Missouri State baseball pitcher Eric Loomis selected by Texas Rangers in 2024 MLB Draft

Missouri State pitcher Eric Loomis became the first Bear taken off the board during the 2024 MLB Draft when he was selected with the 495th overall pick by the Texas Rangers on Tuesday afternoon.

Loomis completed his redshirt junior season with the Bears where he ranked second in the Missouri Valley Conference and 44th nationally with 29 pitching appearances. He made 27 appearances out of the bullpen, striking out 33 batters in 26.2 innings with a .270 batting average.

Loomis has been with the Bears since his true freshman season in 2021. He appeared in 25 games between his freshman and sophomore seasons while sitting out 2023 with an injury.

The final pick of the 16th round played high school ball at Christian Brothers in St. Louis where he was ranked as the state's No. 10 righty in the 2021 class.

Fellow Bears pitcher Brandt Thompson was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 501st overall pick, shortly after Loomis' selection.