PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Pilots pitcher Sam Stuhr was the first pick in the fifth round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft by the Oakland Athletics on Monday. He was the 137th overall pick in the draft, the highest drafted Portland player since Kory Casto was selected 87th by the Montreal Expos in 2003.

Stuhr becomes the eighth Pilot to be taken in the draft since Geoff Loomis took over as head coach of the Pilots in 2016 and 67th in program history. He now joins former Pilot catcher Cooper Hummel and former Pilot shortstop Chad Stevens as the only active Pilots currently with an MLB organization. Hummel is currently with the Houston Astros Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, while Stevens plays with the Tri-City Dust Devils, a High-A affiliate with the Los Angeles Angels.

Stuhr was stellar in his lone year with the Pilots. An All-West Coast Conference Second Team selection, Stuhr threw 80 innings this year with a 3-2 record and 4.61 ERA. He was one of just two players to post 100 strikeouts in the WCC this year and ranked second in strikeouts per nine innings at 11.25. He was a two-time WCC Player of the Week honoree as well.

It was an incredible year for the Pilots, who went 37-19 overall and 19-5 in WCC play. Their 37 wins were the most they've posted in a single season and their 19 wins are the most they've ever had in WCC play and the most across any conference they've played in since 1980. They made the 2024 WCC Tournament Championship this year, advancing to the championship game for the second season in a row.

Portland Head Coach Geoff Loomis on Stuhr

"Sam is a heck of a talent with a big professional career ahead of him. He was a major contributor to our program this season and earned this opportunity through hard work. It is a great day for Sam and great day for the Pilots."
  Get Your Tickets Now!
Secure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or by downloading the Portland Pilots App.  For group and fan experience package information, email pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.

Donate Today
Fans interested in making a contribution to the Pilot Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly helps our nearly 300 student-athletes as they strive to make a difference in our community and achieve academic and athletic excellence. Thank you for support of Pilot Athletics!

Follow Along With the Action
Get the latest news and information about your favorite University of Portland athletic programs by visiting PortlandPilots.com. You can also follow along for the most dynamic coverage and team-centric content by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Instagram.