Joe Ruzicka Selected by Detroit Tigers in MLB Entry Draft

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University baseball pitcher Joe Ruzicka (rue-ZISS-kuh) was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 16th round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Entry Draft.
 

Congratulations Joe!

He's headed to Detroit after the @tigers selected him in the 16th round of the @MLBDraft. #ItsBruinTime | #MLBDraft | #RepDetroit pic.twitter.com/JgEWxINzK3

— Belmont Baseball (@BelmontBaseball) July 14, 2025

Ruzicka was selected number 489 overall and is the 44^th Belmont MLB Entry Draft selection in program history.
 
The Webster Groves, Missouri native was one of the great stories in college baseball this past season. The right-handed pitcher emerged as a force on the mound, leading the Missouri Valley Conference in earned run average, opposing batting average, and hits allowed per nine innings – which he ranked 20^th nationally.
 
Ruzicka was named MVC Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-MVC, posting a 6-4 record in 15 starts.
 
Among numerous notable performances, Ruzicka pitched a complete-game, one-hit shutout against Valparaiso April 25, seven innings of two-hit baseball with nine strikeouts against Indiana State April 5, and seven innings of one-hit baseball against Bradley April 11.
 
He becomes the highest MLB draft choice since Guy Lipscomb was selected in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB Entry Draft by the Cleveland Guardians.
 
Follow Belmont baseball on social media - @BelmontBaseball on X and @belmontbaseball on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.