St. John's University Athletics
Liam O’Leary Selected by Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026 MLB Draft
7/12/2026 5:20:00 PM | Baseball
The Souderton, Pa. native was picked No. 438 overall
QUEENS. N.Y. – After helping the Red Storm baseball team to a decorated campaign in 2026, St. John's ace Liam O'Leary has been selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 15th round of the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday.
Selected with the 438th overall pick, O'Leary becomes the 15th Red Storm hurler chosen in the MLB Draft since 2015. He is also the program's second selection taken in the 15th round during that span, joining Thomas Hackimer, who was selected by the New York Mets in 2015.
In his debut season with the Red Storm, O'Leary emerged as the ace of the St. John's pitching staff. The junior posted an 8-5 record across 17 starts while holding opposing hitters to a .248 batting average. The 6-foot-4 right-hander delivered his best performances down the stretch, helping guide the Johnnies to victories in eight of his final 10 starts. O'Leary played a key role in helping St. John's win all seven of its BIG EAST series, posting a 7-1 record against conference opponents before adding a pair of victories during the Red Storm's postseason run.
The Souderton, Pa., native finished the campaign with a 3.64 ERA and 78 strikeouts across 108.2 innings pitched. His 108.2 frames of work tied Sean Hagan's program single-season record set in 2012, adding his name to the top of the St. John's record book following his first year in Queens. O'Leary also helped the Red Storm record one of its three shutouts during the season and limited opponents to three earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 17 starts.
O'Leary earned three BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll selections and twice garnered BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors during his breakout campaign. The junior led the conference and ranked fifth nationally with three complete games, highlighted by a complete-game shutout against UConn that earned him his first weekly award on April 20. He collected the honor again on May 11 after going the distance in a homecoming victory over Villanova.
The right-handed hurler capped off a breakout season in Queens with ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team honors, a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection and a spot on the All-BIG EAST Tournament Team.
O'Leary joins teammate Adam Agresti, taken in the 11th round (No. 319 overall) by the Los Angeles Angels, marking the first time since 2019 that two or more Johnnies have been drafted in the same season. He is also the first Red Storm pitcher to be selected by Pittsburgh since Michael LoPresti in 2018.
St. John's baseball has established a longstanding tradition of developing players for the professional ranks, producing 135 MLB Draft selections and 31 additional undrafted free agent signees throughout the program's storied history. During Mike Hampton's 25-year tenure in Queens, the 2026 ABCA/ATEC Northeast Region and BIG EAST Coach of the Year has played an integral role in that tradition, helping guide 63 players to MLB Draft selections and 15 others to professional contracts as undrafted free agents.
Selected with the 438th overall pick, O'Leary becomes the 15th Red Storm hurler chosen in the MLB Draft since 2015. He is also the program's second selection taken in the 15th round during that span, joining Thomas Hackimer, who was selected by the New York Mets in 2015.
In his debut season with the Red Storm, O'Leary emerged as the ace of the St. John's pitching staff. The junior posted an 8-5 record across 17 starts while holding opposing hitters to a .248 batting average. The 6-foot-4 right-hander delivered his best performances down the stretch, helping guide the Johnnies to victories in eight of his final 10 starts. O'Leary played a key role in helping St. John's win all seven of its BIG EAST series, posting a 7-1 record against conference opponents before adding a pair of victories during the Red Storm's postseason run.
The Souderton, Pa., native finished the campaign with a 3.64 ERA and 78 strikeouts across 108.2 innings pitched. His 108.2 frames of work tied Sean Hagan's program single-season record set in 2012, adding his name to the top of the St. John's record book following his first year in Queens. O'Leary also helped the Red Storm record one of its three shutouts during the season and limited opponents to three earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 17 starts.
O'Leary earned three BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll selections and twice garnered BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors during his breakout campaign. The junior led the conference and ranked fifth nationally with three complete games, highlighted by a complete-game shutout against UConn that earned him his first weekly award on April 20. He collected the honor again on May 11 after going the distance in a homecoming victory over Villanova.
The right-handed hurler capped off a breakout season in Queens with ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team honors, a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection and a spot on the All-BIG EAST Tournament Team.
O'Leary joins teammate Adam Agresti, taken in the 11th round (No. 319 overall) by the Los Angeles Angels, marking the first time since 2019 that two or more Johnnies have been drafted in the same season. He is also the first Red Storm pitcher to be selected by Pittsburgh since Michael LoPresti in 2018.
St. John's baseball has established a longstanding tradition of developing players for the professional ranks, producing 135 MLB Draft selections and 31 additional undrafted free agent signees throughout the program's storied history. During Mike Hampton's 25-year tenure in Queens, the 2026 ABCA/ATEC Northeast Region and BIG EAST Coach of the Year has played an integral role in that tradition, helping guide 63 players to MLB Draft selections and 15 others to professional contracts as undrafted free agents.
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