The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Tuesday that they had selected right‑handed pitcher Ruger Riojas with the 100th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, a move that underscores the club’s continued focus on bolstering its pitching depth.
Riojas, who spent his final collegiate season at the University of Texas, brings a blend of raw velocity and polished secondary offerings that have drawn attention from scouts across the league.
A College Career in Transition
After two seasons at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he first emerged as a reliever, Riojas transferred to the University of Texas at Austin and began to refine his craft under the guidance of pitching coach Max Weiner.
The move to Austin proved pivotal; under Weiner’s tutelage Riojas transitioned into a starter, gradually earning a spot in the Longhorns’ rotation and showcasing an ability to command a fastball that regularly touched 98 mph.
Performance Highlights and Future Outlook
During his senior campaign in 2026, Riojas posted a 3.97 earned run average over 81 ⅔ innings, striking out 120 batters while walking just 36. His most memorable outing came against Alabama, where he fanned seven hitters and limited the Crimson Tide to two runs in six innings.
Scouting reports from MLB.com note that Riojas pairs his fastball with a diverse off‑speed repertoire that includes a splitter, cutter, slider and curveball, giving him the flexibility to keep hitters off balance at the next level.
Although his form dipped during the latter half of the 2025 season due to illness, Riojas recovered fully and entered the draft with a renewed sense of confidence, a narrative that resonates with the Phillies’ developmental philosophy.