MLB draft 2023: Ryan Hawks' 'instant value' and other Louisville baseball players, commits
With Louisville baseball falling short of the postseason for the first time since 1970, right-handed pitcher Ryan Hawks went back home to Bowling Green for two weeks to decompress.
There, he received some much-needed encouragement from his father.
“He (said), ‘I don't know what's gonna happen with the draft or your professional career, but you're prepared,’" Hawks said. "I just think having that confidence come from him, because he was always a tough critic of me growing up … was major for me.”
After taking the two weeks off, Hawks returned to Louisville and developed a seven-day workout plan with left-handed pitcher Tate Kuehner. Now the two await the 2023 MLB Draft, which begins Sunday. Hawks is projected to go in one of the first 10 rounds and is the No. 254 prospect, according to Future Star Series' Top 400.
Hawks' career at U of L was full of ups and downs. His freshman season was shut down at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was sidelined the following season as he recovered from an elbow injury.
Hawks’ first full season was in 2022, when he posted a 5-3 record and 4.96 ERA from the bullpen. This past season, he was U of L’s Friday night starter and led the team in strikeouts with 80. He went 5-3 again but lowered his ERA to 4.58.
“I just think he left his mark in so many ways for our pitching staff — how to overcome injuries, how to handle adversity, how to go from ... being a reliever to one of our top relievers to one of our top weekend arms,” U of L coach Dan McDonnell said. “If you work hard and you stick to the process, these doors have a chance of opening for you.”
McDonnell said he believes Hawks is going to "bring instant value to an organization.
"... This guy's gone through some real-life experiences during his college years. We just feel like he's prepared for the challenges of pro ball, but also the challenges of life.”
Making upgrades: Louisville baseball stadium and basketball practice facility renovations approved by ULAA
C.L. Brown: 2023-24 Louisville women’s basketball roster proof few adapt better than Jeff Walz
Here's a look at other Cardinals and U of L commits who could hear their names called during the three-day draft:
Current Louisville baseball players
Jack Payton, C
Payton could add to the list of former Cardinal catchers who make it to the pros. The list includes Henry Davis, Dalton Rushing and Will Smith. Ranked as MLB.com’s No. 148 prospect, Payton was U of L’s leading hitter for a second consecutive season with a .374 batting average, which ranked eighth in the ACC, despite missing seven games due to an injury. The Illinois native also tallied 41 RBIs, 43 runs scored and 12 home runs and had the conference’s eighth-best on-base percentage (.472) in his final season for U of L.
Christian Knapczyk, SS
Knapczyk also missed time this past season, only playing 45 of 55 games due to injury, but was still Louisville’s second-leading hitter (.331). He batted in 24 runs and scored 40 more with one home run. Knapczyk, the 156th prospect ahead of the draft, led the Cardinals with 19 stolen bases, which tied for sixth-best in the ACC. If drafted, he’d be the first Cardinal shortstop to be selected since the San Francisco Giants took Tyler Fitzgerald with the 116th pick in the fourth round of the 2019 draft.
Evan Webster, LHP
The lefty ended the season with a 4-2 record and 3.09 ERA in 22 appearances, including three starts and 35 innings pitched. Webster tallied 36 strikeouts and had a season-best four Ks in the Cardinals’ season finale against Florida State.
Louisville basketball schedule 2023-24: Here's everything you need to know
Isaac Humphrey, OF
While he started 39 games at right field, Humphrey also made two starts in center field and played in 51 games this spring. He batted .246 and drove in 24 runs while scoring 35.
Logan Beard, IF
Only one of two Cardinals to play in all 55 games this year, Beard started in 54 contests at second and third base with two starts as a DH. The North Oldham High School graduate was the team’s fifth-leading hitter (.282) with 10 doubles, seven home runs, 34 RBIs and 35 runs scored.
JT Benson, OF
Benson was U of L’s fourth-leading hitter with a .288 batting clip and is listed by Future Star Series as the No. 246 prospect in the draft. He scored 38 runs and batted in 34 more with six home runs despite missing six games. Benson's signature moment was a three-run home run to help Louisville beat second-ranked Wake Forest 7-2 on April 16.
Kaleb Corbett, RHP
The righty had the lowest ERA on the team (1.69) while making 18 appearances and pitching 21 1/3 innings. During that time, Corbett fanned 22 batters, which included a season-high five against Virginia on May 13. The Fern Creek High School graduate also held Florida State scoreless over 2 2/3 innings to help the Cardinals win 7-4 on May 18.
Ryan McCoy, IF
In his first season with the Cardinals, the Wabash Valley College transfer hit .247, scored 43 times and tied a team best in home runs with 12, two of which came against Duke on April 21 in a 10-9 loss. McCoy also had a season-high five RBIs against the Blue Devils in the contest and ended the year with 44.
Breaking down the numbers: What to know about Louisville's 2022 ticket sales and more
Louisville baseball commits
Ty Starke, LHP
According to MaxPreps, Starke had a 4-1 record, 1.93 ERA and 45 strikeouts with St. Xavier in the spring. He tossed a two-hitter and fanned 12 to help the Tigers beat rival Trinity 3-1 in the Seventh Region tournament semifinals.
Parker Detmers, RHP
The righty from Glenwood (Ill.) High School can follow in the footsteps of his older brother and current Los Angeles Angels pitcher, Reid Detmers, by attending Louisville. Or he can fast track his professional career by joining him in the pros. Ranked as the 128th-best prospect, Parker Detmers’ fastball has been clocked at up to 94 miles per hour and helped Glenwood reach the sectional semifinals in his final prep campaign. According to MaxPreps, Detmers had a 0.45 ERA with a 4-1 record and struck out 77 batters.
Zion Rose, C
Rose is the No. 144 prospect ahead of the MLB draft. After hitting .496 with four home runs, 39 RBIs and 58 runs as a junior for Brother Rice (Ill.) High School, where U of L catcher Payton attended, he opted to attend IMG Academy in Florida for his senior year. There, he batted .395 with 38 runs scored and 26 RBIs over 25 games, per MaxPreps.
Moving forward: One year after NIL collective began, where does Louisville stand in evolving landscape?
Colton Hartman, LHP
Future Star Series listed the lefthanded pitcher from Lebanon (Ohio) High School as the No. 204 prospect in the upcoming draft. He ended his prep career with 88 strikeouts, a 6-2 record and a 1.19 ERA in 53 innings over nine appearances.
George Baker, C
The Maryland native who attended Pro5 Baseball Academy in North Carolina, Baker participated in the MLB draft combine in June. He also plays first and third base.
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter at @Alexis_Cubit.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: MLB draft prospects: Louisville baseball players, high school commits
