Yankees select Justin West in 18th Round of 2025 MLB Draft

West becomes the sixth Louisville player to be selected in this year's draft

Louisville pitcher Justin West (46) pitched the final inning during the Cards' 8-1 win in the NCAA baseball Super Regional Friday afternoon. June 6, 2025 | Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville left-handed pitcher Justin West has been selected by the New York Yankees with the No. 554 overall pick in the 18th round of the 2025 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

West is the sixth Cardinal to be taken in this year’s draft, following right-handed pitcher Patrick Forbes, third baseman Jake Munroe, catcher Matt Klein, right-handed pitcher Tucker Biven and outfielder Eddie King Jr. He’s also the 111th MLB Draft selection in Dan McDonnell's 19-year tenure as the head coach at UofL.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound lefty was a regular fixture of Louisville's bullpen this past season. Making 25 appearances and a pair of starts, West posted a 5.59 ERA over 37.0 innings of work, striking out 52 while allowing only 20 walks in the process. His strikeout total was tied for third-best on the team, and tied for the most among primary relief pitchers.

The Paducah (Ky.) native redshirted his first year in college, then pitched just one game the next season due to injury. In what was his first full season as a redshirt sophomore in 2024, he made 12 appearances and two starts, finishing with a 5.40 ERA over 16.2 innings, while striking out 23 and walking only five.

(Photo of Justin West: Matt Stone - Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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