NEW YORK – On Tuesday, rising senior Riley Frey of the Milwaukee baseball team became the 25th Panther to be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, as he was chosen in the 19th round with the 579th overall selection by the Atlanta Braves organization.
 
Frey becomes Milwaukee's second draftee in as many years, joining former teammate AJ Blubaugh, who was selected in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros. He also becomes the second Panther to be picked in the 19th round, joining Austin Schulfer, whose name was called by the Minnesota Twins in the same round in 2018.

"It was an unreal feeling," said Frey. "I got the call during the National Anthem of our game against Brewster. I immediately called my dad right after I found out."
 
A three-time Horizon All-Conference second team selection, Frey continued his strong Milwaukee career by tossing 90 innings for the Panthers as a junior with 87 strikeouts over his 16 appearances and 15 starts in 2023. His marks were all career bests, which includes five wins to tie his previous career-best set during his sophomore season in 2022.
 
"From day one it was easy to see we had something in Riley," commented head coach Scott Doffek. "He shows up every day to improve himself and help his team win. He is a living example of what you can do if you work hard, and you believe."
 
"We couldn't be prouder of him," Doffek added. "I'm so excited to follow his journey. I know he will continue to make us all proud."
 
For his three-year career at Milwaukee, Frey has accumulated 12 wins and has one save, while throwing 249 innings and allowing just 117 earned runs for a 4.23 ERA. He has 239 strikeouts and has only walked 99 batters in three seasons. He held opponents to a .278 batting average in his 44 career appearances with the black and gold, which includes 42 starts.

"I would like to thank my parents for everything they've done for me," Frey said. "I wouldn't be here without them. I would also like to shout out Scott [Doffek], Shaun Wegner, Cory Bigler, Mike Goetz, and [former assistant coach] Mike Porcaro. I'd also like to thank our athletic trainers Chad Henneberry, and Austin Fitzpatrick, and our strength team, Sam Lebowitz and Ben Mendelson, as well as our academic support man Andy Van Sistine."

"I would also like to thank every teammate that I got to call a friend and brother over the last three years at UW-Milwaukee," added Frey. It was the best decision I ever made to commit to being a Panther. The bus rides, practices, intra-squad games, 6 a.m. lifts, I wouldn't trade it for anything."
 
Frey becomes the first Panther to be drafted to the Atlanta Braves organization, which had previously played in the city of Milwaukee from 1953-65 before relocating to Atlanta in 1966. The Braves become the 15th different Major League organization to select a Panther in the draft, with the Milwaukee Brewers leading the way with six selections. The first Panther drafted was Craig Scheffler by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 12th round of the 1993 draft.
 
The Oshkosh, Wisconsin native is currently pitching for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod League, one of the most prestigious collegiate summer leagues in the country. With Orleans, he has thrown 13 2/3 innings this summer with 15 strikeouts in nine relief outings and has a 1-1 record.