UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State baseball graduate student pitcher Daniel Ouderkirk was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 18th round, 547th overall, in the 2023 MLB Draft on Tuesday.
Ouderkirk joins junior shortstop Jay Harry, a sixth-round pick by the Minnesota Twins, as Nittany Lions selected in the 2023 MLB Draft.
The Virginia native became the 79th overall player selected out of Penn State and the 14th draft pick since 2016.
Ouderkirk is the 47th pitcher to be selected out of Penn State and the 10th pitcher since 2016.
This is the ninth time in program history Penn State has had multiple draft picks in the Top 20 rounds in same year and the fourth time Penn State has had multiple draft picks in the same year since 2016.
Harry was the 16th Top-10 round selection in program history. Harry joined catcher Matt Wood (2022; 4th round, 132nd overall, Milwaukee Brewers) and catcher Ben Heath (2010; 5th round, 153rd overall, Houston Astros) as position players selected among the Top 10 rounds.
The Nittany Lions have a Top-10 round draft pick in four of the last five drafts with Harry joining Wood and pitchers Dante Biasi (2019; 6th round, Kansas City Royals) and Conor Larkin (2021; 9th round, Toronto Blue Jays).
Harry was the first college player selected from a Pennsylvania school in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Daniel Ouderkirk, RHP – Seattle Mariners – 18th round, 547th overall
Ouderkirk made 12 appearances, including 10 starts, in his graduate season at Penn State. The Virginia native earned two wins and tallied 57 strikeouts in 39.2 innings, while holding opponents to a .240 average. He allowed two or less earned runs in five appearances. In Big Ten action, Ouderkirk made five appearances (three starts) and struck out 12 batters in 11 innings. Ouderkirk became the first Penn State pitcher, since at least 2004, to record 10+ strikeouts in three consecutive starts (11 vs. Northern Illinois, 2/24; 11 vs. Dartmouth, 3/4; 10 vs. Brown, 3/10). In his collegiate career, Ouderkirk pitched in 25 games and tallied 95 strikeouts in 64.2 innings. After graduating from West Virginia with his bachelor's degree in finance and master's degree in business data analytics, Ouderkirk is pursuing a grad certificate at Penn State in organizational development and change.
Jay Harry, SS – Minnesota Twins – 6th round, 177th overall
Harry played in 146 games as a Nittany Lion, making 145 starts, while serving as the primary shortstop since he arrived on campus. In his career, Harry batted .304 with 169 hits, including 33 doubles, three triples and 12 homers, 81 RBI and 109 runs. He worked 55 walks, was hit by 17 pitches, and stole 11 bases. On defense, Harry made 402 career assists. As a junior in 2023, the New Jersey native batted .299 with 60 hits, 13 doubles, a triple, six homers, 37 RBI and 47 runs. He walked 20 times, while striking out just 21, and stole six bases. He held a .463 slugging percentage. Named to the Brooks Wallace Award watch list, he led the team with 60 hits and tied for the team lead with 13 doubles. Harry recorded 18 multi-hit games, 10 multi-RBI games and 13 multi-run games. He ranked as the third-toughest player to strikeout in the Big Ten, averaging a strikeout every 9.6 at-bats. In 2022, Harry tied a Big Ten record with six hits against Michigan State (5/9). The agribusiness management major was an Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2022 and 2023.
