A Historic Selection for the Green Wave
Sam Larson, a right‑handed reliever from Tulane, heard his name called in the 16th round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, marking the first time a Green Wave player has been chosen in this year’s draft and the highest‑ever pick for the university by the Colorado Rockies.
Larson capped his college career with a 2‑3 record and a 3.95 ERA across 28 appearances, including three starts, and he logged four saves while striking out 54 batters in 41 innings. Opponents managed just a .190 batting average against him, and he surrendered only 30 hits, underscoring his dominance out of the bullpen.
His 28 outings placed him fourth in the conference for relief appearances, and his four saves topped the team and ranked seventh league‑wide. The performance added to a draft‑rich era for Tulane, which has seen at least one player selected in each of the past 15 drafts and eight picks over the last three seasons alone.
Larson joins a short list of Green Wave alumni drafted by the Rockies, becoming the third Tulane player ever chosen by the franchise and the highest‑ranked selection in the club’s history. The 2026 Green Wave finished the season 25‑31 overall and 10‑17 in conference play, yet the team earned nine weekly league honors and placed five players on the College Sports Communicators Academic All‑District list, highlighted by an All‑Conference nod to Jason Wachs.
The draft selection not only celebrates Larson’s individual achievements but also reflects the sustained pipeline of talent emerging from Tulane’s program, a trend that continues to attract attention from MLB clubs and reinforces the university’s reputation as a fertile ground for future major‑league pitchers.