Middleton, Fla. — The Villages High School witnessed yet another one of its athletes reach the professional ranks on Monday night.

Anthony Karoly, a Class of 2022 VHS graduate, was selected in the 17th round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners, tabbed as the 512th overall pick. He is the third former Buffalo baseball player to be selected by a Major League Baseball organization, following in the footsteps of fellow pitchers Jack Perkins (2018) and Shawn Guilliams (2021).

Karoly helped lead the Buffalo to the state semifinals in 2022, tallying a single-season record of six saves out of the bullpen that spring. He finished with a 1.11 ERA and 43 strikeouts in just 25.1 innings of work.

The 6-foot, 210-pound right-handed pitcher then went on to continue his career at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, where he made 15 appearances as a freshman before missing his entire sophomore campaign with an injury. Karoly bounced back this past spring, striking out 47 batters in 28 innings as a junior.

The 21-year-old Karoly will bring a fastball ranging from 94-97 mph, along with a cutter and slider, to the Seattle Mariners organization, who selected pitchers with four of its final five picks.

Karoly is the fifth former VHS athlete to reach the professional level, trailing Perkins and Guilliams, along with former Buffalo basketball players Isaiah Jackson (Class of 2014) and Tre Mann (Class of 2019).


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment at cody.hills@tvcs.org.