Seven Iowans, including four former Hawkeyes were selected in the 2025 MLB Draft.

ATLANTA, Georgia — Seven Iowans heard their names called during the 2025 MLB Draft, with three going off the board in the first three rounds. 

Des Moines native Sean Gamble was selected 23rd overall during the first round by the Kansas City Royals. Gamble has trained at the IMG Academy in Florida since he was 14 years old. The second baseman/outfielder was ranked 27th on the MLB’s top 250 draft prospect list. Gamble committed to play baseball at Vanderbilt, but is expected to forgo college and sign with the Royals.

With the 23rd pick of the 2025 #MLBDraft, the @Royals select 2B/OF Sean Gamble from IMG Academy (FL). pic.twitter.com/vZSESUe3f0

— MLB (@MLB) July 14, 2025

In the second round, the Philadelphia Phillies drafted Iowa star pitcher Cade Obermueller with the 63rd pick. The Iowa City native had a 3.02 ERA in 15 starts last season. Obermueller earned third-team All-America honors, striking out 117 batters over 83.1 innings. That ranks second all-time in program history for strikeouts in a single season. 

Dallas Center-Grimes standout Taitn Gray was selected in the third round as the 86th overall pick by Tampa Bay Rays. Gray was named the 2024-25 Gatorade Iowa Baseball Player of the Year and broke the all-time career homerun record at DCG. The MLB had Gray ranked 92nd on its top 250 draft prospects list. Gray was an Oregon baseball commit, but has opted to go pro and sign with the Rays.

Congratulations Taitn! What a year this has been for you. You are one of the most humble and hardworking players we have seen and it’s been an honor to have a front row seat to it. We are proud of you and can’t wait to follow along your career! You have EARNED it! pic.twitter.com/5KJknKGC1O

— DCG Baseball (@DCG__Baseball) July 14, 2025

Sergeant Bluff native and Iowa pitcher Daniel Wright was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 10th round. Wright had 20 strikeouts in his 18 appearances for the Hawkeyes last season and posted a 3.41 ERA. Prior to his time at Iowa, he played at Houston for two seasons.

With the 402nd pick, Iowa junior pitcher Aaron Savary was taken off the board by the Cleveland Guardians in the 13th round. The Dubuque native started 15 games for the Hawkeyes last season and went 7-2 with a 4.37 ERA. He recorded 82 strikeouts. 

Iowa pitcher Anthony Watts was drafted 420th overall in the 14th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. The junior from Clive struck out 45 batters in 24 appearances last season. Watts played his freshman season at Creighton before transferring in 2023 and playing two seasons for the Hawks. Collegiately, he pitched in 59 games with 11 starts, posting an 8-8 record. Across his three seasons, Watts recorded 129 strikeouts in 129 innings. He’s the 37th player to be drafted under Iowa head coach Rick Heller.

Another Iowan who found his way to an out-of-state college, FIU pitcher Owen Puk was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 18th round, going 531st overall. Hailing from Cedar Rapids, Puk made 13 appearances last season, tallying 12 starts. During his final season at FIU, he struck out 51 batters across 40.1 innings played. In Iowa, Puk attended Marion High School where he was named first team all-state, helping win a state title in 2021.

The @Nationals got a good one 😤@owen_puk is off to the nation’s capital! pic.twitter.com/AxnQDZ1lEa

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) July 14, 2025