Ohio State LHP Isaiah Coupet Invited To MLB Draft Combine
The Ohio State Buckeyes have a recent pedigree of producing starting pitching draftees, and likely their next is headed to the MLB Draft Combine.
Ohio State left-handed pitcher Isaiah Coupet was the lone Buckeye of the 274 draft prospects and 143 collegiate players to be invited to the MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in Phoenix Monday through Saturday, according to a release.
Coupet has been a crafty lefty with a plus-curveball that he's used to fool hitters for the past three seasons in Columbus.
Becoming the Buckeyes' Friday night starter for his junior campaign, in 33 career games, Coupet has a 4.61 ERA in 132 2/3 innings, striking out 199 hitters while walking 63. He strikes out 13.5 hitters per nine innings and has thrown 60.5 percent strikes in 1,937 career pitches, as he's held opposing hitters to a .209 average against him.
He's in his second season with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League — a summer wood-bat collegiate league that features some of the country's best talents. In 14.1 career innings, Coupet has allowed two earned runs, walked three and struck out 15.
In the past two drafts, Ohio State has had six pitchers selected.
In 2021, left-handed pitcher Seth Lonsway was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the sixth round, while right-handers Garrett Burhenn and Jack Neely were taken in the ninth and 11th rounds by the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees, respectively.
In last year's draft, right-hander T.J. Brock was selected in the sixth round by the Toronto Blue Jays and has since been promoted the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Righties Nate Karaffa and Ethan Hammerberg were both selected in the 20th round by the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox, respectively.
There are 15 Big Ten players invited to the MLB Draft Combine, according to a release.
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