Butler pitcher Braxton Hyde was chosen with the 416th pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft by the Colorado Rockies last Tuesday.

Braxton, the sophomore out of Liberal, Kansas, is the first Grizzly player since 2019 to hear his name called, when Zach Bravo was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 29th round.

"I was very excited and overwhelmed with happiness that my dream had come true," Hyde said.

Hyde was the ace of the Grizzlies' pitching staff this season as he made 15 starts on the bump for BJ McVay's team, earning five wins and 73 innings pitched. He finished with a 4.68 ERA and 98 strikeouts, including two games with 10 or more and a career high 12 punchouts in a playoff game against Coffeyville. He also finished the season with two complete game victories.

"I couldn't be prouder of what Braxton has achieved," said head coach BJ McVay. "He is a great kid, great person, great athlete and overall, a great human. He is at a maturity level with a level head on his shoulders that he is going to do well."

McVay mentioned, "when he came in his arm was good and he had talent but watching him progress as a college pitcher you could see the signs that he could be special. He did what the team needed his freshman season moving from a starter to the bullpen and he did well in that role. This year you could really tell that he found a new gear and he had what it was going to take to make it." 

In Hyde's freshman campaign in 2021, he won all three postseason games he appeared in and earned five starts, including a five-inning perfect game against.

"My time at Butler has definitely prepared me for this, because of all the hard work myself and my teammates have put into it. At Butler I figured out what commitment was and what it was to be a great teammate and a great leader," said Hyde.

"I think when it finally hit me that I could go play professionally was the summer after my freshman year when everything finally started clicking for me."

Hyde, a Kansas native, played for Liberal High School before the move to El Dorado, where he starred, helping Liberal to two conference championships, and compiling an ERA of 1.24 in his senior year, striking out 128 batters throughout his high school career. 

"The one thing that has driven me the most to my success is being able to make my family proud," mentioned Hyde. "My entire family, friends, teammates and coaches have helped me along the way and I can't thank them enough for everything."

Hyde will join the Rockies organization as he looks to take the first step on the road to becoming a big league pitcher. 

"I'm excited to get to work and be able to play for such a great organization," commented Hyde. "I don't feel like I'm nervous at all, I'm ready for everything that is coming my way." 

When asked about the feeling of becoming a major league player Hyde said, "It really hasn't sunk in yet. What I do know is I am appreciative of everything that has happened and look forward to the future."