There were 613 players selected in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, and at least 14 have ties to Michigan.
Leading the way was center fielder Brayden Dowd, who was a third-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Dowd was selected 88th overall out of Florida State. He starred in high school at Birmingham Brother Rice.
Dowd was ranked the 178th-best prospect in this year’s draft class, according to MLB.com. The bonus value for Down’s draft slot is $915,100.
The Diamondbacks were intrigued by his ability to get on-base. He had a .456 OBP during his junior season in 2026. He also showed some pop, with 10 home runs and a .527 slugging percentage, swinging from the left side. He started his college career at Southern California, before transferring to Florida State before the 2026 season.
“We think there’s sneaky power in there,” Ian Rebhan, Diamondbacks scouting director, told reporters in Arizona. “He did show the ability to slug a little bit. We think there’s more untapped potential in the power there.
“He’s just a really instinctual player, both in the box and in center field.”
Dowd is the 11th former Brother Rice star to be selected in the MLB Draft, and the first since outfielder Nick Plummer was taken in the first round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015. Brother Rice also produced DJ LeMahieu, a three-time All-Star, two-time batting champion and four-time Gold Glove winner.
Three players from Michigan colleges and Michigan high schools were taken in the 2026 draft, including Michigan State right-hander Nolan Higgins, who was selected in the fifth round by the Toronto Blue Jays. Higgins played at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. His slot value is $421,300.
Olivet right-hander Bryan Carney, a former Grosse Pointe North standout, went in the seventh round to the Houston Astros, who also drafted Michigan catcher Noah Miller (Monroe) in the 20th and final round. His slot value is $285,400.
The Astros have a history of finding talent in the Metro Detroit pipeline. In 2019, they drafted right-hander Hunter Brown in the fifth round out of St. Clair Shores Lakeview High School and Division II Wayne State.
This time, the Astros went mining for gold at DIII level and unearthed Carney, who was the first Olivet player ever to earn first-team All-America honors from D3Baseball.com. According to BaseballReference.com, he’s the second Olivet player ever drafted. He joins ex-Tigers pitcher Vern Ruhle (17th round, 1972). In 73.1 innings over 11 starts this past season, Carney had 122 strikeouts and 17 walks. He had a 1.35 ERA and 0.79 WHIP.
Among the Metro Detroit players drafted was right-hander Tyler Kapa, who went in the 14th round to the Miami Marlins. The Waterford Kettering alum played collegiately at Virginia.
Draft picks have until 5 p.m. July 27 to sign a contract.
Local 2026 MLB Draft picks
- Third round, Diamondbacks: Brayden Dowd, OF, 5-10/180, Florida State (Birmingham Brother Rice)
- Fifth, Blue Jays: Nolan Higgins, RHP, 6-4/215, Michigan State (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s)
- Seventh, Astros: Bryan Carney, RHP, 6-6/210, Olivet (Grosse Pointe North)
- Eighth, Astros: Aaron Piasecki, SS, 5-10/187, Troy (Muskegon Mona Shores)
- Eighth, Phillies: Wyatt Danilowicz, LHP, 6-10/210, Louisville (Traverse City West)
- 10th, Nationals: Nick Williams, OF, 6-0/195, Michigan State
- 10th, Athletics: Dominic Mauro, RHP, 6-10/210, Cincinnati (Davison)
- 10th, Rangers: Evan Morrison, SS, 5-11/200, Grand Valley State
- 11th, Phillies: Drew Titsworth, RHP, 6-3/215, Clemson (Frankenmuth)
- 12th, Rockies: Garrett Brewer, LHP, 6-3/181, Auburn (Berrien Springs)
- 12th, Twins: Colby Turner, 2B, 6-0/205, Michigan
- 14th, Marlins: Tyler Kapa, RHP, 6-2/195, Virginia (Waterford Kettering)
- 17th, Giants: Tanner Mally, OF, 6-0/185, Western Michigan
- 19th, Astros: Noah Miller, C, 6-0/200, Michigan (Monroe)
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Here are the players with Michigan ties who were taken in MLB Draft
