Mizzou Tigers pitcher picked by NY Mets in 2023 MLB Draft; 3 Missouri St. players taken

Missouri Tigers pitcher Austin Troesser was selected No. 135 overall by the New York Mets in the 2023 MLB Draft on Monday afternoon.

That makes him the first player from a KC-area college program to be picked this year. Troesser was selected in Round 4C, held after Round 4 and ahead of Round 5 — the first of two MU guys nabbed Monday by major-league clubs.

Also selected Monday, by the Kansas City Royals, was outfielder Spencer Nivens of Missouri State. Nivens was taken with the No. 142 overall pick., one of three Bears — or former Bears — who were drafted on Monday (more about this below).

A junior at Mizzou this past season, Troesser had entered the NCAA transfer portal early last month. He was 5-3 with a 4.73 ERA for the Tigers in 2023. He appeared in 22 games (three starts), striking out 53 in 45 2/3 innings. He was 8-5 across three seasons at MU, with 76 strkeouts and 36 walks in 77 2/3 innings.

Nivens, selected by the Royals Monday, played at Columbia Rock Ridge High before attending Missouri State. He was the Missouri Valley player of the year for the 2023 season, batting .341 with 14 home runs, 16 doubles and 34 RBIs.

The 2023 MLB Draft, which began Sunday night, continues through Tuesday.

Among other draftees with local or regional connection to KC:

• The Seattle Mariners selected Wichita State infielder Brock Rodden in Round 7, No. 160 overall.
• The Texas Rangers picked pitcher Izack Tiger from Butler County Community College with the 201st selection in Round 7.
• The Toronto Blue Jays selected shortstop Nick Goodwin of Kansas State — who grew up in Overland Park — with the 214th overall pick in Round 7.
• The Philadelphia Phillies selected Missouri State pitcher Jake Eddington with the 223rd overall pick in Round 7.
• The Detroit Tigers selected Missouri State/Johnson County Community College pitcher Hayden Minton with the 260th overall pick in Round 9. A native of Collinsville, Oklahoma, Minton played two years at Missouri State before transferring to JCCC and then returning to MSU.
• The Chicago White Sox picked Missouri Tigers pitcher Zach Franklin with the 299th overall selection (Round 10).

This story was originally published July 10, 2023 at 3:12 PM with the headline "Mizzou Tigers pitcher picked by NY Mets in 2023 MLB Draft; 3 Missouri St. players taken."