The Texas Rangers took a noticeably different approach than many clubs during the 2026 MLB Draft.

Rather than loading up on experienced college talent, Texas invested heavily in athletic, high-upside high school prospects early, then added experienced college players to provide organizational depth later in the draft.

The strategy reflects confidence in one of baseball’s strongest player development systems. If even a handful of these young players reach their potential, the Rangers could look back on this draft as one of the organization’s most impactful in recent years.

Here’s a complete breakdown of the Rangers’ 2026 draft class.

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First Round

Gio Rojas, LHP — Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)

Texas made one of the boldest selections of the first round by taking left-handed pitcher Gio Rojas.

Standing 6-foot-4 with a projectable frame, Rojas possesses the type of athleticism and arm talent that organizations covet. While he’ll likely require several years of development, his ceiling is among the highest in the Rangers’ draft class.

Why Texas Drafted Him

• High-upside left-handed arm
• Excellent athleticism
• Projectable frame
• Potential front-of-the-rotation starter

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Second Round

Connor Comeau, SS — L.C. Anderson HS (Texas)

The Rangers stayed in the high school ranks by selecting Texas prep shortstop Connor Comeau.

At 6-foot-4, Comeau brings impressive size for a middle infielder, along with offensive upside that could help him develop into a power-hitting shortstop or third baseman.

One of the added benefits? Rangers fans will get to watch a homegrown Texas product begin his professional career.

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Third Round

Brody Bumila, LHP — Bishop Feehan HS (MA)

Texas doubled down on upside by selecting one of the tallest pitchers in the draft.

At 6-foot-9, Bumila offers tremendous leverage and long-term projection. Developing his command will be the key, but the physical tools are difficult to ignore.

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Adding College Experience

After taking three straight prep players, Texas shifted toward experienced college talent.

Highlights include:

Hudson Calhoun

Mississippi

A durable right-hander who could move quickly through the system.

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Michael Anderson Jr.

Penn State

One of the more intriguing selections in the draft.

As a two-way player, Anderson provides organizational flexibility and gives the Rangers multiple development options.

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Kolby Branch

Georgia

An experienced SEC infielder known for his defensive versatility and leadership.

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Building Pitching Depth

Pitching remained a priority throughout the draft.

Texas selected:

• Gio Rojas
• Brody Bumila
• Hudson Calhoun
• Aidan Brainard
• Caden Aoki
• Jackson Nash
• Will Whelan
• Alfredo Capacete
• Landon Brewer
• Collin Cobb
• Selden Kolkebeck
• Cody Airington

The Rangers clearly wanted to strengthen organizational pitching from top to bottom.

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Texas Connection

Connor Comeau

One of the biggest storylines of the Rangers’ draft was their selection of Connor Comeau from Austin’s L.C. Anderson High School.

Keeping one of Texas’ top prep players in-state makes for an exciting addition to the organization.

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Best Pick

Gio Rojas

Texas rarely gets the opportunity to draft a pitcher with this type of ceiling.

If his development stays on track, he has the potential to become one of the organization’s top prospects.

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Biggest Sleeper

Michael Anderson Jr.

The Penn State standout may prove to be one of the more interesting selections in the draft thanks to his two-way background and athleticism.

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Player To Watch

Connor Comeau

Few players in this class possess Comeau’s combination of size, athleticism, and offensive upside.

He’ll likely become one of the organization’s most closely watched prospects.

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Overall Draft Strategy

The Rangers took an aggressive approach.

Instead of playing it safe with polished college players, Texas prioritized:

• High-upside prep talent
• Projectable pitchers
• Athletic middle infielders
• Organizational pitching depth
• Development over immediate returns

It was a long-term strategy that could produce significant rewards.

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Draft Grade: A

The Rangers assembled one of the highest-ceiling draft classes in baseball.

While prep-heavy drafts naturally carry more risk, Texas landed several players with first-round talent and added experienced college depth throughout the later rounds.

If their player development system continues producing results, this draft has the potential to shape the organization’s future for years to come.

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Final Thoughts

The Rangers made one thing clear during the 2026 MLB Draft—they’re willing to invest in talent and trust their development process.

By combining elite high school prospects with experienced college contributors, Texas built a draft class capable of making an impact on the organization at every level.

It may take longer for this group to reach Arlington than some other draft classes, but the upside is undeniable.

Only time will tell how many of these players reach the Major Leagues, but on paper, the Rangers assembled one of the most exciting classes in the draft.

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Texas Rangers 2026 Draft Class

Round	Player	Position	School
1	Gio Rojas	LHP	Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
2	Connor Comeau	SS	L.C. Anderson HS (TX)
3	Brody Bumila	LHP	Bishop Feehan HS (MA)
4	Hudson Calhoun	RHP	Ole Miss
5	Michael Anderson Jr.	TWP	Penn State
6	Aidan Brainard	RHP	Nevada
7	Caden Aoki	RHP	Georgia
8	Kolby Branch	SS	Georgia
9	Kaden Carpenter	OF	Utah Valley
10	Evan Morrison	SS	Grand Valley State
11	Jordan Hawkins	OF	Carl Albert HS (OK)
12	Jackson Nash	LHP	Longwood
13	Will Whelan	LHP	Minnesota
14	Alfredo Capacete	RHP	California Baptist
15	Landon Brewer	RHP	Minden HS (LA)
16	Brandon Crabtree	3B	Catawba
17	Collin Cobb	RHP	Williston State College
18	Max Kaufer	C	Wichita State
19	Selden Kolkebeck	RHP	Northern Valley Regional HS (NJ)
20	Cody Airington	RHP	Austin Peay