University of Minnesota Athletes Clausen and Vucinovich Make Waves on Final Day of MLB Draft!

The University of Minnesota baseball team had a big day at the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft. Two right-handed pitchers were picked, adding to a proud legacy. Incoming freshman Hayden Vucinovich was chosen 245th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers, while senior Seth Clausen went 467th overall to the Colorado Rockies.

This makes it 38 years in a row that Gopher baseball has had a player drafted. The streak began in 1988 with Jay Kvasnicka, who was picked by the Minnesota Twins.

Hayden Vucinovich stands at six feet one inch and is an incoming freshman from Bloomington Jefferson High School in Minnesota. He’s ranked 291st among right-handed pitchers in the nation and third in Minnesota, according to Perfect Game USA. Vucinovich is the latest Gopher freshman to be drafted, following Alec Willis in 2021.

Seth Clausen, also 6’1″, made 23 appearances in 2025 as a relief pitcher. He recorded a 4.96 earned run average and struck out 46 batters over 32.2 innings. His selection marks the first time a Gopher has been drafted by the Rockies since Terrin Vavra in 2018. Clausen has been recognized as a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and was previously ranked as a top 30 draft prospect in the Big Ten before the 2024 season. Throughout his Minnesota career, he made 77 appearances, with 113 strikeouts and a 5.78 career ERA.

In recent years, the connection between college baseball and Major League teams has grown stronger. According to NCAA statistics, about 10% of college baseball players go on to be drafted, highlighting the importance of college programs in shaping the future of the sport.

Clausen’s and Vucinovich’s successes reflect both personal achievements and the continuing legacy of the University of Minnesota baseball program. As fans watch their journeys in the pros, they also celebrate the program’s ongoing contribution to the sport.

For more details on the draft and its impact on college athletes, you can check out the NCAA website.

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