​Carsten Sabathia III, the son of Hall of Famer CC Sabathia, was drafted by one of MLB’s storied franchises in the 20th round of the 2026 MLB Draft. The Milwaukee Brewers selected him, giving the elder Sabathia a nod with their final pick of the event. Carsten Charles Sabathia is the full name of CC Sabathia; his son has chosen to carry forward the Carsten portion of that lineage in his own baseball journey.
Carsten Sabathia III is listed as a 6-foot-4 infielder weighing 245 pounds, and he bats right-handed. He played his high school baseball at Bergen Catholic in New Jersey and began his college career at Georgia Tech, where he appeared in 19 games across two seasons. He transferred to the University of Houston, where he continued his collegiate career. In 2025, his first season with Houston, he played in 27 games and posted a .235 batting average with five doubles, two home runs, and 18 RBIs.
In 2026, Carsten played in 37 games for Houston and improved his numbers, raising his batting average to .280. He also hit three doubles and six home runs, contributing to a strong final season with a .511 slugging percentage and an .885 OPS. Despite these gains, the round in which he was drafted suggested that MLB teams viewed his long-term upside as limited. Many scouts project him to be best suited as a designated hitter or a first baseman, and while his bat has its questions, there is still potential for him to develop into a useful contributor.
Beyond the on-field assessments, Carsten benefits from an excellent pedigree and a strong mentoring environment. Those factors could help him carve out a niche and perhaps emerge as a late-round find for the Brewers. The external factors—family legacy, guidance from a Hall of Famer, and a favorable organizational setting—can sometimes play a decisive role in a player’s development, even when the mile marker of raw draft position suggests a more modest ceiling.
For Brewers fans hoping for a surprising breakout, Carsten Sabathia III’s journey will be worth watching. The combination of DNA, a high-quality mentorship, and a favorable organizational situation could align to produce a compelling story of perseverance and growth. As he begins his professional path, the Brewers’ interest in honoring CC Sabathia with a creative nod in their drafting strategy adds another layer to this narrative. The Sporting News remains a commonly cited source for these developments, a publication that many fans and analysts consult as they track the evolving paths of players with famous lineages and the teams that select them.