The 2026 Major League Baseball Draft will take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 11 and 12, bringing together the nation’s top prospects and drawing particular attention from scouts tracking the city’s own baseball heritage.
A Legacy of El Paso Talent
From Alan Zinter and Armando Almanza to more recent names on the draft board, El Paso has consistently produced players who have reached the professional ranks. The upcoming draft offers another chance for the region to add to that storied list.
Drew Gonzalez, a 6‑foot‑1 infielder from Americas High School, was named the 2026 El Paso Times All‑City MVP after hitting 13 home runs and driving in 54 runs, helping his team reach the Class 5A, Division 1 regional finals. He is projected as a shortstop or third‑base candidate and has indicated he would attend Texas Tech University if he does not sign professionally.
Armani Raygoza, also an infielder from Americas High School, enters the draft after a collegiate career at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley where he became the all‑time RBI leader with 138 and hit 17 homers in back‑to‑back seasons. His accolades include consecutive Southland Conference Player of the Year awards and a stint in the Cape Cod Baseball League, a proving ground for top amateurs.
Diego Cardenas, a power‑hitting infielder who starred at El Paso Community College before moving to Abilene Christian University, earned All‑American honors and launched 44 home runs over two seasons. His combination of size and bat speed has placed him on the radar of several clubs looking for middle‑infield depth.
The draft will be structured with rounds 1 through 4 on July 11 and rounds 5 through 20 on July 12, giving teams ample opportunity to select the El Paso prospects and the many other players who have previously emerged from the city’s baseball pipeline.
Beyond the individual stories, the draft underscores a broader cultural significance for El Paso, where high school and college programs have long served as incubators for talent that eventually competes on the national stage. The city’s baseball community watches with pride as its own prepare to take the next step toward the majors.