Ryan Lasko, Drew Conover selected by Oakland Athletics in 2023 MLB Draft
Former Rutgers baseball outfielder Ryan Lasko and former right-handed pitcher Drew Conover were selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Lasko was selected by the A’s with the 41st overall selection in the 2023 MLB Draft. During his three years of playing time on the Banks, Lasko achieved a .314 batting average along with totaling 201 hits, 38 home runs and 135 runs batted in (RBI). The outfielder finished second in all-time home runs for the Scarlet Knights.
Lasko hails from Jackson, New Jersey, and in the 2021 season, he was a driving force in getting Rutgers to the Big Ten Tournament championship game. The player established himself as formidable both at the plate and in the field. He led the Big Ten in both hits and runs scored and was eventually named to the All-Big Ten First Team.
Last season, Lasko hit for team-highs in batting average (.330), hits (75), runs scored (60) and stolen bases (18). He was once again a part of the All-Big Ten First Team, becoming the first player in program history to be selected to the First Team twice.
The outfielder finished in the top 10 of multiple categories for Rutgers throughout his collegiate career. He was third in home runs, tied for 10th in career RBIs, tied for sixth in career total bases, ninth in career runs and tied for ninth in career doubles. He is the only Knights player to have back-to-back seasons of at least 10 home runs.
Lasko proved himself as a multi-talented baseball player for the Knights with MLB hopes.
And his dreams came true when he was officially drafted by the Athletics. Lasko became just the fifth Rutgers player to be drafted in the second round or higher, joining Todd Frazier, Bobby Brownlie, Bud White and Doug Brittelle. He is the third-highest draft pick in school history.
"Congratulations to Ryan for his high draft selection by Oakland!" head coach Steve Owens said. "He is a tremendous baseball player with elite defensive skills in centerfield that are game changing at every level. He loves the game and plays hard every single day to help his team win."
Just two days later, Lasko’s former teammate and right-handed pitcher Drew Conover joined him. Conover, who spent his junior year of college with the Knights, was drafted by the Athletics with the 316th pick in the 11th round of the draft.
Hailing from Pittstown, New Jersey, Conover was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 22nd round of the 2022 MLB Draft but opted to play another year of college baseball and broaden his horizons.
Before joining Rutgers, Conover pitched for Seton Hall until he transferred to the Knights. In his junior season, he threw for a 4.50 earned run average while striking out 83 batters in 68 total innings. Conover’s play earned him a spot on the 2023 All-Big Ten Third Team.
Conover made program history after Oakland selected him in the draft. He and his father, Kevin Conover, became the first father-son duo in Rutgers history to be drafted into the majors.
Both Lasko and Drew Conover will now look to take their talents from New Jersey to Oakland in hopes of one day making it to "The Show."
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