​Ryan Piech, a Walsh Jesuit High School alum, was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh round of the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday, July 12. He was chosen with the 200th overall pick, a selection slot valued at approximately $311,700 according to MLB Pipeline. Piech, a 2023 graduate of Walsh Jesuit, starred at Xavier University last season, establishing himself as a standout pitcher and earning recognition for his performance on the mound.
A right-handed pitcher, Piech posted an 8-3 record with a 3.18 ERA and 98 strikeouts over 14 starts and 76⅓ innings during his junior season at Xavier. His wins and strikeouts led the Musketeers, underscoring his role as a core contributor on the pitching staff. Across two seasons at Xavier, Piech accumulated a 12-4 record with a 3.71 ERA and 163 strikeouts in 136 innings, highlighting his consistency and growth as a collegiate pitcher. His excellence was acknowledged with first-team All-Big East honors in 2026 and second-team all-conference recognition in 2025.
Observers describe Piech with high regard. One evaluator remarked, “Ryan is special. He’s built like a pro pitcher. He throws like a pro pitcher. He talks the way I imagine a pro pitcher would talk. He’s got it. He’s had it for a long time. Everyone has known it. He knows how to work it and puts in the work to make himself better, too.” The impression Piech leaves is of a competitor with a mature approach and a strong work ethic, attributes that have followed him from his high school days through his college career and into the professional ranks.
Piech’s potential pathway to the major leagues fits a familiar pattern for athletes who rose through the ranks from high school to the minors and beyond. In the history of Xavier’s program, there have been players who advanced to the major leagues or reached the minor league levels and above. Notable examples include LHP Joe Mockbee, who played for the Chicago White Sox during 2017-18, and LHP David Starn, who spent time with the Atlanta Braves in 2012-14. These indicators, along with Piech’s proven abilities, suggest he could follow a trajectory that some Xavier alumni have taken toward higher levels of professional baseball.
The transition from college ball to the professional stage requires continued development, and Piech’s profile suggests he possesses the attributes teams look for in a developing left-handed pitcher. His performance at Xavier demonstrated not only statistical proficiency but also the traits associated with successful professional players: consistency, resilience, and the willingness to refine mechanics and approach. As Piech begins his professional journey with the Orioles organization, his prior accomplishments at Walsh Jesuit and Xavier, combined with the confidence placed in him by scouts, position him as a prospect worth monitoring for those following Ohio high school and college baseball pipelines.
For readers seeking more information on Piech’s draft selection and the Orioles’ plans for his development, it’s worthwhile to track updates from the Orioles’ minor league system, Xavier’s baseball program, and coverage from outlets that track draft evaluations and slot values. This article originally appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal and can provide additional context on Piech’s background and the significance of his selection within the 2026 MLB Draft landscape. The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be reached via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.