Former Lamar University outfielder Damian Ruiz, the 2025 Southland Conference Hitter of the Year, was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth round of the MLB Draft with the 272nd overall pick.
A first-team All-Southland selection, Ruiz batted .388 during his lone season with the Cardinals, recording 83 hits, 22 doubles, seven home runs, 46 RBIs and 76 runs scored. Ruiz rewrote the Lamar record book in 2025, setting single-season program records for longest hitting streak (32 games), longest on-base streak (49 games) and runs scored. Following his season at Lamar, Ruiz transferred to Arkansas, where he hit .309 in 2026 with 60 hits, five home runs and 30 RBIs.
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On the final day of the Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday, Lamar University pitcher Travis Lutz was selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the 17th round with the 513th overall pick. Lutz earned Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year honors and was named second-team All-Southland.
In his lone season at Lamar, Lutz went 4-3 with a 3.26 ERA, 68 strikeouts, two saves and a 1.10 WHIP in 16 appearances, including nine starts. He logged 60.2 innings on the mound.
Lutz became the 93rd player in program history to be selected in the MLB Draft and extended Lamar’s streak of having at least one player drafted to four consecutive years dating back to 2023.
He was one of five Southland Conference players selected in this year’s MLB Draft.
Other Southland players drafted:
- Northwestern State pitcher Dylan Marrionneaux (4-2 record with a 3.51 ERA and 81 strikeouts) (Fourth round, 126th overall | Chicago Cubs)
- McNeese pitcher Eric Nachtsheim (8-4 record with a 3.39 ERA and 129 strikeouts) (Sixth round, 179th overall | San Francisco Giants)
- Nicholls pitcher Dalton Hill (One save with a 1.35 ERA and 19 strikeouts) (13th round, 389th overall | Kansas City Royals)
- Houston Christian catcher Luke Bard (.345 average in 36 starts with 48 hits, 10 doubles and 22 RBIs) (19th round, 583rd overall | Los Angeles Dodgers)
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Cooper Carlgren was signed with the Washington Nationals as an undrafted free agent.
A right-handed pitcher from Topeka, Kan., Carlgren went 2-1 with a 4.44 ERA in 19 appearances for LU, including four starts, during the 2026 season. He struck out 53 batters in 48.2 innings.
Carlgren earned Southland Conference All-Tournament team honors after posting a 1.86 ERA with a 1-0 record and seven strikeouts in two appearances, including one start, spanning 9.2 innings.
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