Minnesota Twins choose Alabama pitcher on first night of MLB draft

The Minnesota Twins chose Alabama pitcher Riley Quick with the 36th selection in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft on Sunday night.

The 6-foot-6 right-hander was chosen in Competitive Balance Round A. Because he was chosen before the start of the second round of the 2025 draft, Quick is considered a first-round selection.

Since Major League Baseball instituted the one-draft system in 1987, Quick is the third-earliest pitching selection from the Crimson Tide. The New York Yankees chose Ben Hess at No. 26 in last year’s draft, and the Florida Marlins picked Taylor Tankersley at No. 27 in 2004.

Entering the 2025 season, Quick had a 2-1 record in 17 games, including one start, for Alabama. But this season, Quick started 14 games, posted an 8-3 record. In 62 innings, he had a 3.92 earned-run average and 70 strikeouts while yielding 62 hits and 24 walks.

The 2025 campaign was a comeback for Quick, who had elbow surgery after his lone start of the 2024 season.

Quick starred at Hewitt-Trussville High School before going to Alabama. He was a two-time All-State selection, the Class 7A Pitcher of the year in 2021 and 2022 and Alabama’s Mr. Baseball for 2022.

As a junior, Quick had a 9-2 record, two saves and an 0.99 ERA for the Huskies. In his senior season at Hewitt-Trussville, Quick went 13-1 with an 0.92 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 82.2 innings.

Quick also was a second-team All-State selection in 2020 and a first-team All-State selection in 2021 as an offensive lineman for the Hewitt-Trussville football team.

Alabama pitcher Riley Quick takes the call from the Minnesota Twins after the American League team selected him in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Trussville.
Vasha Hunt
2025 HS Baseball - MLB Draft Party for Riley Quick of Hewitt-Trussville HS and alabama
Alabama pitcher Riley Quick celebrates with his brother Pierce at a draft party after the Minnesota Twins selected him during the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Trussville.
Vasha Hunt

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

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