A second player has been selected to the MLB in the 2026 draft class, as the Washington Nationals have selected Rutgers RHP Zack Konstantinovsky in the 14th round of the MLB draft. He joins Peyton Bonds, who was drafted in the third round by the Giants, as the two Rutgers players selected in the MLB draft. He was drafted with the 406th overall pick.
Konstantinovsky spent the last three seasons on the Scarlet Knights’ roster, playing sparingly in 2024 as a true freshman before missing all of 2025 with
an injury. He saw much more playing time in 2026, surrendering 80 hits in 70.2 innings pitched with 83 strikeouts and 21 walks. Over those innings, he had an runs against averaged of 5.48.
His 83 strikeouts are the 6th most in a season in program history.
Konstantinovsky’s best game last season came against Western Carolina, where he recorded seven scoreless innings pitched, giving up just one hit and recording 6 strikeouts.
While no Rutgers players have ever been drafted by the Nationals before Konstantinovsky, five Knights were drafted by the organization when they were still the Montreal Expos. These five include RHP Jason Bergmann, shortstop Tim Sweeney, LHP Darrin Winston, infielder Ted Ciesla and outfielder Darrin Kotch.
This is the fifth straight year that Rutgers baseball has had at least two players drafted in the MLB draft. Konstantinovsky is the 13th player to be drafted to the MLB during head coach Steve Owen’s tenure, being the sixth former Rutgers pitcher to have their name called over that time.
