The 2026 MLB Draft saw Texas A&M catcher Bear Harrison hear his name called in the fifth round by the New York Yankees, a move that caps a breakout year for the young backstop.
A Record‑Setting Journey
Harrison’s statistical line was nothing short of impressive, as he posted a .297 average at the plate while driving in 35 runs and launching 12 homers. His on‑base skills shone through a .495 clip, and his slugging percentage of .626 reflected a power surge that helped him finish with a .276 average over two collegiate seasons.
In SEC competition he was even more dominant, batting .319 with a 1.114 OPS, and he set a Texas A&M single‑season record by being hit by a pitch 23 times, a testament to his patience and ability to work counts.
Defensively, Harrison proved equally reliable, recording 815 putouts and gunning down 14 would‑be base stealers across 97 career games, while also contributing 14 doubles and 22 home runs in his second year.
The selection marks the culmination of a two‑year college career that saw him appear in 97 games with 94 starts, amass 815 putouts and nab 14 would‑be base stealers, and set a school record for hit‑by‑pitch incidents.