Wideman anxious to hear his name called at 2025 MLB Draft

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Ryan Wideman, a name that WKU fans became familiar with at Nick Denes Field this past season, is now one that might soon be remembered by major league fans in one lucky city.

While the Tops strung together one of their best seasons in school history, the All-American centerfielder was at the forefront of plenty of the squad’s 46 wins, with exciting moments and big-time plays.

“Just being able to win our first ever Conference USA championship, just being around a great group of guys and just being able to gel really well as a team in our first year, make a regional for the first time in a long time, it was a great experience and it’s something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” said 2025 Conference USA Player of the Year Ryan Wideman.

Wideman showcased all five tools that a star baseball player should have in his lone year with WKU, swiping a single season record’s worth of bases, slugging home runs and also bringing them back into the park, and hitting just under .400 to finish the year top-20 in the nation.

Looking back, he credits his success to those who he shared the dugout with.

“I’d say, from the beginning, I couldn’t have done it without my coaches and teammates, just the support I had the whole year from everyone around me, I feel like it really helped me get to the point I am now. It was just the perfect fit,” said Wideman.

Now just days away from the 2025 MLB Draft, the Marietta, GA native will have his eyes set just south, waiting to hear his name called in Atlanta, which would fulfill a lifelong dream of playing professional baseball.

“[I’m] excited for wherever that is,” Wideman said. “This has been a dream of mine, so I’m not going to be picky about whatever team I go to. I don’t know how I’ll react, I don’t know if I’ll be emotional or not, but I know I’ll be really excited, I know I’ll be really thankful. I’m definitely going to hug my family and just thank them for the help. They’ve supported me really well to get to this point.”

The 2025 MLB Draft is set to take place in Atlanta on July 13-14, with coverage of the opening rounds beginning Sunday at 5 p.m. CT.