The 2026 Major League Baseball draft has spotlighted a wave of Iowa talent, with six high school standouts hearing their names called across the first 20 rounds.
Draft Selections
Gable Mitchell, a two‑way star from Iowa City High, was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth round, while right‑hander Kaleb LaFavor went to the Boston Red Sox in the tenth. Both prospects bring a mix of power and poise that caught the eye of scouts.
Caleb Klein, who helped the Bobcats capture back‑to‑back Class 3A state titles, was taken by the Atlanta Braves with the 442nd overall pick in the 15th round. His leadership on the mound and at the plate made him a coveted prospect.
Sam George, a former Pleasant Valley ace, slipped to the Milwaukee Brewers in the 19th round after a senior season that saw him strike out 62 batters over 44 innings with a 2.07 earned run average. Nate Smithburg, another pitcher from the state, earned a 6‑1 record and a 0.43 ERA, drawing the Tampa Bay Rays’ interest in the 18th round.
The New York Mets capped the Iowa contingent by drafting Kooper Schulte in the 20th round. Schulte, who led New London to a state championship, finished his senior year batting .444 with six home runs, 13 doubles, 50 runs scored, 44 RBI and nine steals.
College Paths and Futures
Mitchell will continue his baseball career at the University of Iowa, where he previously played collegiately, while LaFavor is headed to Southeastern Community College. Klein will join Central Arizona College, and George is set to attend Minnesota State University. Smithburg and Schulte round out the group with commitments to the University of Oklahoma and Central Arizona College respectively.
The draft not only underscores the depth of talent emerging from Iowa’s high schools but also highlights the growing pipeline to professional baseball. With teams investing in these players, the next few years could see several of them making significant impacts at the major‑league level.