The 2026 MLB Draft begins Saturday with a crop of Texas, Texas A&M and local high school players preparing to make the jump to the professional level.
The Longhorns and Aggies each have potential top-200 picks, with a select number projected to go in the first round. With 20 rounds and more than 600 picks, there’ll be teams that take a shot on lesser known prospects, hoping to develop them in their farm systems.
MORE: Texas baseball transfer portal adds, departures
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A few productive prep products also could forgo college and go straight to the big leagues. Here’s a list of players to keep an eye on ahead of the MLB draft:
Draft rankings via MLB.com.
OF Aiden Robbins: 29th-ranked prospect
Robbins spent his first two seasons at Seton Hall, transferring to Texas this past year. He immediately broke out as one of the Longhorns’ best all-around players, recording a batting average of .333, an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.122 and a team-leading 24 home runs.
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The last stat was particularly eye-popping. Robbins totaled 12 homers in the past two years, but his new approach led to him tripling that total in one season. His newfound aggressiveness led to an increased strikeout percentage; he had 65, easily surpassing his previous season high of 32.
C Carson Tinney: 73rd-ranked prospect
Tinney had a forgettable end of the season, making three errors in two losses to Georgia at the College World Series. But the Notre Dame transfer’s overall body of work led to 22 home runs and a team-high 1.171 OPS.
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Tinney struck out 66 times, which he balanced with 55 walks, the most by any Longhorn. Despite his critical defensive gaffes in the postseason, he committed only two other errors in the rest of the games in which he appeared.
RHP Ruger Riojas: 92nd-ranked prospect
A former UTSA transfer, Riojas broke out in 2025 before an illness led to his performance fading toward the back half of the season. He bounced back as a senior, putting up a 3.97 ERA while striking out 120 batters in 81⅔ innings.
Riojas’ final performance as a Longhorn was a stellar one. Facing elimination in the CWS, the veteran struck out seven batters and held Alabama to two runs in six innings.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) throws a pitch during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
INF Chris Hacopian: 12th-ranked prospect
Hacopian spent the first two years of his career at Maryland before transferring to Texas A&M last offseason. He recorded a .319 batting average, a .983 OPS and hit 11 home runs in 2026.
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Unlike the other power hitters the Aggies have sent to the MLB, Hacopian excels in plate discipline and has excellent bat-to-ball skills. He drew 25 free passes and struck out 21 times in 195 plate appearances as a junior, still flashing average strength. He dealt with some injuries that limited him this past season, as he missed 15 games.
OF Caden Sorrell: 33rd-ranked prospect
Sorrell missed most of his sophomore season due to injury, but the Aggie has raked whenever he has been on the field. He put up a .924 OPS as a freshman and fully broke out in 2026, hitting .341 with a team-leading 1.177 OPS and 23 homers.
Sorrell did lead A&M with 61 strikeouts, but he possesses the tools to make up for it. He showed decent speed in center field after taking over the position as a junior and could be a plus defender in the corners.
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Texas A&M outfielder Caden Sorrell (13) celebrates a home run while running the bases during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
INF Gavin Grahovac: 38th-ranked prospect
The Aggies’ big-hitting first baseman mashed 47 home runs during his time in College Station, despite playing only six games in 2025 due to injury. Grahovac had a .339 batting average, a 1.150 OPS and 22 long balls as a junior, second only to Sorrell.
Grahovac’s MLB potential rests mostly on his bat, specifically his raw power. He’ll likely be confined to first base, designated hitter or a corner outfield as a professional.
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Notable high schoolers
INF Grady Emerson: 1st-ranked prospect
Emerson is a Texas commit, but there’s almost no chance he’ll don the burnt orange. The Fort Worth Christian prospect recorded a .532 batting average and a 1.013 OPS as a senior and is projected to go top three overall in the MLB draft.
INF Connor Comeau: 55th-ranked prospect
Although Comeau just finished his senior season at Anderson and is signed with Texas A&M, whether the Austin product ends up in College Station is a major question.
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Comeau is thin (6-foot-4, 180) but is projected to grow to more than 200 pounds. His power potential combined with a sharp eye at the plate might be enough for an MLB team to draw him away from the Aggies.