Four Wildcats Selected in 2025 MLB Draft

Two current and two former Pearl River baseball standout athletes have been selected in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft.

KK Clark transferred from Mississippi State to Pearl River for the 2025 season, and he had an incredible season for the Wildcats. In 18 starts on the mound, Clark retired 116 batters and walked just 22, turning in a 12-2 record for the season.

His 1.84 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 88 innings pitched helped earn him First Team All-MACCC, MACCC Pitcher of the Year and NJCAA First Team All-America. In the postseason, Clark was also deemed the NJCAA World Series Outstanding Pitcher.

Clark was selected with the 454th overall pick in the 15th round by the Baltimore Orioles.

The other current Wildcat selected was Jacob Johnson, another pitcher who had an outstanding season on the mound. In 71 innings, he struck out 70 batters and notched a 12-1 record in 17 appearances. Johnson was also named First Team All-MACCC as well as All-Region 23 and NJCAA All-America Honorable Mention.

Johnson was picked in the 11th round with the 325th overall pick to the Texas Rangers.

As for former Wildcats, one of the two was Conner Ware, who finished as an LSU Tiger. During his time in Poplarville, he totaled 49 strikeouts through 32 innings on the mound despite battling injuries throughout both seasons. He finished his Wildcat career with a 1.69 ERA and a 3-0 record.

This past season in Baton Rouge, Ware pitched in 16 games for the Tigers and amassed a 4-1 record. He was selected by the New York Mets in the 15th round with the 463rd overall pick.

Last but not least, former Wildcat and Southern Miss relief pitcher Landen Payne got the call. In his two seasons with Pearl River, he was a major piece to the Wildcats’ run to the 2022 NJCAA National Championship.

In 2022 and 2023, Payne earned three saves while retiring 62 batters over a 40 2/3 inning stretch. Over the last couple seasons, he has broken out in Hattiesburg with the Golden Eagles. Despite appearing in 20 games, Payne recorded a 2.76 ERA in 32 2/3 innings on the mound and struck out 47 batters.

Payne will take the next step in his career after he was selected with the 526th overall pick in the 18th round by the Chicago White Sox.

Author administrator Kellen Walker