Kooper Schulte, a former Iowa Hawkeyes infielder, was selected by the New York Mets in the 20th round of the 2026 MLB Draft, marking the fourth time a Hawkeye has been chosen by the franchise.
A Iowa native's rise
Schulte began his collegiate career at Central Arizona before transferring to Southeastern Community College, where he posted a .317 average and a .986 OPS in a single season. He later moved to the University of Iowa, where he started 56 games in 2026 and led the team with nine home runs and 18 doubles.
During that season he batted .274 with an .840 OPS, drove in 64 runs, and posted a .451 slugging percentage over his Iowa career. Defensively, he recorded a .975 fielding percentage at shortstop and amassed 83 putouts.
Draft significance
The Mets' selection underscores the team's focus on collegiate talent from the Midwest. Schulte joins a short list of Iowa players drafted by New York, and his addition is viewed as a potential contributor at the minor‑league level.
Beyond the numbers, Schulte is known for a career‑day performance against Wisconsin‑Platteville on February 17, 2026, when he collected five hits, a triple, three doubles and ten total bases.
Coached by Rick Heller, Schulte becomes the 39th Hawkeye drafted under the current coaching staff, a milestone that reflects the program's growing pipeline to professional baseball.