Once a Raider, always a Raider—and today, our Rose State College family has a massive reason to celebrate!

Former Rose State College standout pitcher Isaac Thornton has officially taken the next step in his baseball journey, signing a professional baseball contract with the Seattle Mariners.
For those who followed Isaac's collegiate career, his rise to professional baseball comes as no surprise. His path is a testament to perseverance, relentless work ethic, and competitive drive—qualities that were on full display right here in Midwest City.

Building the Foundation at Rose State
Isaac made an immediate impact on the mound during his two seasons with Rose State College:

• Freshman Year (2022–23): Isaac pitched in 17 games with 4 starts, earning 7 wins and striking out 68 batters across 63.0 innings pitched (9.71 K/9).
• Sophomore Year (2023–24): Isaac took over as the anchor of the Raiders' rotation, making 15 starts in 15 appearances. Over 74.1 innings pitched, he compiled a 6-6 record with a 4.36 ERA, racking up an astonishing 93 strikeouts (11.26 K/9). His dominant sophomore season earned him NJCAA Region 2 All-Region First Team Pitcher honors.

"We are very proud of Issac and his signing with Seattle. During his two years here at Rose State Issac showed that he was a leader with both his voice and his actions on and off the field. He was a student of the game and was very eager to compete every week. He was very easy to coach, and every time he had a start we felt like we had a chance to win the game. We are proud that he chose to be a Raider for his first two years of college, and we are looking forward to watching what he does with his new profession. Raider Up!" — Ryon Butts, Rose State College Head Baseball Coach

Continuing the Rise
After laying a premier foundation at Rose State, Isaac carried his momentum across the collegiate ranks:

• Southern Arkansas University (Junior Year): Stepping up to NCAA Division II with the Muleriders, Isaac logged 14 appearances and struck out 27 batters in 22.1 innings.
• East Texas Baptist University (Senior Year): Isaac put together an unforgettable 2026 senior campaign at ETBU. Named the ASC Newcomer of the Year, All-ASC 1st Team, and a two-time ASC Pitcher of the Week, Isaac compiled a dominant 10-1 record with a 3.69 ERA across 15 starts, striking out 110 batters in 102.1 innings.
• Postseason Greatness: Isaac proved to be a big-game pitcher when the lights were brightest. He went 3-0 in four NCAA Tournament appearances, earning postseason wins over Concordia Texas, No. 2 Lynchburg, and No. 1 Denison—including a commanding 7.2-inning performance with seven strikeouts to break Denison's 44-game winning streak. In total, he posted 36 strikeouts across five postseason starts, leading ETBU to a #3 national finish and earning NCAA Division III Championship All-Tournament Team honors alongside ABCA and D3baseball.com First Team All-Region accolades.

The Next Chapter: Seattle Mariners
Following his remarkable senior campaign and postseason performance, the Seattle Mariners came calling, signing Isaac to launch his professional career.

Proud of Our Raider Alumni
At Rose State College, our mission is to develop student-athletes who excel in competition, in the classroom, and in life. Isaac's signing is a proud milestone for Raider Baseball, our Athletic Department, and the entire Rose State community.
To Isaac: thank you for representing Rose State College with excellence and pride. Your Raider family will be cheering you on every step of the way as you begin your professional career in the Seattle Mariners organization!