WHEELING — Wheeling Park first team all-state pitcher in 2014 and current West Virginia University standout Michael Grove has been drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The junior out of West Virginia was taken during the second round, with the 68th pick of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft.

The right-hander, who was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and was also named the National Player of the Week (NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper) during his sophomore year at WVU, sat out the entirety of his junior campaign after undergoing Tommy John Surgery.

Grove has been clocked at 95 MPH with his fastball and also possesses a strong slider in his arsenal.

In his sophomore campaign, Grove took a perfect game into the eighth inning on April 8th in a game against Kansas, striking out 12 and earning himself Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors.

He also tossed five no-hit frames with 11 strikeouts in a win over Old Dominion.

In his two seasons with the Mountaineers, Grove has turned in a 3.13 ERA with 117 strikeouts and only 35 walks. He posted a 5-5 record with one save. In 16 starts, he accumulated 92 innings pitched.

Grove was at his best during his sophomore campaign as he carried a 2.87 ERA with 61 punchouts, both ranking third on the team and he finished second on the squad with four quality starts.

As a freshman, Grove garnered All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades and was third on the team with 56 strikeouts and fourth with a 3.40 ERA.

The newest member of the Dodgers’ organization was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week twice as a freshman when he struck out a career-high 13 batters in wins over Maryland and Oklahoma.

At Wheeling Park, Grove recorded a 1.20 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 33.2 innings as a junior and was named first team all-state and first team All-OVAC.

Grove was ranked the No. 2 player in West Virginia by the Prep Baseball Report and was named to the 2015 Atlantic Region Honorable Mention All-America Team by Perfect Game.

Michael is the son of Jeff and Stephanie Grove.