FORT WORTH, Texas — Polk State Baseball pitcher Aiden Butler will have a decision to make — Florida State University or turning pro.

Butler was selected by the Seattle Mariners on Monday in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball Draft. He was chosen with the No. 273 overall pick.

A 6-foot-6 right-hander from Tallahassee, Butler enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in 2024. He finished 8-4 with a 3.67 ERA to earn first-team All-Citrus Conference and second-team All-FCSAA honors.

Butler led the Eagles in wins, innings pitched (81), strikeouts (83), and complete games (2). He ranked fourth in the FCSAA in wins and sixth in strikeouts.

As the ace of the pitching staff in 2024, Butler helped the Eagles reach the FCSAA Tournament for a fourth straight season. He's currently representing Team USA at Baseball Week Haarlem in the Netherlands.

With his selection, Butler becomes the third Polk State player drafted in the last two years and the first pitcher to be drafted directly from the College since Thomas Ireland was taken by the Texas Rangers in the 13th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Butler becomes the 14th Polk State player drafted since Head Coach Al Corbeil took over in 2011 and highest since Jordan Guerrero went in the sixth round in 2015. The 2024 draft concludes on Tuesday with rounds 11 through 20.