The Southern Miss baseball program has been a model of consistency, posting a 40‑win season every year for the past decade, a streak that has kept the Golden Eagles among the nation’s most competitive mid‑major teams.
This year’s draft saw several standout players from the program hear their names called, beginning with infielder Joey Urban, who was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays. Urban’s .320 batting average, 15 home runs and 55 RBI in the 2026 campaign made him a coveted prospect, and his selection comes with the added storyline of reuniting with former teammate Jake Cook, also a Blue Jays pick in the 2025 draft.
Draft Highlights
The Rays also cashed in on two Southern Miss arms. Right‑hander McCarty English, who posted a 4.78 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 12 appearances during his redshirt‑sophomore season, heard his name in the later rounds, while veteran reliever Colby Allen, a career 3.93 ERA pitcher with 264 strikeouts, signed a free‑agent deal after the draft concluded.
Detroit Tigers took a chance on Drake Meeks, a redshirt‑sophomore who logged a 7.94 ERA with eight strikeouts in seven outings, adding depth to their bullpen prospects.
Perhaps the most intriguing storyline involves star outfielder Davis Gillespie, who was not selected in the 2026 draft. The snub suggests he will return for his senior year, a move that could give the 2027 roster one of the most stacked lineups in the program’s history.
Looking Ahead
The ripple effects of these selections extend beyond individual contracts; they reinforce Southern Miss’s reputation as a pipeline for MLB talent and signal a continued investment in player development.
Fans and analysts alike will watch closely how the returning senior class, now bolstered by fresh draft picks, shapes the team’s performance in the upcoming season.