TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill was the first Wildcat off the board in the 2025 MLB Draft.

Summerhill was selected 42nd overall by the Tampa Bay Rays.

He is the 4th first-round pick (second round started at No. 44) in the last six years, third under Head Coach Chip Hale. Chase Davis was selected 21st overall in 2023 by the Cardinals, Daniel Susac was picked 19th overall pick by the A’s in 2022 and Austin Wells was selected 28th overall by the Yankees in 2020.

At Arizona, Summerhill had a career .323 batting average, .424 on-base percentage and .535 slugging percentage. He had 99 RBI and 14 home runs in 124 games.

The Chicago native made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2023, playing in 22 games with 18 starts.

He earned all-Pac-12 honors in 2024 after helping lead the Wildcats to the Pac-12 regular season and tournament titles. He hit the walk-off two-run double against Oregon State on May 18 to secure Arizona’s sixth Pac-12 regular season title.

Summerhill’s junior year was up and down. He helped lead Arizona to its first College World Series appearance since 2021, but he dealt with multiple injuries. He missed 16 regular-season games with a hand injury from March 23 to April 23. He later missed five more regular season games with a hamstring injury.

Before his hand injury, Summerhill had a .409 batting average. He couldn’t find that groove again after, especially in the postseason. The leadoff hitter managed just a .208 batting average through the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament. Despite his personal struggles, Summerhill says he pushed past those frustrations and focused on the team during its historic run.

Outfielder Aaron Walton, Tucson native and shortstop Mason White, and Catcher Adonys Guzman are also expected to hear their names called in the MLB Draft. 

Rounds 1-3 of the MLB Draft continue Sunday. Round 4-20 begin Monday starting at 8:30 a.m. Tucson time.