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Two rows of MLB scouts would pull out their radar guns and pop a squat right behind home plate whenever closer Joey Gerber took the mound at almost every Illinois Baseball game this season.
And the scouts must’ve liked what they saw.
Gerber was selected 238th overall by the Seattle Mariners in the eighth round in the 2018 MLB Draft on Tuesday, June 5.
Gerber had a dominant year out of the bullpen for the Illini in his junior season with a 3.14 ERA in 28.2 innings pitched, striking out 45 of the 119 batters he faced in his 25 appearances. He also held opponents to a .182 batting average.
Gerber’s 14 saves he recorded in 2018 was one shy being the most ever recorded in a single-season by an Illini (Tyler Jay).
The accolades the Maple Grove, Minnesota, native acquried his junior year include making the Stopper of Year Midseason watch list, Academic All-Big Ten and All-Big Ten third-team relief pitcher.
Stay with The Champaign Room for more MLB Draft coverage on the Illini.