FORT MYERS, FLA.- With the 346^th pick in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft, the Houston Astros have made Florida SouthWestern State righthander Ryan Gusto the highest Buccaneer draft pick since the program's resurgence in 2016.  Gusto was the 2017 World Series Champion's 11^th round choice.

Gusto was the FCSAA and Suncoast Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2019, marking the first time that a Buccaneer arm has received that honor.  He led the state in strikeouts with 110 despite not pitching full time in the FSW rotation until March.  Gusto finished the year 7-2 in 18 appearances, nine starts, posting a 2.88 ERA in 75 innings pitched.  The signature game of his sophomore season came in late March when he tossed seven shutout innings, striking out a school record 16 in a Bucs win over conference rival Polk State. 

Gusto will have a choice to make now whether to sign with the Astros and begin his professional career, or attend Western Kentucky University where he signed for the 2019-20 season.

Gusto becomes the third FSW player drafted since the program's resurgence.  He joins Willie Rios who was a 16^th rounder to Baltimore in 2016 and Brandon Presley who was a 22^nd rounder to Milwaukee in 2017. 

Gusto was the ninth player selected from the NJCAA and the third from the Suncoast Conference, joining State College of Florida's Brock Bell and St. Petersburg's Dustin Harris.

With 29 rounds remaining in the 2019 draft, FSW still has a number of players that could hear their names called later this afternoon.