The 2026 Major League Baseball Draft saw a notable presence from the University of Virginia, with five of its recent alumni hearing their names called.
AJ Gracia, a standout pitcher from the Cavaliers, was selected ninth overall by the Atlanta Braves, marking the highest draft placement for a UVA player in recent memory.
The draft also claimed three athletes who had transferred out after the 2025 season, underscoring the program’s broader impact on the talent pool.
A Look Forward
Players chosen in the later rounds, specifically between selections 11 and 20, are eligible for signing bonuses up to $150,000 without those amounts counting against their new clubs’ competitive balance pools.
Among the draft‑eligible seniors, Sam Harris, Noah Murray, Antonio Perrotta and Jake Weatherspoon remained undrafted, granting them the option to return for a fifth year of eligibility in 2027.
Coaching staff has identified six returning players as the foundational pieces for the upcoming roster, emphasizing continuity and development.
Head coach Chris Pollard took advantage of the transfer portal, welcoming eight new faces to the program as it prepares for the next season.