PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Pilots baseball shortstop Chad Stevens was drafted in the 11th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros on Tuesday. He is the first Pilot to be drafted since Beau Brundage was drafted back in 2018.

"I feel good, I'm really excited," Stevens said. "This has been my goal since I can remember to play professional baseball so it feels really good to have that become a reality."

Stevens had a stellar senior season for the Pilots, earning first team All-WCC honors after helping lead Portland to their best record since 2012. Stevens led the Pilots batting average (.333), total hits (67), doubles (19), home runs (eight), RBI's (29), slugging percentage (.547) and on-base percentage. He was also tops in the WCC in doubles (29th in the nation), second in the conference in total bases (110) and tied for second in extra-base hits (27).

The Fox Island, Wash. native has his name littered all over the program record books for the Pilots. He ranks sixth in career doubles (46), ninth in most runs scored (118) and ranks in the top 15 among all Pilots in at bats (14th at 681), hits (13th at 198), total bases (12th at 294) and stolen bases (32).

The Pilots finished fifth in the WCC last season  with a 24-26 record overall and a 14-13 record in WCC play. Their 14 wins in conference were the most since 2010. Stevens is thankful for his time on The Bluff.

"Being a part of this new era of Pilots baseball is something I take a lot of pride in with Coach Geoff Loomis, Jake Valentine, Connor Lambert and everyone else," Stevens said. "I'm always going to be a huge Pilots baseball fan."