Trio of former Tigers selected in MLB draft
Three former Cowley College baseball players were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Tuesday in Seattle, Washington.
Carlton Perkins, who just finished his sophomore season at Cowley, was drafted in the 15th round by the Chicago White Sox. Just one round later, the Boston Red Sox selected former Tiger and Oklahoma State University junior Isaac Stebens.
Four rounds later, it would be former Tiger Mac McCroskey's turn to hear his name called as the Los Angeles Angels selected him in the 20th round.
Perkins, a 6'3 right-hander, was used primarily out of the bullpen while pitching for the Tigers. He amassed 71 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings pitched and went 3-1 in his career at Cowley.
"Carlton has a good arm and had to learn how to be a college pitcher," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said. "He did a good job maturing both physically and mentally during his time here, and we are happy for him to get this opportunity."
Stebens, who was teammates with Perkins when the Tigers advanced to play in the 2022 JUCO World Series title game, spent this past season at Oklahoma State University after two stellar seasons at Cowley.
The JUCO All-American and two-time all-conference selection at Cowley earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors during the 2023 season as he went 4-1 with six saves and an earned run average of 2.24.
"Isaac was the ideal model of a student-athlete in every sense of the word during his time at Cowley," Burroughs said. "I am really proud to see the growth he has made and the success he has had with the changes made in his delivery."
McCroskey played at Cowley during the 2019 season but was limited to 55 at-bats due to playing behind all-conference shortstop Logan Steenstra. McCroskey transferred to Eastern Oklahoma State, where he had two productive seasons before spending his senior season at Oral Roberts University, where he batted .314 with 14 home runs and 64 runs batted in. He was named a Second Team All-Summit League performer while also being named the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year.
"Mac was stuck behind one of the best shortstops to ever play here," Burroughs said. "I am glad to see the player he has turned into. I am proud of all three of these guys and excited they have this opportunity to become professionals."