The Indiana University baseball program is celebrating a historic moment as outfielder Devin Taylor was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2025 MLB Draft, marking him as the 48th overall pick. This achievement makes Taylor the highest-drafted outfielder in the program's history, surpassing Matt Gorski's second-round selection in 2019, and the highest drafted Hoosier since Kyle Schwarber was picked fourth overall in 2014.
Taylor's journey at Indiana was nothing short of exceptional. Arriving in Bloomington in the fall of 2022 as one of the most decorated recruits, Taylor quickly lived up to the hype. Head Coach Jeff Mercer recognized his potential early on, even recruiting Taylor since he was 14 years old, and called him a "program changer". Over his three seasons, Taylor earned eight All-American honors and was named the 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. In his junior year, he was a unanimous All-American. Taylor also helped lead IU to 108 wins, three Big Ten Tournament appearances, and two NCAA Tournament appearances. In April 2025, Taylor broke the program's all-time home run record, finishing his career with 54 home runs, a .350 batting average, 229 hits, and 179 RBIs.
Adding to the excitement, fellow Indiana outfielder Korbyn Dickerson was also drafted on Monday by the Seattle Mariners in the fifth round. Dickerson's selection further cements the program's success in developing top talent. After playing sparingly at Louisville, Dickerson transferred to Indiana and had a breakout 2025 season, batting .314 with 19 home runs and 77 RBIs. He was also named a Third Team All-American by Baseball America, and a First Team All-Big Ten selection.
The success of Taylor and Dickerson underscores the impact of Head Coach Jeff Mercer, under whose leadership 28 unique players from IU have been selected in the MLB Draft. Since 2019, seven Indiana outfielders have been drafted, and since 2022, the program has produced seven selections inside the top-five rounds. In addition to Taylor and Dickerson, veteran pitchers Cole Gilley and Ben Grable were also drafted. Gilley was selected in the 10th round by the Philadelphia Phillies, and Grable was taken in the 11th round by the New York Yankees. Furthermore, two Indiana signees, Matthew Fisher and Alex Barr, were selected in the 7th and 12th rounds, respectively.
As Taylor embarks on his professional career, likely starting with either the Stockton Ports or the Lansing Lugnuts, he leaves behind a legacy of excellence at Indiana University. His selection not only marks a personal achievement but also brings pride to the entire Hoosier baseball program and its fans.
