Evans and Simmons Selected on Day Three of the 2023 MLB Draft

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Panther pitchers Logan Evans (Seattle Mariners) and Dylan Simmons (Cincinnati Reds) were both selected on day three of the MLB Draft Tuesday afternoon.

Evans was the first Panther off the board in this year's draft as Seattle selected him in the 12^th round (367^thoverall). Simmons was taken shortly after as Cincinnati used their 15^th round pick (438^th overall) to draft him.

"We couldn't be more excited and proud for Logan Evans, and Dylan Simmons on being selected in the 2023 MLB Draft," said head coach Mike Bell. "It once again shows the training and development within our baseball program provides the opportunity for success and achievement at the highest level. We look forward to follow both of their successes at the next level. Once a panther, always a panther."

Evans will join Tatem Levins as a member of the Seattle Mariners organization. Levins was the lone Panther drafted last year when Seattle selected him in the eighth round (246^th overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft.

The Saline, Michigan native emerged as one of the Panthers strongest arms during the 2023 season, making nine starts in his 11 appearances. He owned a 5-3 record with a 5.88 ERA. Evans struck out 42 batters over his 49 innings of work during his junior campaign, striking out a career-high nine plus batter twice last season.

Evans earned wins over No.7 Virginia and No. 11 Miami last season. He tied a career-high for strikeouts when he struck out nine batters in a series clinching win at No. 7 Virginia. Evans threw seven innings only allowing three runs on four hits as he retired 21 of the last 24 batters he faced. He would set a new career-high for strikeouts two starts later as he struck out double digit batters (10) against California.

Perhaps his best start of the season came in his very next start as he threw seven shutout innings at Georgia Tech. Evans struck out six batters and only allowed four hits.

Pitt Players Selected by Seattle Mariners in MLB Draft
2023 Logan Evans 12^th Round (367^th overall)

2022 Tatem Levins 8^th Round (246^th overall)

2010 Danny Lopez 17^th Round

Pittsburgh ?? @Mariners

Congrats, @loganevans10_!!#H2P pic.twitter.com/ydRv8W2BX6
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) July 11, 2023

Dylan Simmons became the go-to arm out of the bullpen for the Panthers during the 2023 season. He finished the year with a 2-2 record and a 4.58 ERA. He made 24 appearances during his junior year and struck out 60 batters over his 39.1 innings of work.

The Jacksonville, Fl. Native had multiple scoreless outings in relief this past season. Simmons threw three shutout innings as the set-up man in Pitt's shutout victory vs. No. 2 Wake Forest. A few weeks later, in a win over No.11 Miami, he would strike out four batters as he threw two scoreless innings in relief. Earlier in the season, Simmons earned a save against Harvard as he threw three scoreless innings in relief and struck out six.

Devin Mesoraco, the Panthers volunteer assistant and first base coach, spent 12 years in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Mesoraco was the Reds' first round selection (15^th overall) in the 2007 MLB Draft.

Pitt Players Selected by Cincinnati Reds in MLB Draft

2023 Dylan Simmons 15^th Round (438^th overall)

2018 Matt Pidich 8^th Round (229^th overall)