​In most cases, the number of players a college baseball team has drafted serves as a strong indicator of how strong that program was in the prior season. Arizona’s draft results tell a mixed tale: nine Wildcats were selected after reaching the College World Series, but the 2026 season proved brutal, as only two Wildcats heard their names called in the 2026 MLB Draft. Right-handed pitcher Owen Kramkowski went to the Tampa Bay Rays in the 5th round, while fellow right-hander Collin McKinney was chosen by the Baltimore Orioles in the 9th round. Kramkowski secured the No. 145 overall pick with a bonus slot value of $506,100, while McKinney, selected at No. 260, carried a $213,300 slot. Players selected in the 11th round or later can sign for up to $150,000 without affecting a team’s bonus pool.
Arizona’s two draft selections mark the program’s smallest total since 2022, when catcher Daniel Susac went in the 1st round and outfielder Tanner O’Tremba went in the 15th round. It also marked the first time since 2014 that Arizona did not have a player selected in the first four rounds. Although the immediate loss of current UA players to the MLB Draft was minimal, the impact on the program’s future prospects looks more consequential. Two members of Arizona’s 2026 recruiting class, along with three transfers who signed this summer, were drafted on Sunday. Incoming freshman catcher Francisco Rivero from Canyon del Oro High School in Oro Valley went to the Washington Nationals in the 15th round, while transfer right-hander Garrett Ahern from Grand Canyon University was selected by the New York Yankees in the 16th round. In the 17th round, righties McCarty English (Southern Mississippi), Collin Cobb (Williston State JC), and New Mexico prep right-hander Jack Byers were all selected. Each draftee has until July 27 to sign a pro contract; if they do not, they will join the Wildcats for the 2027 season.
The 6-foot-3 Kramkowski, a Sahuarita native, stands as the fifth high school recruit to Arizona drafted by Chip Hale and his staff. He spent three seasons in Tucson and anchored a portion of the weekend rotation, including starting the opening game of the College World Series. In 2025, he went 9-6 with a 5.48 ERA, fanning 90 batters in 92 innings, but he regressed as a junior to a 1-8 record and a 6.13 ERA. Across 35 career appearances, he walked only 38 batters over 165.1 innings and recorded 165 strikeouts.
McKinney, at 6-foot-5, joined Arizona after beginning his college career at Baylor and spent the last two seasons with the Wildcats. He typically served as the Friday night starter in 2025 before moving to the bullpen, and this past spring balanced roles as a starter and reliever. He fanned 109 in 91.2 innings for Arizona. Last month, McKinney had entered the NCAA transfer portal and committed to Houston, but he is expected to sign with a professional organization.
Arizona’s draft results mirror a broader trend for a program that finished 19-34 overall, the program’s worst record since 1994, and went 9-21 in the Big 12 after a conference tournament title the year prior. The contrast between a historically strong recruiting pipeline and the current on-field performance underscores the challenges the Wildcats face as they navigate a transition period and recalibrate their roster after a season marked by struggle. The lack of draft picks from Arizona’s roster this year highlights the gap between the program’s potential and its on-field output, and it sets the stage for a crucial offseason as the Wildcats look to rebuild and reassert themselves in the years ahead.