Meet the eight Utah locals taken in the 2026 MLB Draft
Jul 14, 2026, 5:24 PM | Updated: Jul 16, 2026, 10:45 am
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 11: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during the 2026 MLB Draft at Pennsylvania Convention Center on July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The power of baseball in the Beehive State was on full display during the 2026 MLB Draft.
Eight players with ties to Utah high schools or colleges were selected in this year’s draft.
RELATED: Rangers select Utah Valley Wolverine Kaden Carpenter in MLB Draft
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Steele Murdock – 5th round (139th overall)
Herriman Mustangs | Right-handed pitcher
Steele Murdock was the first Utahn off the board when the Minnesota Twins called his name in the fifth and final round of Day 1.
With the 139th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, we have selected Steele Murdock. pic.twitter.com/6ryw87wrO5
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 12, 2026
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound UC San Diego redshirt sophomore hails from Herriman, Utah, where he earned second-team all-state recognition as a senior in 2023 along with two first-team all-conference selections with the Mustangs. He was a three-sport letterman, also competing in golf and basketball.
Murdock redshirted as a freshman before appearing in 15 games and making eight starts in 2025. He finished the year with a 1-3 record and one save in 45 innings.
With the 139th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft the Twins select UC San Diego RHP Steele Murdock
Age: 21 B/T: R/R H/W: 6’2/210
Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40 | Overall: 45 pic.twitter.com/mIReZNLwYC
— PrimeLewis23 (@retro_minnesota) July 12, 2026
The 2026 season was a breakout for Murdock, who earned All-Big West honorable mention after posting a 5.23 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over 15 starts as the Tritons’ Friday starter.
Murdock hit his ceiling when he mowed down a program-record 17 UC Santa Barbara batters in an eight-inning complete-game victory. He became just the fourth Triton to reach 100 strikeouts in a single season, setting the program record with 104 Ks.
With a power arm and a deepening arsenal, Murdock has the kind of upside that could make him a fast riser in Minnesota’s system.
Kaden Carpenter – 9th round (267th overall)
Utah Valley Wolverines | Outfielder
Kaden Carpenter, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound left-handed hitter, was taken with the 267th overall pick during Day 2 of the draft.
The Texas Rangers select Kaden Carpenter, making him the highest-selected player in our Division I era. ⚾️#GoUVU | #ValleyForged pic.twitter.com/nGaS41cIRT
— UVU Baseball (@UVUbsb) July 12, 2026
Once ranked as the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in Utah and the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2022 class, he chose coach Gary Henderson and the Utah Utes — then made the full-time move from the mound to the batter’s box.
After slashing .293/.398/.495 in 128 games with Utah, the power-hitting outfielder transferred to Utah Valley for his final collegiate campaign — and made the most of it.
Extended look at the @Rangers 267th overall pick Kaden Carpenter (@KadenCarp14, @PrepBaseballUT) from the 2022 Prep Baseball #Super60 pic.twitter.com/2tDE5R3hDw
— Prep Baseball Draft HQ (@PB_DraftHQ) July 12, 2026
He became the UVU Newcomer of the Year in a breakout season, leading the Wolverines in runs, hits, doubles, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage, walks, on-base percentage and stolen bases. He finished with a .338 batting average, 17 home runs, 21 doubles, and 58 RBIs.
Carpenter’s combination of raw power, plate discipline, and positional versatility gives him a legitimate shot to climb the professional ladder.
Tyler West – 12th round (366th overall)
SLCC Bruins | Outfielder
Left-handed-hitting outfielder Tyler West was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 12th round, 366th overall.
Originally from St. George, Utah, the Crimson Cliffs alum led Salt Lake Community College with a .391 batting average and paced the team with 88 hits as a redshirt freshman.
Tigers 12th rounder LHH OF Tyler West hit .391 with 33BB, 32 SB for SLCC. Is extremely fast. Good defender. Really like the profiles the Tigers are targeting with their slot saver picks. https://t.co/zuKHPNpLia pic.twitter.com/dVshTBiRAa
— Tigers Torkmoil (@bythewaybro) July 12, 2026
West showcased elite speed, swiping 32 bases and adding four triples to go along with an inside-the-park home run — the kind of highlight-reel play that turns scouts’ heads.
He is currently committed to Texas A&M, giving him a decision to make: College Station or a professional contract.
Jake Long – 13th round (379th overall)
Utah Utes | Outfielder
Junior outfielder Jake Long became the first Utah Ute off the board when the Los Angeles Angels selected him in the 13th round (379th overall).
A native of Whittier, California, Long began his college career at Santa Ana College following a standout two-sport career in football and baseball at La Serna High School.
In 49 games with Santa Ana, he slashed .353/.438/.476 with 13 doubles, two home runs, and 23 RBIs before transferring to Utah for his sophomore season.
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Long put up steady numbers as a sophomore, leading the team with six steals while adding a .263 batting average, 21 RBIs, and 25 runs scored.
Then he exploded as a junior, rocketing up draft boards after earning All-Big 12 second-team honors as one of the league’s most improved players.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound outfielder boosted his batting average by more than 100 points, nearly doubled his slugging percentage and belted 11 home runs — compared with just one in 2025.
Some @jakeplong highlights to start the week 🎞️🎞️#GoUtes x @Angels pic.twitter.com/8mJwqxLY80
— Utah Baseball (@utahbaseball) July 13, 2026
He ended the season as the team leader in batting average (.374), slugging percentage (.629), hits (79), RBI (58), and home runs. His 21-game hitting streak was the longest for a Ute since 2011.
Long is the first Utah player drafted by Los Angeles since C.J. Cron in 2011 and the 31st MLB draft pick in program history. With that kind of breakout trajectory, the Angels may have found a late-round gem.
Garrison Sumner – 13th round (380th overall
BYU Cougars | Right-handed pitcher
Garrison Sumner was the first BYU Cougar taken in the 2026 draft, selected in the 13th round by the Baltimore Orioles — one pick after Utah’s Jake Long went off the board.
The 6-foot-3 right-hander prepped at Westlake High School and was the No. 4-ranked prospect in Utah by Perfect Game in 2022.
His collegiate journey began at Utah in 2023, where he made five nondescript appearances out of the bullpen before transferring to Salt Lake Community College.
Garrison Sumner is THAT guy 😤
takes one off the arm ➡️ responds with his 6th strikeout
📺 https://t.co/QT4xx4ingM pic.twitter.com/u1bteEP9RA
— BYU Baseball (@BYUBaseball) March 12, 2026
He was dominant for the Bruins.
In 13 starts, Sumner went 9-2, and his 1.82 ERA was fourth in the country. He struck out 72 batters in 59.1 innings.
Sumner landed at BYU in 2025, starting 11 games and making 14 appearances. He struggled to an 8.32 ERA, allowing 18 home runs in 61.2 innings.
The Orioles selected BYU RHP Garrison Sumner with the 380th overall pick in the 13th round of the MLB draft.
Sumner, 22, posted a 28.1% strikeout rate this season — a big jump over his first two collegiate seasons. pic.twitter.com/fbNEtYS3ut
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) July 12, 2026
The Boston Red Sox took Sumner in the final round (598th overall) of the 2025 draft, but he opted to return to BYU rather than begin his professional career.
He righted the ship as a senior, tallying 85 strikeouts in 66.1 innings while cutting his home runs allowed in half.
That kind of resilience — and the willingness to bet on himself — is exactly what the Orioles covet in their pitching pipeline.
Crew McChesney – 17th round (495th overall)
BYU Cougars | Outfielder
Crew McChesney has a chance to make his professional baseball dreams a reality after the Chicago White Sox selected the former Lone Peak star with the 495th overall pick.
The extra-base machine was a four-year starter with the Knights, helping lead his team to a 2022 state championship. He was an all-state first-team selection in 2022 and 2023.
In 2024, McChesney followed in the footsteps of his football-playing brothers, Austin and Jackson, to BYU.
#WhiteSox take an athletic upside bat in Round 17 of the MLB Draft.
BYU CF Crew McChesney hit .307/.361/.584 with 27 XBH in 42 games despite missing time with a hamstring injury.
90th% EV: 107.2 mph
xwOBAcon: .587
16 2B | 3 3B | 8 HR++ runner with a chance to stick in CF.… https://t.co/aSOr0XoahC
— Adrian White (@AdrianWhiteSox) July 12, 2026
His college career began quietly — hitting a robust .340 while being limited to 27 games and 15 starts.
The following season, McChesney slashed .285/.389/.445 and finished with five home runs and 40 RBIs as a full-time starter.
Extended look at the @Whitesox 495th overall pick Crew McChesney (@CMacCheese) from the 2023 Prep Baseball #Super60 @PrepBaseballUT pic.twitter.com/0GoNRYxDWp
— Prep Baseball Draft HQ (@PB_DraftHQ) July 12, 2026
McChesney posted solid numbers as a junior despite an injury that sidelined him for three weeks midseason.
McChesney posted strong numbers as a junior despite an injury that sidelined him for three weeks midseason. He hit .307 with 16 doubles and eight home runs, slugging a career-high .584 in 42 games.
He brings a spectacular glove to the professional ranks, having committed just two errors in 249 career chances — the kind of defensive reliability that accelerates a climb through the minors.
Colter McAnelly – 18th round (527th overall)
Utah Utes | Right-handed pitcher
The Minnesota Twins set up a potential college reunion when they tabbed Utah right-hander Colter McAnelly with their 18th-round pick. Former Utah pitcher Merit Jones was a 14th-round pick of the Twins in 2025 and is currently in Single-A Fort Myers. The Twins have taken five of the 82 Utes ever drafted.
The Cheyenne, Wyoming, product worked his way into the Friday night starter role over three seasons with the Utes.
McAnelly was Utah Athletics’ Rookie of the Year after going 5-4 in 15 appearances (10 starts) in 2024, striking out 45 batters in 51 innings as a freshman.
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The following season, McAnelly was an All-Big 12 first-team performer and earned three Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors.
Utah’s Friday night starter ended the year with a 4-4 record and 3.79 ERA in 92.2 innings. He averaged nearly seven innings per start, leading the conference in innings pitched.
His 92 strikeouts were fifth in the league and the fourth-most in a single season in program history.
𝐌𝐚𝐜 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 on the mound.@ColterMcanelly #GoUtes x @Twins pic.twitter.com/mDeeJ5rEOt
— Utah Baseball (@utahbaseball) July 13, 2026
McAnelly wasn’t quite as sharp as a junior, making 13 starts and throwing 67.1 innings, but he finished his career with 207 strikeouts — the fourth-most in program history.
If McAnelly and Jones end up sharing a clubhouse, the Salt Lake City-to-Fort Myers pipeline will be well established.
Petey Soto Jr. – 18th round (541st overall)
Utah Tech | Infielder
The Houston Astros looked to St. George, Utah, for their 18th-round pick, taking Utah Tech shortstop Petey Soto Jr. with the 541st overall selection.
A graduate of Crimson Cliffs High School, Soto Jr. helped lead the Mustangs to back-to-back Class 4A state championships. He was a first-team all-state pick in 2022 and was named the 2023 Class 4A Player of the Year and Region 9 MVP after hitting .467 with 29 RBIs.
Soto Jr. went on to start 46 games in 2024, playing in all but three for Utah Tech. He hit .258 with six doubles and three home runs.
Houston bound!
Congrats @SotoPetey!
First Trailblazer drafted in the D-I era!
Ninth Trailblazer drafted in the NCAA era!
48th player drafted in program history (NCAA/NJCAA)!
📰 – https://t.co/0PAi7jTobx#UtahTechBlazers | #MWBSB pic.twitter.com/H6mCiUicHw— Utah Tech Baseball (@UtahTech_BASE) July 12, 2026
He became one of the best shortstops in the country the following season, finishing as a semifinalist for the 2026 Brooks Wallace Award, given annually to the nation’s best shortstop.
The 5-foot-10 athlete had 23 multi-hit games, including seven three-hit efforts, ending the season with a .283 average, four home runs, 27 RBIs and 30 runs scored.
Soto Jr. is the 48th player in program history to be drafted and the first Utah Tech athlete selected in the NCAA Division I era.
In Houston’s system, his glove work and competitive fire could carve out a path to the middle infield at the next level.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here.
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