Jacksonville State pitcher Jackson Phipps was selected in the 16th round of the 2025 MLB draft on Monday, going to the Athletics with the No. 470 overall pick.

He is the first Jax State player drafted by the Athletics since 1983 when Scott Whaley was picked in the 15th round, according to a Jax State spokesperson.

In his lone season at Jax State, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound lefty claimed all-Conference USA honors as he served as the Gamecocks’ Friday starter.

He finished with a 3.33 ERA and a 4-2 record in 15 starts, walking 43 batters and striking out 83. Phipps allowed a .177 opponent batting average across 75.2 innings pitched.

During the Conference USA baseball tournament against Dallas Baptist, he threw eight innings of one-run ball while striking out 12 batters. Jax State advanced to the CUSA tournament championship game.

A native of Dallas, Ga., and graduate of East Paulding High School, he spent four seasons at South Carolina and made 21 appearances; he missed the 2022 season with injury and also did not play in 2024.

He is the second pitcher drafted from Jax State in three seasons; Birmingham native Jake Peppers was drafted by the White Sox in the 2023 season and is now in High-A Winston-Salem.