The 2026 MLB Draft concluded with a notable day two haul for Rutgers, as outfielder Peyton Bonds was taken by the San Francisco Giants in the third round and right‑hander Zack Konstantinovsky was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 14th round.
A Legacy in the Making
Bonds, a junior who batted .352 with six home runs and 29 RBIs, is the son of former Giants star Bobby Bonds Sr., positioning him to follow a three‑generation lineage that already includes his father and uncle Barry Bonds.
Konstantinovsky, who overcame a mid‑season injury to finish with a 4‑5 record, a 5.48 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings, becomes the first Rutgers player drafted by the Nationals since the franchise moved from Montreal.
The selections add to a five‑year streak in which Rutgers has produced at least two draft picks annually under head coach Steve Owens, a run that includes a top‑three‑round pick in each of the past four drafts, the only Big Ten program with that consistency.
Together, the two draftees bring Rutgers’ total draft selections over the last five seasons to 13, reinforcing the program’s reputation as a pipeline for major‑league talent and highlighting the Scarlet Knights’ growing influence in collegiate baseball.