By JOHN BOHNENKAMP
Owen Rice became the second former Burlington Bees player selected in this year’s Major League Baseball draft when the St. Louis Cardinals picked the left-hander in the 20th round on Tuesday.
Rice went with the 591st overall pick.
Rice, who played with the Bees in 2022, played at Wisconsin-Milwaukee the last two seasons. He struck out 65 in 44 1/3 innings in his two seasons with the Panthers, including 51 this season. Rice was 1-2 with a 6.27 earned run average in 10 starts this season, allowing 30 hits in 33 innings.
Rice played in four games with the Bees in 2022, going 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA in four appearances. He struck out 18 in 8 2/3 innings.
Rice is the third former Bees player to be selected in the draft since the organization moved to the Prospect League in 2021. Outfielder Spencer Nivens was selected by the Kansas City Royals in last season’s draft, and infielder Zane Zielinski was drafted by the San Francisco Giants on Monday.
Photo: Former Burlington Bees pitcher Owen Rice was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 20th round of Tuesday’s MLB draft. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
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