After five WVU baseball players drafted in the 2025 MLB Draft, a couple of former Mountaineers have now recorded their first professional hit.
Skylar King was the first former WVU player to register a hit in his professional career, King hit a flair into centerfield during the Salem Red Sox’s game on August 2. Less than a week later, Kyle West collected his first professional hit with a hit registering an exit velocity of 106.9 mph during the Tampa Tarpon’s game on Wednesday.
Congratulations to Skylar King on picking up his first professional hit and RBI! https://t.co/B6LVpnfpa4
— WVU Baseball Analytics📊 (@WVUBBAnalytics) August 3, 2025
Congratulations to Kyle West who picked up his first career pro hit with the @TampaTarpons last night! Should come as no shocker that he registered his first knock with an exit velocity of 106.9…#ProMountaineers
— WVU Baseball Analytics📊 (@WVUBBAnalytics) August 7, 2025
As of right now, King has appeared in six games with 20 at-bats hitting an even .250 with two RBIs. The sample size is too small to make any judgements for King in his early professional career. But one hit he will remember will be his first professional hit for the Salem Red Sox.
For West, he has appeared in five games with 18 at-bats with one double. West has struggled out of the gate hitting .167 in his very young professional career. Just like King, it is way too early to make any judgements about West’s professional career.
Couple of former WVU outfielders starting their professional careers
King was assigned to the Salem Red Sox at the Single-A level after being drafted in the 15th round of the 2025 MLB Draft. The Salem Red Sox have roughly 25 games left, giving King about four times more opportunities than he has been given so far in his minor league career.
For West, he was assigned to the Tampa Tarpons on August 6 after being drafted in the 13th round of the same 2025 MLB Draft. He was first assigned to the FCL (Florida Complex League) Yankees after being drafted and then quickly earned a promotion to the Single-A Tarpons. The Tarpons have about 26 games remaining on their schedule, allowing West to try to put up some numbers heading into the 2025-2026 offseason.
Roaming centerfield while in Morgantown, King showcases elite defense and the ability to slug for power in the batters’ box. In his three-year career for WVU, King slashed a .274/.375/.394, which was good enough for a .769 career OPS while playing for WVU. King added eight home runs and 61 RBIs in his collegiate career. His last season was his best season wearing a WVU uniform, as the Columbia, South Carolina, native hit .291/.415/.398 equaling a .813 OPS, also adding three home runs and 32 RBIs (of his 61 career RBIs). King also added 13 stolen bases in his junior season before getting drafted.
West spent his first two seasons playing for Division II University of Charleston before making the transfer to Big 12 baseball at WVU. West spent his final two seasons repping his home state playing for WVU. While in Morgantown, West slashed .298/.418/.567, recording a OPS of a staggering .985 in two seasons. West also added 25 home runs and 81 RBIs in his two WVU seasons. Like King, West’s best year was his final season at WVU. In his senior season, West posted a slash line of .339/.487/.601, totaling a dominating 1.088 OPS.
WVU baseball and WVU fans are hoping to see King and West climb the minor league ranks and make their big-league debuts one day.