​Day One of the 2026 MLB Draft has wrapped, and with it the baseball journey of Deven Sheerin has taken a new turn as he becomes a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies selected the former LSU reliever in the fourth round, picking him 128th overall on Saturday’s draft day. Sheerin’s path to LSU was a two-step trek that began at Mount St. Mary’s, where he spent his freshman season setting program records and establishing himself as a standout pitcher before transferring to Baton Rouge.
While at Mount St. Mary’s, Sheerin left an indelible mark on the program. He set school records with 109 strikeouts, averaged 14 strikeouts per nine innings, and held opponents to a .197 batting average across 70 innings pitched. His breakout freshman year earned him the MAAC Rookie of the Year award in 2024. In addition, Perfect Game named him a second-team Freshman All-American, and he was viewed as the No. 8 prospect in the transfer portal at that time.
Sheerin’s transition to LSU brought a new chapter to his collegiate career, though it came under unfortunate circumstances. He spent the 2025 season watching LSU’s national championship run from the dugout while recovering from a torn ACL. He returned to action in 2026, making his first appearance for the Tigers during the season-opening weekend against Milwaukee. Once back on the mound, Sheerin established himself as LSU’s closer, recording five saves across 20 appearances. He finished the season with a 3-2 record and a 4.78 earned run average. Over 37.2 innings pitched, he struck out 58 batters but also issued 18 walks, threw eight wild pitches, and hit another eight batters, signaling that his control needed refinement to reach his full potential at the next level.
Physically, Sheerin stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 255 pounds, and his raw tools have drawn attention from scouts. He was listed as the No. 145 overall prospect in the 2026 draft class. His fastball is a standout weapon, regularly registering in the plus-to-plus-plus range and sitting around 97 mph, with occasional bursts up to 100 mph. As the professional ranks await, evaluators project him as a reliever rather than a starter. If he can tighten his control and command, he could become a late-innings option for a team seeking a power arm in relief roles.
On Day 1 of the draft, Sheerin became the third LSU Tiger selected, joining left-handed pitcher Derek Curiel, taken 5th overall by Pittsburgh, and right-hander Jake Brown, selected 65th overall by Seattle. The Phillies’ selection reflects a club valuing a potentially high-leverage reliever with a fast arm and the upside to develop into a key bullpen piece, particularly if he can refine his control under professional coaching and competition.
This overview first appeared on LSU Wire, highlighting the Phillies’ selection of LSU’s Deven Sheerin in the fourth round of the MLB Draft and examining the implications for his future in professional baseball.