Five Florida Gulf Coast Eagles baseball players have been selected in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, signing professional contracts that together approach $2 million. The group marks one of the most productive draft hauls in program history, with each prospect agreeing to terms that will see them begin their professional careers in the Arizona Complex League.
Record‑Breaking Selections
Evan Dempsey, the second‑highest pick in school history, was taken by the Detroit Tigers and immediately lauded by MLB Network analyst Carlos Collazo, who highlighted the right‑hander’s fastball velocity and sharp curveball as tools that could translate quickly to the professional mound.
The remaining signees include Hunter Possehl, an eighth‑round selection by the Kansas City Royals who posted a strike‑out rate near one batter per inning over 67 1/3 innings, and Chris Diaz, a 14th‑round pick of the Seattle Mariners who earned Second Team All‑ASUN honors after fanning 74 batters in 72 1/3 frames with a .217 opponent batting average. Ashton Pocol, a 16th‑round choice of the Chicago Cubs, contributed 50 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings while limiting opponents to a .198 average, and Javier Gorostola, the Eagles’ leading hitter, went 17th round to the Athletics after batting .370 with 14 doubles, 13 homers and 57 RBIs.
Path Forward
The five selections also represent the second most draft picks the program has ever produced, underscoring a sustained pipeline of talent that continues to attract national attention. With a combined investment close to $2 million, the Eagles look to build on this momentum as each player heads to Arizona to begin their professional development.