McGuire. "His results on the field speak for themselves, but he was a great mentor and leader for our program as well."

A First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection in 2019, the Fredericktown, Ohio native joins former Eagles Taylor Davis, Niko Hulsizer, Aaron Leasher, and Patrick McGuff in affiliated professional baseball.

"Morehead gave me the opportunity to play and compete at the next level," said Stambaugh. "Over the four years I was there, I made great strides in my game thanks to the coaching staff."

McGuire added, "This opportunity for Dalton shows what hard work can do. He came into the program as a soft tosser with some pitchability and he left throwing 88 to 91 and a pro."

During his standout redshirt junior campaign, Stambaugh crafted a 7-4 record in 15 starts, tossing a career-high 91.1 innings in helping Morehead State to its first 40-win season in program history. In his 91.1 innings, he struck out a career-best 104 hitters, becoming the sixth pitcher in Morehead State history to strike out 100 or more in a season.

Stambaugh also maintained a career-low 3.84 earned run average during the 2019 season while also tossing Morehead State's lone complete games, doing so against Jacksonville State and Murray State in back-to-back starts.

"Being able to go out every weekend and compete at the highest level of college baseball, I gained experience on how to be the best pitcher I could be. Morehead changed me both mentally and physically to prepare me for every situation that I could possibly be in while pitching," continued Stambaugh.

Following a redshirt season, Stambaugh became a staple atop the Morehead State rotation, making 45 career starts, including in the Friday night role each of the past two seasons. His 45 starts—across just three seasons—ranks as the second-highest start total for an Eagle pitcher.

Stambaugh remarked, "Coach McGuire made the call to redshirt me my freshman year and it's the best thing that could've ever happened to me. That spring, I was able to put my head down and work and become a guy that had the ability to throw on the weekends."

In becoming a fixture in the weekend rotation, Stambaugh also finds himself in the Morehead State baseball record book in a host of other categories. He departs Morehead State ranking fourth in shutouts (two), fifth in strikeouts (238), sixth in victories (17), ninth in innings pitched (247.0), and 10th in strikeouts per nine innings (8.67).

Additionally, Stambaugh helped the Eagles to 113 victories and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the 2018 Clemson Regional. "Over four years, Morehead became my home. The guys that I played with and the coaches I played for, I couldn't be more thankful," concluded Stambaugh.

"I couldn't be happier for Dalton to sign a professional contract and chase his childhood dream," added McGuire.

Stambaugh embarks on the first leg of his professional career, competing for the Gulf Coast League Orioles. Based in Sarasota, Fla., the GCL Orioles play their home games at Ed Smith Stadium—the home of the Baltimore Orioles Spring Training. The Orioles open the 2019 season on June 24 against the GCL Braves.