The 2026 MLB Draft has wrapped up, and Kansas baseball saw four of its own players hear their names called across the seven rounds.
Tyson LeBlanc, a right‑hander who had been projected anywhere from the 30th to the 70th overall pick, slipped to the Detroit Tigers in the second round, a outcome that Coach Dan Fitzgerald described as a well‑researched selection.
Dominic Voegele, praised as one of the nation’s top five pitchers in the latter half of the season, was snapped up by the Baltimore Orioles in the third round, a pick Fitzgerald called a steal.
Brady Ballinger, eager to embark on his professional career, went to the Detroit Tigers in the seventh round, a move the organization highlighted as a valuable addition.
Mathis Nayral, a left‑handed pitcher, was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 13th round, a slot that Fitzgerald believes could catalyze Nayral’s projected improvement.
The draft also featured a late‑round pick for Jake Berkland, a Minnesota State commit who was taken by the Chicago White Sox in the 19th round.
Coach’s Reflections
Fitzgerald expressed surprise that several key contributors — Augusto Mungarrieta, Boede Rahe, Dylan Schlotterback and Cade Baldridge — were not drafted, but he remains optimistic about their return for the 2027 season.
He noted that while the team captured both the Big 12 regular‑season and tournament titles and hosted a NCAA regional and super regional, the club’s on‑field success did not dramatically shift draft positioning.
Voegele’s performance in the Big 12 tournament, Fitzgerald added, likely helped cement his status among the nation’s elite pitchers.
Looking Ahead
Fitzgerald speculated that Mungarrieta could be drafted next year and highlighted Rahe’s bullpen dominance as a factor that might attract a team’s attention in future cycles.
Overall, the coach emphasized that the draft outcomes reflect a blend of individual merit and the broader context of the college season, rather than a direct reward for the team’s championship run.