NEW YORK – Owen Rice was selected in the 20th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft on Tuesday afternoon, chosen 591st overall by the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
 
"Today is an exciting day for Owen as he gets to realize his dream of being drafted into professional baseball by the St. Louis Cardinals," commented Milwaukee head coach Shaun Wegner. "We all knew from the first bullpen session he threw in the fall of 2022 that he possessed the physical traits and physique to be a pro."
 
Rice spent the past two seasons with the Panthers, making appearances in 22 games including 15 starts over his time with Milwaukee. He pitched 44 1/3 innings, including 33 in 2024 and struck out 65 batters with 51 of those coming this most recent season. For his career he has held opponents to a .266 batting average, with a career-best .242 batting average against in 2024.
 
"To watch his intentional work, alongside Coach Cory Bigler, to get him where he is today has been a fun journey," Wegner added. "Now the real work begins where he can focus solely on trying to climb the ladder and find his way to the top. We wish him nothing but success and a long career in professional baseball!"
 
The selection of Rice marks three consecutive years that the Milwaukee baseball team has had a student-athlete drafted, joining Riley Frey in 2023 by the Atlanta Braves and AJ Blubaugh in 2022 by the Houston Astros. He becomes the 26th player selected by a Major League organization in program history.
 
Rice becomes the second Panther to be drafted to the Cardinals' organization, joining Jake Sommers, who was selected in the 10th round of the 2019 draft. The Cardinals are one of 15 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 East Troy, Wisconsin native got his collegiate start at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Rice graduated from East Troy High School, where he was a two-way player as a pitcher and centerfielder.