The 2026 MLB Draft has come and gone, and nine players from the Mountain West got the call throughout the weekend. Nevada had the first player taken off the board, with pitcher Aidan Brainard being the first and only athlete to go in the single-digit rounds. UNLV led the way with three players drafted, GCU with two and four separate programs with one. And surprisingly, six of the nine players were pitchers, representing both starters and closers in a conference that did not have a great year on the mound.
Here is a breakdown of each player drafted, listed by school and what round/pick they were drafted.
GCU: 2
- Chase Frey (P, Boston Red Sox, Round 15 Pick 454)
Grand Canyon’s ace on the bump this year, Frey had a pretty good year in Mountain West terms. Boasting a 4.79 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, the Las Vegas native was one of the best starting pitchers in the conference, earning a second team all-MW honor after the 2026 season. However, Frey was not able to earn many wins over the last year, ending his college career with a 2-7 record, which was not necessarily his fault. Boston’s current situation in the starting rotation is one of the worst in the MLB this year, which is why the team has a 46-48 record. If the trend continues and Frey can develop quickly, Frey could see some time sooner rather than later.
- Garrett Ahern (P, New York Yankees, Round 16 Pick 488)
The second and final pitcher from the first Arizona-based school in the Mountain West, Ahem will now be rivals with Frey as he takes his talents to the Yankees. Although he did not see as many starts as his all-Mountain West teammate, Ahem still had a great year in the Mountain West, posting a 5.05 ERA through 46.1 innings and 189 batters faced. The junior was also a victim of a bad win-loss record, going 2-3 with six no decisions. The New York Yankees do have a pretty decent pitching staff overall, with all-star Cam Schlittler being the ace this year and household names like Max Fried and Garrit Cole still on the roster. However, if time does catch up to the veterans and spots open up, Ahem could slot right into the starting rotation once he develops his game further.
Hawaii: 1
- Ben Zeigler (1B, Atlanta Braves, Round 10 Pick 292)
Zeigler was the first position player taken from the Mountain West this year, and for good reason. The graduate student from Lahaina, Maui put up great numbers, hitting .294 with 194 at-bats, 57 hits (10 doubles, five home runs, one triple) and 37 RBis. His performance was one of the most consistent on the team throughout the year, earning an all-Big West honorable mention for his efforts. Atlanta is in a very good spot as of now, as they are the leaders of the NL East at 55-40 and are about to get healthy for a mid-season push to keep their winning ways afloat. Players like first baseman Matt Olson are still holding it down, but with the right development throughout the minor leagues, Zeigler can move up to make his own name at the corner.
Nevada: 1
- Aidan Brainard (P, Texas Rangers, Round 6 Pick 178)
The first player taken from the board from the new Mountain West after a decent year with some great high points. The all-Mountain West first team senior ended his college career with a 6.53 ERA and a 5-4 record. Across 62 innings pitched, Brainard struck out 68 batters in 253 faced with a .320 opponent batting average. Despite the less than stellar stats, Brainard did have great outings against schools like Ole Miss, Air Force, New Mexico and UNLV, showcasing what he can do when prompted. He will need to work on his consistency, but if Brainard can do so while continuing to grow his strengths, like his strikeout capabilities, he could get a good spot on the Rangers’ rotation down the road.
New Mexico: 1
- Cooper Corkrean (P, Kansas City Royals, Round 18 Pick 539)
New Mexico’s sole draft pick comes in the form of their all-Mountain West second team pitcher Cooper Corkrean. In his one year with the Lobos, Corkrean posted a steady 5.49 ERA as one of the Lobos’ best relief pitchers. In 21 appearances, the junior notched 59 strikeouts and 61 hits through 59 innings, with a WHIP of 1.44 in the season. Corkrean had several instances of closing out games that New Mexico were down in, resulting in a 6-2 record on top of four saves. There were moments where Corkrean got shelled, specifically against Northern Colorado and Tarleton State that do need to be ironed out in the big leagues, but once those blips become less and less frequent, Corkrean should be a stud in the bullpen for the Royals.
UNLV: 3
- Jase Evangelista (P, Boston Red Sox, Round 14 Pick 424)
Starting off the trio of Rebels picked was Evangelista, the junior relief pitcher who saw a lot of time as one of the main relief pitchers for UNLV. In 19 appearances and 46.2 innings pitched (third most on the team), Evangelista posted a 6.17 ERA with a 1.48 WHIP. Of the five pitchers that had at least 45 innings on their belt, the junior had the least amount of hits given up (51), second least earned runs (32) and the lowest opponent batting average (.282). Joining up with Frey, Evangelista will have a harder outlook due to the Red Sox bullpen being a bit better than the starting rotation. However, in a similar fashion to Frey, room could open up sooner rather than later if Evangelista plays his cards right.
- Ryan Marton (P, Chicago Cubs, Round 17 Pick 517)
Following his teammate three rounds later, Marton was yet another relief pitcher that had a pretty good season all things considered. Although he did not have as much time on the bump, Marton had a very similar season to Evangelista, posting a 6.16 ERA through 19 innings pitched. He was actually better statistically, with a .219 opponent batting average, 16 hits, 13 earned runs and a 1.32 WHIP, though that could be equated to a variety of different factors in a debate. The Toronto, Ontario native didn’t see a lot of innings throughout his appearances, which will be the big question mark as he develops. Regardless of whether he goes the closer or short inning relief route, Marton should have a great time in the minors and majors with the right progression.
- Jack Salmon (OF, Los Angeles Angels, Round 19 Pick 559)
The final member of UNLV taken in the draft and only positional player, 2026 was a good year for Salmon. In 49 games, the senior hit on a .344 average with a .966 OPS (.481 SLG, .485 OB), notching 53 hits. While there wasn’t a lot of fireworks in his game, only hitting three home runs, Salmon was a scoring beast, getting across home plate 42 times, the most of anyone who played less than 50 games. Salmon’s abilities at the plate and on the base path should prove wonders for the Angles, who are still in desperate times as the last team in the AL West and could use a player like Salmon in the close future.
Utah Tech: 1
- Petey Soto Jr. (SS, Houston Astros, Round 18 Pick 541)
A new affiliate member to the Mountain West for the 2027 season, Utah Tech comes in with a bit of brand exposure thanks to Petey Soto Jr. being drafted late into the second day. Competing in the Big Sky while facing off with multiple Mountain West schools last year, Soto Jr. had some great numbers, finishing his college career with a .347 batting average and a .910 OPS in 59 games. In that time, the hometown junior got 77 hits (15 doubles and six home runs) and 48 RBIs, both of which were the best on the team. The Astros do have shortstop Jeremy Pena as their shot caller at the moment, making things a tad bit difficult for Soto Jr. to make an MLB appearance anytime soon. However, given the fact that the Astros are in the midst of a down year without a serious revival, Soto Jr. might have a chance sooner down the line if he continues his growth.
