ELON, N.C. – With the 11th selection of the eighth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Elon University right-handed pitcher Ryan Conroy heard his name called by the Baltimore Orioles. Conroy becomes the highest pitcher selected out of Elon since Jimmy Reyes went in the seventh round of the 2010 draft.

"This opportunity is a dream come true for me," said Conroy. "When I had Tommy John surgery in high school, it was in question whether or not I would even play college baseball. Then Coach (Mike) Kennedy and Elon took a chance on me. They pushed me to get better for the past three years. Now I have the blessing of beginning a professional with the Baltimore Orioles. Without Elon, my family and my teammates, I wouldn't be here."

In his junior season, Conroy went 4-3 with a 3.29 ERA over 17 appearances. The Rotonda West, Fla., native started 14 games and struck out 67 hitters in 79.1 innings of work this year. He held opponents to a .237 batting average in 2018 as the Phoenix went 36-23 and finished second in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Conroy twice struck out a season-high eight hitters over the course of the 2018 campaign. He first accomplished the feat in 4.0 innings against Hofstra before matching that over 7.0 innings in a CAA Tournament outing against Northeastern.

In 2017, Conroy matched a program Division I record with seven opening day strikeouts, as he became just the third Phoenix sophomore to start on opening day during Elon's Division I tenure. He set a career high with nine strikeouts in a victory over Georgia Southern that same year.

In his three years in the maroon and gold Conroy has made 54 appearances, including 28 starts. He owns a 12-12 record and has one save.