Cincinnati Baseball: Evan Shawver shares memories on Bearcats career and MLB draft

Prior to getting selected in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies, Evan Shawver helped Cincinnati take home the 2019 AAC Tournament championship and win an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in 48 years. The Bearcats upset defending national champion Oregon State in the regional opener before eventually being eliminated by Creighton.

Cincinnati Baseball: Evan Shawver shares memories on Bearcats career and MLB draft

"“The team and I worked so hard to get there. It’s something we will talk about for the rest of our lives. It was an awesome feeling,” Shawver told me in a recent interview. “ It was a great experience and an even better feeling knowing people trusted me to put me in that situation.”"

After a strikeout record-breaking career at Amherst Steele High School, Shawver started 23 games and struck out 153 batters in three seasons at Cincinnati. Despite battling injuries during his junior year, the Ohio native posted a career-best 2.72 ERA with 49 strikeouts and a 3-1 record in nine appearances.

Even though Shawver was already on the radar as a prospect, his performance in summer leagues helped seal the deal. Shawver racked up 10 strikeouts in six scoreless innings and was named Cape Cod Pitcher of the Week. Less than a month later, the Rockies drafted him in the seventh round.

"“It was an incredible feeling. It’s one of those blackout moments when you don’t really understand what’s going on. Sometimes I still think of how unreal it is,” Shawver told me about getting drafted. “I obviously wouldn’t be in this situation without my family, friends and all the coaches who always trusted me.”"

Cincinnati Baseball: Evan Shawver shares memories on Bearcats career and MLB draft

Shawver started the season in Single-A with the Fresno Grizzlies but was promoted to the Spokane Indians in early May and has started 10 games with a 2.66 ERA and 50 strikeouts. In his latest appearance, Shawver allowed four earned runs in 5.0 innings pitched in a loss to the Hillsboro Hops on June 16.

"My goals for the rest of the season are to just keep being me, play the game how I know and see where it takes me,” he later explained in the interview. “It felt great to get called up to Spokane. My professional career experience so far is good. I take it very seriously because you never know when your time can go.”"

Shawver also shared his thoughts on the Bearcats program moving forward: “It was a bittersweet feeling watching instead of playing (this year) but they have the right coaching staff and players go to a College World Series. As they always told me, Cincinnati is a sleeping giant and one day everything will explode.”