Road to the Show: Butler's Izack Tiger Drafted by Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas – It wasn't a matter of if, but rather of when would Butler pitcher Izack Tiger be drafted in the 2023 MLB Player Draft. The answer came at 3:17PM central time on Monday afternoon when the Texas Rangers selected the Grizzly standout pitcher Tiger in the 7th round and 201st overall.

Tiger, the Grizzlies covid-sophomore from Del City, Oklahoma, is the third Grizzly pitcher in four years to be taken in the MLB draft straight from Butler, joining Braxton Hyde in 2021 (Colorado Rockies) and Zach Bravo in 2019 (Tampa Bay Rays). 

"I'm just so excited for him," said Butler baseball head coach B.J. McVay. "I can't wait to see what he goes on to do at the pro level."

Tiger was the no-doubt ace of the Grizzlies pitching staff this season. This year, he set all three major career pitching records at Butler and set the team single season record for strikeouts in a season with 121. 

"If people knew his full backstory and knew just what he had to do to get back here and then turnaround and dominate for us the way he did, it's extremely impressive." McVay said. 

McVay added, "He's always had a really good arm and his velocity has increased every year, but the most important part of his development here was his growth in maturity and the discipline he gained that made him a better pitcher."

In his Butler career, Tiger compiled a record of 21-10, he pitched 192 innings, and he struck out 243 batters. His wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts are all Butler program records.

Tiger's incredible season this past year earned him an invitation to pitch in the esteemed Cape Cod Baseball League, a league that has sent over 1,600 players to the Major Leagues. Tiger signed to play with the Falmouth Commodores this summer.

In his three starts for Falmouth, Tiger threw 12.1 innings, compiling an ERA of 7.29, while striking out 15 for a K/9 of 11.15. 

Tiger was one of five pitchers to be selected by the Rangers in the team's first ten draft choices. He is the only NJCAA player to be selected by Texas and one of two Ranger picks from junior colleges so far in the draft. 

Tiger will join the Rangers organization as he looks towards this big new journey in his life and begins his road to the show.