Josh Stowers drafted 54th overall by Seattle Mariners

Louisville junior outfielder Josh Stowers was selected 54th overall by the Seattle Mariners in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft Monday night.

From U of L:

Stowers was an All-ACC First Team selection hitting .336 with nine home runs, 60 RBIs, 14 doubles, 72 runs scored, 52 walks and 36 stolen bases in 43 attempts this season. Stowers closed his third collegiate season by reaching base safely in 47 consecutive games, the longest streak for the Cardinals since the 2000 season. The 36 stolen bases in 2018 rank as the sixth highest single season total in school history. In his three-year career at Louisville, Stowers hit .323 with 60 stolen bases (eighth most in school history), 126 runs scored and 96 RBIs in 147 games played.

Just a couple of months ago, Stowers was being projected as a 7-10th round pick who would likely be back at Louisville for his senior season. After an unbelievable end of April and full month of May, here he is. Congrats to the young man on being the latest Card to realize this dream.

In other pertinent day one draft night news, U of L signee Jarred Kelenic was the first high school player to hear his name called. Kelenic went No. 6 overall to the New York Mets, and like Jo Adell last year (the No. 10 overall pick), will almost certainly never suit up for the Cardinals. The same will likely be true for Indianapolis Roncalli High School standout Nick Schnell, who was drafted 32nd overall by the Tampa Bay Rays. Schnell had been committed to U of L for over two years.

Such is the price of recruiting at a level this program could have previously never dreamed of.