From Bulls to MLB: USF ace Corey Braun drafted by A’s, Rockies take Austin Newton

Every baseball team needs a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, and for USF in 2025, left-hander Corey Braun was that guy.

He was 8-4 for the Bulls with a minuscule 1.113 WHIP. He had 97 strikeouts in 97 innings pitched, and he walked only 24.

"I just like that he's much more of a fighter and scrapper than you would ever imagine,'' USF head coach Mitch Hannahs told Joey Johnston of GoUSFBulls.com.

"He's quiet and humble, but there's a fire inside him. And he's smart. He pounds the zone, and other teams try to put him in play. But Corey says, 'OK, you want to swing early in the count? I'll just put the ball in an area where you can't hurt me.' I love how he makes adjustments.''

Now, Braun will make another adjustment – the one that goes from pitching to professionals instead of college hitters. He was taken on Monday in the eighth round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Athletics, who play in Sacramento now but eventually will land in Las Vegas.

Braun was the first Bull taken this year. He was the 230th overall selection.

However, not long after Braun’s selection, Austin Newton learned he was drafted in the 10th round – 287th overall – by the Colorado Rockies.

A right-handed pitcher, Newton – nicknamed “Big Newt” – showed the ability to start or close games. He could return to USF next season.

He has pitched for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the MLB Draft League since early June.

The Tribune-Chronicle in Warren, Ohio, reported Newton started four games with the Scrappers and posted a 1-0 record with a 0.56 ERA. In 16 innings of work, he walked just two batters while recording 10 strikeouts. He allowed one run and four hits during his time in the MLB Draft League.

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, a lot of challenges over the past couple of years, but I feel like I’ve battled through any adversity that I’ve faced and became better for it,” Newton told the Tribune-Chronicle. “The path is never a straight line. It’s never easy, even when things appear to be going good.

“How you respond to the difficult times ultimately determines your future. Baseball is such a tough game. You have to accept the tough times to get to the top.”