Dodgers draft pick Sam Horn is putting pitching on the backburner, choosing laces over aces to compete for the starting quarterback job at Missouri in 2025.
Horn, who also plays baseball for the Tigers, was selected in the 17th round of the 2025 MLB Draft on Monday. He celebrated with his family, took a call from a few friends and coaches, and then got a ring from Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz.
Other than offering congratulations to Horn and his parents, Drinkwitz said he was compelled to remind his QB that workouts would start before 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
“I called him the day of the draft to make sure he was having a draft party. I called him after he got drafted,” Drinkwitz, who commonly deals in equal parts sarcasm, bluntness and dry humor, said Thursday at SEC Media Days. “I told him the day he got drafted I was proud of him, and I would see him at 6:30 workouts in the morning.”
Penn State transfer Beau Pribula is Horn’s primary competition to replace Brady Cook at quarterback. Pribula left the Nittany Lions after starting quarterback Drew Allar decided to play another season and pass on the NFL draft.
Horn has a chance to turn pro now or later as a power pitcher.
“What an awesome accomplishment, awesome opportunity for that young man to be that good of an athlete, to be able to play, I think he threw 15 innings this year and had an outstanding season. We’re so proud of him to be able to compete in two sports,” Drinkwitz said. “Sam has been adamant this whole time to compete and win the job in the SEC, play quarterback at the highest level. Had conversations with his representatives. He was going through his Tommy John surgery, or the rehab process going through spring. That really hasn’t changed.”
He touches the high 90s with his heater on the mound. He recovered from Tommy John surgery and returns to Columbia for fall camp in two weeks with two years of eligibility remaining. Drinkwitz said Horn is going year-to-year with his decision.
“We had discussed it, Sam had relayed the message, his agent had relayed the message to all the baseball organizations that he was going to play football this fall. So nothing’s changed,” he said.
The 565th pick in the draft informed teams through his agent he planned to stay in college. He has several options.
Players drafted have a deadline of 4 p.m. on July 28 to sign with an MLB organization. He can sign and still play baseball, or opt to pass on the deal with the Dodgers and re-enter the draft next season after playing another season of football and baseball with the Tigers.