Bowling Green State University Athletics
Ethan Stade Selected By Atlanta Braves In 2026 MLB Draft
July 12, 2026 | Baseball
Atlanta Selected Stade In 18th Round Of 2026 MLB Draft
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Bowling Green State University redshirt senior left-handed pitcher Ethan Stade was selected by the Atlanta Braves during Sunday's (July 12) 18th round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft. Stade was the 532 overall pick and continues a streak of three consecutive seasons a Falcon has been drafted. Stade joins two-way player DJ Newman, who was selected 456th overall to the Houston Astros in the 15th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, and outfielder Nathan Archer, who was selected 349th overall to the Chicago White Sox in the 12th round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Stade is the first pitcher selected from Bowling Green since Ross Gerdeman in 2011. It also marks the first time BGSU has had a player selected in three consecutive drafts since 2009-11 when the Falcons had four players selected over a three-year span.
"We are extremely proud of Ethan and the opportunity he has with the Atlanta Braves at the next level," said head baseball coach Kyle Hallock. "He has dominated both this spring and summer against high level competition. Ethan is a great example of what can happen when buying into a process and development occurs on a daily basis. His personality is consistent with how he arrives at the field and he performs to not just win, but to dominate. We are fortunate that the Braves recognized this and soon they will benefit from having Ethan out there pitching for them, just like we did here at BGSU."
Stade is coming off an incredible senior campaign with the Falcons, working to etch his name across the Bowling Green baseball record strikeouts section. He tallied 103 strikeouts, becoming the third Falcon in program history to reach triple-digits in one season, finishing the season third on the single-season leaderboard while ranking 21st in the nation. Additionally, Stade averaged 14.5 strikeouts per nine, sixth in the nation. He struck out six or more in each of his last nine outings, as well as 10 of his last 11, including a season-high 15 in his final home start, the most strikeouts by a Falcon in over 25 years.
In addition to his high strikeouts totals, Stade limited walks on the year, allowing just 20 bases on balls. The mark allowed him to maintain a 5.15 strikeout-to-walk ratio, ranking 28th in the country. He also managed a 1.14 WHIP, 76th in the nation. Stade kept hit totals low as well, holding opponents to just a .220 batting average, third in the MAC, while allowing only 7.5 hits per nine innings, fourth in the MAC. Over the course of the season, Stade tallied a trio of wins for the Falcons, tied for the team lead, while also logging a save for the Orange and Brown.
At the conclusion of the season, Stade was named All-MAC First Team as well as CSC Academic All-District. He was a three-time MAC Pitcher of the Week and a MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week once. He solidified his draft stock during the MLB Draft League with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, winning Pitcher of the Week multiple times, including an outing with 10 strikeouts over 3.2 scoreless innings with no walks while facing just 14 batters.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' baseball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_Baseball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsu_baseball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcons Athletics'
Stade is the first pitcher selected from Bowling Green since Ross Gerdeman in 2011. It also marks the first time BGSU has had a player selected in three consecutive drafts since 2009-11 when the Falcons had four players selected over a three-year span.
"We are extremely proud of Ethan and the opportunity he has with the Atlanta Braves at the next level," said head baseball coach Kyle Hallock. "He has dominated both this spring and summer against high level competition. Ethan is a great example of what can happen when buying into a process and development occurs on a daily basis. His personality is consistent with how he arrives at the field and he performs to not just win, but to dominate. We are fortunate that the Braves recognized this and soon they will benefit from having Ethan out there pitching for them, just like we did here at BGSU."
Stade is coming off an incredible senior campaign with the Falcons, working to etch his name across the Bowling Green baseball record strikeouts section. He tallied 103 strikeouts, becoming the third Falcon in program history to reach triple-digits in one season, finishing the season third on the single-season leaderboard while ranking 21st in the nation. Additionally, Stade averaged 14.5 strikeouts per nine, sixth in the nation. He struck out six or more in each of his last nine outings, as well as 10 of his last 11, including a season-high 15 in his final home start, the most strikeouts by a Falcon in over 25 years.
In addition to his high strikeouts totals, Stade limited walks on the year, allowing just 20 bases on balls. The mark allowed him to maintain a 5.15 strikeout-to-walk ratio, ranking 28th in the country. He also managed a 1.14 WHIP, 76th in the nation. Stade kept hit totals low as well, holding opponents to just a .220 batting average, third in the MAC, while allowing only 7.5 hits per nine innings, fourth in the MAC. Over the course of the season, Stade tallied a trio of wins for the Falcons, tied for the team lead, while also logging a save for the Orange and Brown.
At the conclusion of the season, Stade was named All-MAC First Team as well as CSC Academic All-District. He was a three-time MAC Pitcher of the Week and a MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week once. He solidified his draft stock during the MLB Draft League with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, winning Pitcher of the Week multiple times, including an outing with 10 strikeouts over 3.2 scoreless innings with no walks while facing just 14 batters.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' baseball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_Baseball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsu_baseball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcons Athletics'
Players Mentioned
RHP/OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballSunday, June 28
Friday, June 26
Wednesday, June 24
Tuesday, May 19