Pair of Panthers Selected by Padres on Day Two of MLB Draft
7/14/2025 9:50:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH – Left-handed pitcher Ryan Reed and first baseman Luke Cantwell were each selected by the San Diego Padres on the second day of the 2025 MLB Draft on Monday afternoon.
"We are extremely excited for Ryan, Luke and their families as they start their professional journeys," said Head Coach Mike Bell. "They both left memorable moments and a legacy to be proud of here at the University of Pittsburgh."
Reed was selected in the 15th round (460 overall) while Cantwell was taken in the 20th round (610 overall) by the Padres. They are just the second and third Panthers in program history to be selected by the San Diego Padres. Infielder Travis Whitmore was selected in the 35th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by San Diego.
"Their development is a true testament to their hard work and dedication in competing at the highest level while representing Pitt's Golden Standards," Bell finished.
Reed is the eighth pitcher selected in the MLB Draft under Mike Bell since he arrived at Pitt in 2019. Throughout his career, Bell has now guided 51 Division-I pitchers to be drafted. In his six years at the helm of the Pitt baseball program, eleven Panthers have been selected in the draft.
Pitt has had at least two Panthers drafted in each of the last three seasons. Cantwell is the first Panther position player drafted since Tatem Levins (Seattle Mariners, 8th round) in 2022.
From a Panther to a Padre ????@ryroo26_reed » @Padres
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) July 14, 2025
Reed is headed to San Diego! ????????#H2P pic.twitter.com/T2qQeMCVQC
Ryan Reed was a mainstay in Pitt's starting rotation over the last two seasons, making 27 starts over his sophomore and junior years. His 27 starts on the bump were the most by any Panther in the timeframe and rank him 20th all-time in program history.
The Ridley Park, PA native earned a career high five wins over his 14 starts last season. Reed struck out 67 batters over his team-leading 73.2 innings of work. He eclipsed the century mark for strikeouts in a stellar performance against No. 8 North Carolina in April. Reed fanned seven batters and allowed just two runs on four hits over seven innings while picking up the ranked win. He finished his career with 114 strikeouts in 34 appearances.
Heading out west ????@LukeCantwell2 » @Padres
— Pitt Baseball (@Pitt_BASE) July 14, 2025
Luke is also going to San Diego! ??????#H2P pic.twitter.com/OkxZAivdWQ
Luke Cantwell played and started in all 110 of Pitt's games in the last two seasons, after transferring from FDU as a junior. The Warrington, PA native was the heartbeat and leader of the Panthers' program over his two years in Pittsburgh.
He guided Pitt to a dramatic ACC Tournament Win over College World Series participant Louisville in May. With the game knotted at 11 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Pitt's first baseman launched a two-run blast to right which lifted the Panthers over the Cardinals to move on to the second round.
Cantwell was a career .326 hitter with the Panthers while accumulating 126 hits, 112 walks, 94 runs scored, 89 RBIs 28 doubles, 16 home runs and a .498 on-base percentage. Cantwell set the single-season program record for walks in his first year with the program in 2024, working 57 free passes. He ranked 6thall-time in walks in school history after just two seasons.
