Dodgers could lose 2025 draft pick to football as prospect closes out college career

When the Los Angeles Dodgers took a flier on right-hander Sam Horn in the 17th round of last month's MLB Draft, they knew the risks involved. They went over slot to sign him to a $497,500 signing bonus, but it also included a unique agreement that allowed him to continue playing football for the University of Missouri.

Horn, a redshirt junior, appeared in four games for Missouri from 2022-2023 and attempted only eight passes while serving as the backup quarterback. Entering the 2025 season, he was in a competition for Missouri's starting quarterback job – and that competition extended into the first game of their season on Thursday, when he was expected to split time with Penn State transfer Beau Pribula in the Tigers’ season opener against Central Arkansas.

Unfortunately, Horn's opportunity was over as quickly as it began. On his first snap of the game, he ran the ball six yards before taking a hit to the lower body that resulted in a devastating knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of the game.

After the game, Horn was spotted with a full-leg cast and using crutches. Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz refused to speculate as to whether the injury was season-ending, but he did admit following Horn's MRI on Friday that he would miss "an extended period of time."

Dodgers could lose 2025 draft pick Sam Horn to football as prospect closes out college career

Horn missed all of the 2024 season – both baseball and football – while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He returned to the pitcher's mound in 2025 and posted a 4.22 ERA in five abbreviated starts.

In parts of two seasons at Missouri, Horn allowed five runs and 10 hits across 15 innings pitched. He also collected 20 strikeouts and walked 11 batters. The 21-year-old was ranked 128th in MLB Pipeline’s prospect rankings for the 2025 MLB Draft.

Horn could very well still develop into a quality pitching prospect for the Dodgers, even if he was to miss some significant time due to this latest injury. But that's assuming he chooses to forgo football – a bold assumption in the lucrative NIL era of college sports.

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