Starting pitcher Sean Episcope selected 155th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the MLB Draft

Sean Episcope Becomes First Ivy Leaguer Drafted in 2025, Taken 155th Overall by Milwaukee Brewers

Princeton pitcher Sean Episcope ’27 made headlines this week as the first Ivy League player selected in the 2025 MLB Draft. Despite a sophomore season cut short by injury, the talented right-hander was chosen 155th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round—making him the highest-drafted Princeton player since David Hale ’11 was selected by the Atlanta Braves in 2009.

The selection marks a major milestone for both Episcope and the Princeton baseball program. It also positions him to join one of Major League Baseball’s most respected organizations when it comes to pitcher development. Should he eventually reach the majors, Episcope would become the first Princeton alumnus to do so since Mike Ford ’15 debuted in 2019, and the first pitcher since Danny Barnes ’12 and Matt Bowman ’14 took the mound in 2016.

“I’m incredibly proud of all our players as they move forward in their careers,” said Princeton Head Coach Scott Bradley, a former MLB catcher, in an interview with The Daily Princetonian. “But as someone who’s been there myself, it’s especially meaningful to see our guys get a chance to live out their professional dreams.”

Episcope’s journey to this moment has been anything but smooth. After graduating high school, he took a gap year to undergo Tommy John surgery—a procedure that repairs the UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) in the elbow, and one that’s become increasingly common among pitchers. After rehabbing, he joined Princeton’s Class of 2027 and showed flashes of brilliance in his freshman year, though inconsistency was evident as he adjusted to the college game.

His sophomore season looked poised for a breakout before it was derailed by another UCL injury, this time requiring an internal brace procedure—a newer surgery with a recovery timeline of more than a year. Still, in the four starts he made before the setback, Episcope was electric. Across 20 innings, he posted a 3.15 ERA and turned heads with a dominant outing against powerhouse Wake Forest, striking out nine batters over five innings. Notably, three Wake Forest hitters from that game were drafted ahead of him.

“He’s learned to apply his talent in a more structured way since arriving at Princeton,” said pitching coach Joe Haumacher. “That’s been key in preparing him for the next level.”

Despite his limited college track record, scouts remain bullish on Episcope’s upside—and for good reason. His fastball reaches 97 mph and earned a 55 grade on MLB Pipeline’s scouting scale, indicating above-average major league potential. His curveball, spinning at over 3,000 RPM, and his slider were both graded at 50, or league-average. Combined with his frame, pitch command, and ability to generate movement, the toolkit is clearly there—if he can stay healthy.

The Milwaukee Brewers clearly saw the potential and weren’t afraid to take a chance. Over the past decade, the franchise has developed a sterling reputation for cultivating elite pitchers. With former GM David Stearns having implemented a cutting-edge analytics-driven pitching lab, the Brewers have turned arms like Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta, and Brandon Woodruff into stars, and have a new generation of prospects on the rise, including Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson.

Now, Sean Episcope joins that pipeline.

“He can manipulate the baseball however he wants,” Haumacher said. “That can be a challenge in terms of simplifying his game plan, but it also gives him an incredible arsenal to succeed in professional baseball.”

While Episcope likely won’t return to the mound until sometime in 2026 as he continues his recovery, the long-term outlook is promising. A possible major league debut might not come until 2028 or beyond, but if he signs, he’ll be entering a system renowned for maximizing pitching talent.

With his mix of raw ability, mental toughness, and now the backing of a top-tier organization, Sean Episcope has a chance to become the next Ivy League success story in the big leagues—and perhaps the next great arm developed by the Milwaukee Brewers.

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