Texas baseball has lost some talent to MLB organizations, but it will retain a few players who explored their professional prospects.
After three Longhorns were selected on Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft, three UT players or commits announced their decisions to withdraw from the 20-round event. The first five rounds were Saturday with the remaining 5-20 to follow Sunday.
Cooper Webb, a local talent from powerhouse high school program Lake Travis; Trey Rangel, of Colony High School, north of Dallas; and Tennessee left-hander Phinn Beaird each announced they were taking their name out of the draft. Webb is a four-star pitcher, per Baseball America, listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. Rangel is a top-10 prospect in the state, regardless of position, and is five-star pitcher, according to Baseball America. He’s listed at 6-1, 185 pounds. Beaird is the No. 2 left-hander in the state of Tennessee, standing 6 feet and weighing 185 pounds.
Other potential picks who have withdrawn their names include infielder Easton Autrey, right-hander Karson Reeder, catcher Jax Robinson and left-hander Tucker Thompson.
Pulling out of the draft is not an uncommon occurrence in baseball; high-round picks are often paid a million dollars or more in signing bonuses that help encourage them to go pro. Those chosen later are paid less and have a tougher decision in picking school or the minors.
That’s good news for Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle who’s been among the nation’s best recruiters for preps and transfers since coming to town ahead of the 2025 season. In his second year at the helm, he led the Longhorns back the College World Series behind Aiden Robbins, Carson Tinney and Ruger Riojas, who were each picked Saturday. But he’ll return SEC freshman of the year Anthony Pack Jr., NCAA Tournament standout Adrian Rodriguez and young hurlers Dylan Volantis and Sam Cozart next season.
Schlossnagle did lose out on some potential head-turners before they ever play on the Forty Acres.
Four UT commits or signees were picked on the draft’s first day. Massachusetts right-hander Brody Bumila was taken No. 89 overall by the Texas Rangers. The 6-foot-9 lefty was the No. 23 prospect in the draft, per mlb.com. Cooper Harris, who starred for Flower Mound High School near Fort Worth, was picked by the Washington Nationals at No. 106. He was a top-120 prospect, according to MLB and ESPN’s rankings. Texas commit Beau Peterson was selected by the Houston Astros with one of the final picks of the day, at No. 133. ESPN had him as the No. 126 prospect and MLB had the third baseman out of Kansas at 97.
Of course, the highlight among Texas pledges was Grady Emerson, seen as one of the top teen hitting prospects in the country. The top-10 recruit from the Fort Worth area flipped his commitment from TCU to Texas, but was taken No. 2 overall Sunday by the Tampa Bay Rays, all but ensuring he’ll never play for UT.
The final 16 rounds of the draft begin at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.