Jack Kartsonas Signs Free Agent Deal with Rays – 11:36 PM EDT
West Virginia pitcher Jack Kartsonas has signed a free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Rays following an impressive rehabilitation season with the Mountaineers.
The Pittsburgh native overcame injury concerns to become WVU’s second weekend starter, posting a 3.66 ERA across 66.1 innings while striking out 77 batters and walking just 20. Kartsonas’s control and experience proved invaluable for West Virginia, as he held opponents to a .245 batting average and surrendered only eight home runs in 20 appearances.
His performance earned him All-Big 12 Second Team and ABCA All-East Region Second Team honors in his lone season at WVU. The veteran hurler’s journey included three seasons at Kent State, where injuries limited him to just 35 games, and a stint at John Carroll before finding success in Morgantown.
While Kartsonas may not possess overpowering velocity, his ability to consistently get outs and provide innings made him an attractive undrafted free agent target for Tampa Bay’s development system.
Many Mountaineers Undrafted – 8:04 PM EDT
The 2025 MLB Draft has concluded and many members of the West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team were not drafted. Most notably, inflieder Sam White, right-handed pitcher Jack Kartsonas, and right-handed pitcher Gavin Van Kempen.
White in particular comes as a real shock. The Canadian infielder’s .353/.420/.512 slash line with a .932 OPS ranked second among Big 12 second basemen and 46th nationally among power conference hitters. White’s versatility across multiple positions, including experience at second base, third base, first base, left field, and catcher, combined with his consistent production over three seasons in Morgantown, had projected him as a relative lock for selection between rounds 15-20, according to many draft boards.
The news leaves West Virginia fans and baseball insiders questioning whether teams overlooked a hidden gem who could emerge as one of the draft’s biggest steals in the undrafted free agent market.
Boston Red Sox Draft Skylar King (OF) – 5:37 PM EDT
The Boston Red Sox have selected West Virginia outfielder Skylar King in the 15th round with the 448th pick.
The speedy center fielder from Columbia, South Carolina, brings elite athleticism to the Red Sox organizagtion. King’s speed was on full display throughout his junior season. He tied for third on the team with 13 stolen bases while patrolling center field for all 59 games. The left-handed hitter posted a .291 average with 42 runs scored, showcasing his ability to get on base and create havoc with his legs.
King’s track record of speed dates back to his high school days, where he stole 21 bases as a freshman. His combination of defensive range in center field and base-stealing ability makes him an intriguing developmental prospect who could provide the Red Sox with a dynamic weapon both defensively and on the basepaths as he progresses through their system.
Kyle West (1B), Robby Porco (P), and Griffin Kirn (P) Drafted – 5:23 PM EDT
More West Virginia baseball players have been selected in the 2025 MLB Draft. The New York Yankees took first baseman Kyle West in the 13th round with the 404th overall pick while the Los Angeles Dodgers selected right-handed pitcher Robby Porco in the fourteenth round with the 405th pick. Left-handed pitcher Griffin Kirn will join Logan Sauve in the Oakland Athletics’ organization. The A’s drafted Kirn in the fourteenth round with the 410th pick in the MLB draft.
Kyle West
The 6-foot-4 outfielder from Hedgesville, West Virginia, capped off a remarkable senior season that established him as one of the top offensive threats in the Big 12 Conference. West earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors after leading the Mountaineers with a .339 batting average, 11 home runs, and 38 RBI in 59 games. West has great plate discipline. This season he drew more walks (46) than strikeouts (41), contributing to a team-leading 1.088 OPS and .487 on-base percentage.
West’s journey to Morgantown began at the University of Charleston, where he hit .374 with 30 home runs and 102 RBI over two seasons, earning NCBWA Division II All-America Honorable Mention recognition. His transition to Division I proved seamless, making an immediate impact with All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors as a junior.
The Yankees’ 13th-round selection brings proven clutch performance, highlighted by signature moments including a grand slam at Kansas State and key hits during West Virginia’s NCAA Tournament run.
Robby Porco
At 6-foot-8 and 235 pounds, Robby Porco brings an imposing presence to the mound that caught the attention of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The towering junior from Warrington, Pennsylvania, showed significant improvement in his final season at West Virginia, posting a 4.64 ERA over 21.1 innings while striking out 24 batters in 12 appearances.
Porco’s height creates natural downward plane on his pitches, making him a challenging matchup for opposing hitters. After struggling with command early in his career, he demonstrated notable progress as a junior, lowering his ERA significantly from a concerning 8.71 as a sophomore. His freshman campaign showed flashes of brilliance, including a dominant 12-strikeout performance against Kansas that earned him Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors.
The engineering major brings both physical tools and academic excellence to the Dodgers organization, having earned spots on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll throughout his collegiate career.
Griffin Kirn
The left-handed pitcher from Quincy, Illinois, joins the A’s after a stellar redshirt senior campaign that earned him NCBWA Third Team All-American and All-Big 12 First Team honors. Kirn became just the 15th Mountaineer to record 100 strikeouts in a season, finishing with 103 punchouts over 99 innings while posting a 3.36 ERA and 5-3 record in 18 appearances.
Kirn’s journey to professional baseball took an unconventional path through Quincy University, where he dominated Division II competition for four seasons. As the 2024 GLVC Pitcher of the Year, he went 8-1 with a 2.96 ERA and 100 strikeouts, showcasing the elite stuff that translated seamlessly to Division I baseball. His signature performance came against Utah with a season-high 14 strikeouts, while his complete-game victory over Cincinnati in the Big 12 Tournament demonstrated his ability to pitch deep into games. The Athletics drafted a proven winner who helped West Virginia reach the NCAA Super Regional while earning All-Tournament honors at multiple stops along the way.
Athletics Draft Logan Sauve – 1:25 PM EDT
The Oakland Athletics have selected star West Virginia catcher, Logan Sauve, in the seventh round with the 200th overall pick. Read More: Logan Sauve Drafted by Oakland Athletics: MLB Draft Live Updates
According to MLB.com, Sauve’s projected earnings are $304,000. The Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania native has been a cornerstone of the Mountaineers’ recent success, earning All-Big 12 First Team honors in his junior campaign.
When asked to comment on the news, Sauve highlighted his time at West Virginia:
“I want to take a quick second to thank the coach staff and all my teammates at WVU for helping to make me better,” Sauve said. “This is truly a dream come true and I am super excited to get to work at the next level. Huge thank you to the A’s organization for believing in me and providing me with this opportunity.”
Sauve’s impressive 2025 season showcased exactly why MLB scouts have taken notice. The junior hit .276 with eight home runs and 36 RBI while demonstrating exceptional speed for a catcher, going a perfect 8-for-8 on stolen base attempts. His defensive prowess behind the plate was equally impressive, throwing out 24.4% of would-be base stealers and serving as the field general for WVU’s pitching staff.
Baseball runs in the Sauve family. His father, Jeffrey, was a two-sport athlete at Clemson who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox and later played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers. This athletic pedigree, combined with Logan’s own three-year track record of consistent production and leadership, made him an attractive prospect for Oakland.
The Athletics are getting a player who combines offensive capability with defensive reliability, plus the intangibles that helped lead West Virginia to their remarkable 2025 postseason run. Sauve’s academic excellence and character make him an ideal organizational fit.
Sixth Round Ends – 1:00 PM EDT
The sixth round of the 2025 MLB Draft has just ended and it has been a rollercoaster thus far. The Washington Nationals took rising superstar shortstop Eli Willits with the first overall pick, while the Colorado Rockies selected Ethan Holliday, an Oklahoma native and son of former MLB star Matt Holliday, with the fourth pick. WV Sports Nation is watching the later rounds very closely to see which Mountaineers from their incredible 2025 run will be chosen in this year’s draft.
Position players Logan Sauve, Sam White, Skylar King, Grant Hussey, and Ben Lumsden all have a legitimate shot of being selected in this year’s 2025 MLB draft. On the mound, we’re watching for Gavin Van Kempen, Griffin Kirn, and Jack Kartsonas to see if their names will be called.
Related: Top 2025 MLB Baseball Prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft
Excitement in Morgantown
The excitement is palpable as scouts and fans alike keep their eyes glued to draft coverage, hoping to see familiar faces from Morgantown make the leap to the pros. Each pick brings a mix of anticipation and nervous energy, especially for those players who’ve worked tirelessly to reach this moment.
The Mountaineers’ remarkable 2025 season has certainly put several players on the radar of MLB organizations. With their impressive college careers behind them, these talented athletes are now just waiting for that life-changing phone call. The later rounds often hold surprises, and sometimes the best stories come from players selected in rounds seven through twenty.
Draft day represents dreams coming true, and West Virginia fans are eagerly supporting their former collegiate stars as they take this next step in their baseball journey.
As the later rounds develop, we will update you with news of any and all West Virginia players drafted in the 2025 MLB draft.
