Louisville’ s Tucker Biven looks for the sign from his catcher during the College World Series. The right-handed pitcher was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 13th round of the Major League Baseball Draft 2025. Photo courtesy Louisville Baseball X page
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound right-hander went 5-0 with four saves and a 3.71 earned-run average in 23 appearances, including five starts, on the mound for the Cardinals this past season.
He pitched over 43 2 / 3 innings, allowed 26 runs( 18 earned) on 47 hits while walking 22 and striking out 36 for the Cardinals. Louisville reached the College World Series for the first time since 2019. At the College World Series, he made four postseason appearances and his biggest came against Oregon State on June 17.
He entered a tie game with two runners in scoring position and nobody out in the ninth inning of the elimination game. He was able to escape the jam to set up the Cardinals’ walk-off win. He tallied two victories and allowed 13 1 / 3 innings with a 1.35 earned-run average. His coaches at Louisville included Dan McDonnell( head coach), Roger Williams( assistant coach), Eric Snider( assistant coach / recruiting coordinator) and Adam Vrable( assistant coach).
“ They were all awesome people and they taught me how to be a good person and a good man,” Biven said.“ They also taught me if you do all of the right things, then you’ re on-field play will come and hard work will pay off.”
Doing the right things finally paid off for Biven to hear his name called during the 2025 MLB Draft. He was drafted 381st overall in the 13th round by the Washington Nationals. Currently, he’ s in Palm Beach, Fl., starting his professional career.
On Aug. 26, Biven was assigned to the Fredericksburg( Va.) Nationals, the Single-A affiliate of the Nationals. That night, he made his professional debut. He closed out his first professional season with a pair of relief appearances earlier in September.
He finished 0-0 with one save and a 2.25 earned-run average in four appearances( all in relief). Over four innings, he allowed one earned run on four hits while walking three and fanning six. Teams batted. 250 average against him and he had a 1.75 WHIP.
“ It was awesome as I was with my family and it has always been a dream,” Biven said of being drafted.“ I had an opportunity to go out of high school but I thought Louisville was too valuable to me and it was too much of an experience I didn’ t want to miss out on. I just wanted to experience playing in Omaha over getting into professional baseball too early. I had my time in college and it was fun but now it’ s a job.”
With new superstars coming from New Albany, Biven has some advice for up-andcoming stars for the‘ Dogs.
“ I would say stick to the process, have fun and be a great teammate,” Biven advised.“ If you’ re a great teammate, then you will get a lot more remembered a lot more for that then all of the individual accolades you have or the things you can do in your sport. Be a good friend, teammate, have fun and remember where you came from.”
PAGE NO. 10 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE JAN / FEB 2026