VENICE (SNN-TV) – Former Venice High School star and University of South Florida right-handed pitcher Orion Kerkering was selected in the fifth round of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday afternoon. Kerkering was drafted with the 152nd overall pick.
Kerkering becomes the 128th player drafted out of the University of South Florida. He joins RHP Carson Ragsdale, who was drafted out of USF in the fourth round of the 2020 draft, in the Phillies organization.
In 129.2 IP over three seasons at South Florida, Kerkering totaled 167 strikeouts. In 2022, his 91 punchouts over 67.2 IP ranked third in the American Athletic Conference and he led the league in batters struck out looking (32). Kerkering ranked 32nd in the NCAA this season in strikeouts/9-innings pitched (12.10) and 56th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.79), while issuing only 19 free passes.
Over 52 career appearances (11 starts) at USF, Kekering owned a 10-11 record with nine saves and 4.79 ERA.
Kerkering joins former Indian Dalton Guthrie in the Phillies’ organization.
