​Former Houston standout and Vanderbilt baseball signee Collin Bland was chosen by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 113th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 MLB draft. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound outfielder is known for his power at the plate, hammering a .432 batting average this season with 12 doubles, eight home runs, 33 RBIs, and 50 runs scored, compiling a 1.471 OPS while drawing 48 walks, many of them intentional. His stellar performance earned him a spot on the Commercial-Appeal All-Metro first team. Bland’s breakout senior year followed a 2025 campaign in which he set a Shelby County record with 13 homers.
Bland also earned a place on the TSWA All-State Team in Class 4A after guiding the Mustangs to the TSSAA state title game, where they were defeated by Farragut, a five-time defending champion. He was part of a notable group from the Memphis area that participated in the MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix, Arizona, from June 23-25, along with Christian Brothers’ Will Brick. Bland stood out at the combine, posting three of the ten highest exit velocities on Day 2.
Ranked as the No. 186 draft prospect by Perfect Game, Bland remains undecided about his next move, as he must choose by July 27 whether to sign with the Rays or enroll at Vanderbilt. The slot value attached to his pick is $691,000.
Houston has produced three MLB players in its history, the most prominent being former San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain. Another notable alum is former Mustangs shortstop Ryan Mitchell, who was drafted 55th overall last year by the St. Louis Cardinals and is currently in their minor league system.
Bland’s decision will come into sharper focus as the Rays evaluate the potential fit of his power profile and athletic versatility at the professional level. As a door to higher competition opens, his next steps could reaffirm Houston’s growing pipeline to the majors, joining a lineage that has included players who reached the big leagues and those who continue to climb through affiliated systems.
For more details and analysis, contact Jacob Shames at jshames@gannett.com or follow on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames. This report originally appeared in the Memphis Commercial Appeal and has been updated to reflect Bland’s selection by the Rays in the 2026 MLB Draft.