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.
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