Baseball: Aggie Among Twenty-Two CUSA Players Selected in the 2026 MLB Draft

Nine of the 22 draft picks were taken in the first 10 rounds of the draft. CUSA’s 22 selections is the most since the draft shortened to 20 rounds back in 2021.

Source: Conference USA
Cover Image: Courtesy NMSU Athletics

DALLAS – Twenty-two Conference USA student-athletes were selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, highlighted by three standouts going on day one. CUSA Pitcher of the Year Ben Blair was the first off the board, going 49^th overall to the Tampa Bay Rays, followed by Missouri State slugger Caden Bogenpohl as he was selected 64^th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies. Sam Houston ace and right-hander Ryan Peterson rounded out day one going 71^st overall to the Miami Marlins.

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Nine of the 22 draft picks were taken in the first 10 rounds of the draft. CUSA’s 22 selections is the most since the draft shortened to 20 rounds back in 2021.

Conference USA 2026 MLB Draft Selections

• RHP Ben Blair (Liberty)
  – Second round (No. 49 overall) –
  Tampa Bay Rays
• OF Caden Bogenpohl (Missouri State)
  – Second round (No. 64 overall) –
  Philadelphia Phillies
• RHP Ryan Peterson (Sam Houston)
  – CB-B (No. 71 overall) –
  Miami Marlins
• RHP Declan Dahl (LA Tech)
  – Fifth round (No. 158 overall) –
  Detroit Tigers
• LHP Beau Bryans (Jax State)
  – Seventh round (No. 208 overall) –
  San Francisco Giants
• TWP Luke Pettitte (DBU)
  – Eighth round (No. 248 overall) –
  New York Yankees
• C Jake Bennett (DBU)
  – Eighth round (No. 252 overall) –
  Toronto Blue Jays
• INF Tanner Marsh (Liberty)
  – Ninth round (No. 261 overall) –
  Athletics
• RHP Jack Turner (NM State)
  – 10^th round (No. 306 overall) –
  Detroit Tigers
• RHP Gavin Perry (WKU)
  – 11^th round (No. 341 overall) –
  Milwaukee Brewers
• RHP Drew Horn (MTSU)
  – 12^th round (No. 354 overall) –
  St. Louis Cardinals
• OF Owen Nowak (MTSU)
  – 12^th round (No. 361 overall) –
  Houston Astros
• INF Caleb Johnson (Jax State)
  – 13^th round (No. 403 overall) –
  Los Angeles Dodgers
• RHP Brady Thomas (Jax State)
  – 14^th round (No. 421 overall) –
  Houston Astros
• RHP Tyler August (Liberty)
  – 16^th round (No. 471 overall) –
  Athletics
• INF Colton Coates (LA Tech)
  – 16^th round (No. 484 overall) –
  Boston Red Sox
• LHP Josh Swink (Liberty)
  – 17^th round (No. 494 overall) –
  Colorado Rockies
• RHP Nathan Helman (Kennesaw State)
  – 17^th round (No. 498 overall) –
  Pittsburgh Pirates
• INF Ben Tryon (DBU)
  – 17^th round (No. 511 overall) –
  Houston Astros
• RHP David Horn Jr. (MTSU)
  – 19^th round (No. 563 overall) –
  Tampa Bay Rays
• RHP Mick Uebelhor (WKU)
  – 20^th round (No. 601 overall) –
  Houston Astros
• LHP Aiden VanDeHatert (DBU)
  – 20^th round (No. 604 overall) –
  Boston Red Sox