TCU baseball saw its first name called during the 2025 MLB Draft on Monday, when the Texas Rangers selected left-handed pitcher Ben Abeldt in the fifth round with the 146th overall pick. Abeldt carried enormous expectations into 2025 after a stellar 2024 season where he earned All-Big 12 First Team honors as well as All-Region and All-American recognition. Unfortunately, Abeldt missed the 2025 season to an elbow injury, but the McKinney, Texas native received a medical redshirt and is currently on the 2026
roster.
Staying home!
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) July 14, 2025
Ben Abeldt is the @Rangers 5th round selection! pic.twitter.com/Y9jwei2Bro
Abeldt burst onto the scene during his freshman season in 2023, when he posted a 3.60 ERA with 71 strikeouts over 55 innings and led TCU with 32 bullpen appearances. Abeldt, who was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team as well as the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, returned as a sophomore and was a shutdown reliever for the Horned Frogs in 2024, earning a 3-0 record and a 1.86 ERA with 54 strikeouts over 44.2 frames of work. Abeldt held opposing batters to a .186 average during his sophomore campaign in 2024.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder received several awards in 2024 including Second-Team ABCA All-Region and Second-Team NCBWA All-American accolades. Abeldt returned for his junior season in 2025 and was selected for both the Preseason All-Big 12 Team and the Preseason All-American roster before suffering an elbow injury that sidelined him for the entire season.
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