Mariners Secure Top Talent on Day One
The Seattle Mariners made a notable selection on the first day of the 2026 MLB Draft, choosing third baseman Ace Reese as the 24th overall pick. Reese, a junior from Canton, Texas, became the highest-drafted third baseman in the history of his school. This marks the fourth time the Mariners have drafted a player from Mississippi State.
Reese’s collegiate career included starting 118 games over two seasons in Starkville. During this period, he achieved a batting average of .341, accumulating 40 doubles, one triple, 45 home runs, and 138 RBIs, alongside a 1.144 OPS. In the most recent spring season, he batted .336 with 24 homers and 74 RBIs, also leading the Southeastern Conference with 23 doubles. He is one of only three players from his program to hit 20-plus homers in consecutive seasons.
His 2026 home run total ranks as the fourth-highest in a single season for his school, and his 45 homers over the past two years are tied for ninth all-time at Mississippi State. Reese was a two-time All-SEC first teamer and was recognized as the 2025 SEC Newcomer of the Year. He received 10 All-America honors during his time in college baseball.
Day Two Selections for the Mariners
The second and final day of the 2026 MLB Draft saw the Seattle Mariners continue to build their prospect pool with numerous selections across rounds five through twenty. These picks spanned various positions and colleges, indicating a broad approach to talent acquisition.
In the fifth round, the Mariners selected outfielder Hayden Yost from Florida. The sixth round brought third baseman Henry Ford from Tennessee into the fold. Shortstop Ryan Wynn from Georgia was chosen in the seventh round, followed by catcher Mason Eckelman from Ohio State in the eighth.
The Mariners’ pitching selections on day two included right-hander Drew Whalen from Auburn in the ninth round, and right-hander Wyatt Queen from Oregon State in the eleventh. They also picked right-handers Connor Marshburn from UNC Wilmington in the twelfth round, Anthony Treto from Tarleton State in the thirteenth, and Chris Diaz from Florida Gulf Coast in the fourteenth.
Further selections included outfielder Charlie Sutherland from Minnesota in the fifteenth round and left-handed pitcher Chris Torres from U South Carolina Upstate in the sixteenth. Right-hander Matthew Matthijs from UNC was chosen in the seventeenth round. Outfielder Dominic Santarelli from St. Joseph’s HS (WI) was a pick in the eighteenth round, and outfielder Michael Petite from VCU was selected in the nineteenth. The Mariners concluded their draft with third baseman Connor Shouse from Texas Tech in the twentieth round.
Other Notable Draft Picks
While the Mariners were active, other teams also made significant selections. Reliever Ben Davis, also from Mississippi State, was chosen by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round, as the 104th overall pick. Davis played two seasons in Starkville as a two-way player before focusing solely on pitching.
During his time on the mound, Davis appeared in 49 games, making four starts. He recorded a 4-4 record with a 3.71 earned run average and six saves. He struck out 118 batters and walked 38 over 104 1/3 innings. In his most recent season, he was named a second-team All-SEC player, making 26 bullpen appearances with five saves, a 3.64 ERA, 57 strikeouts, and 14 walks across 47 frames.
Davis is the 15th pitcher from Mississippi State to be drafted in the last three drafts and the first from his school to be picked by the Rockies since Brad Cumbest in 2022. The Rockies have drafted 12 prospects from Mississippi State in their history. The draft concluded with rounds 5-20 on Sunday.
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Source: hailstate.com
