SLU pitcher Dave Sever’s decision to return for his senior year led to a five-round improvement in the baseball draft, as he was taken in the 16th round by the Blue Jays on Wednesday. Sever, the school’s all-time leader in wins, had been taken in the 21st round by the Dodgers last year.

Only one SLU player, Josh Duncan in 1982, was taken higher in the draft. Duncan was chosen in the ninth round by Seattle. Sever is the fifth Billiken to be drafted this season.

The Blue Jays apparently are big fans of the Billikens, because in the 28th round, they took another SLU pitcher, Zach Outman, a junior who went to Lindbergh High. It’s the second straight year SLU has had two players chosen. Last year, it was Sever and Casey Moore. And there are still a lot of rounds to go.

While Sever was done at SLU, Outman’s selection has implications on the SLU program because he has a year of eligibility left.