Happy birthday Joe! On his 22nd birthday, Joe Ryan became the highest draft pick in Stanislaus State baseball program's history as the right-handed pitcher was selected in the seventh round by the Tampa Bay Rays during the MLB First-Year Players Draft on Tuesday.

Ryan is the first Warrior to be drafted by a Major League Baseball team since 2015 when Marcus Mastrobuoni was picked by the Chicago Cubs. Ryan, the 210th pick in this year's draft, is Stanislaus State's highest draft pick. Rusty Kuntz (1977, Chicago White Sox) and Pat Ruth (1991, Philadelphia) were selected in the 11th round.

Ryan is an All-American pitcher after a phenomenal season. He went 8-1 with a 1.65 ERA. His opponent batting average was .190, best among all starters in the CCAA. Ryan led all of NCAA college (all Divisions) with 127 strikeouts during the regular season with a 9.77 strikeout-to-walk ratio, walking only 13 batters all season. The 127-strikeout mark is also a new Stanislaus State single season record.

Ryan possesses a plus changeup in addition to a slider and curveball, though those pitches remain a work in progress. He throws about 92-94 mph and has hit 97 mph during the season.

He is the fourth Division II player to be selected in this draft. Jameson Hannah (Dallas Baptist, 2^nd round, Oakland),  Josiah Gray (Le Moyne, CBB, Cincinnati) and Chris Vallimont (Mercyhurst, 5^th round, Miami) went ahead of Ryan.

Tampa Bay also picked a Warrior in the 2008 draft the Rays selected Marquis Fleming in the 24th round.

Ryan is the 17th Warrior to be drafted since 1974.