Former Paris Junior College (PJC) baseball player Dylan Crooks was selected in the 15th round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft by the Colorado Rockies.
Crooks, a 2023 graduate of PJC, transferred to the University of Oklahoma where he became a key part of the Sooners’ bullpen as their closer.
During the 2025 season, he posted a 1.69 ERA over 32 innings, striking out 33 and walking just 10. His performance earned him ABCA Second Team All-Region honors and Third Team All-American recognition from Baseball America.
He was also named one of 13 finalists for the 2025 Stopper of the Year Award by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, recognizing the nation’s top relief pitcher.
Crooks finished his career at OU with 16 saves, ranking second nationally, and tying for second most in a single season in school history.
While at PJC, Crooks played a key role in the Dragons’ 2022 Conference Championship and 2023 Regional Championship teams, setting the foundation for his success at the Division I level.
This marks the third time in four years a current or former Dragon has been drafted by Major League Baseball. Other recent draftees include Beau Brewer (19th round, New York Yankees, 2022) and Barrett Riebock (17th round, Cleveland Guardians, 2023).
For more information about the PJC baseball program, contact Head Coach Clay Cox at ccox@parisjc.edu.
