​The 2026 MLB Draft has concluded, and it proved to be a fruitful event for baseball players with ties to Southwest Florida. Nine athletes with area connections were selected, including five from FGCU. Among the state’s college programs, Florida and Florida State each had seven players drafted, the most in Florida.
Here is a comprehensive look at the area high school, college, FGCU, and FSW products who were chosen in the 2026 MLB Draft. FGCU standout Evan Dempsey earned a spot on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team camp on June 17. Dempsey was selected by the Detroit Tigers in Competitive Balance Round B, with the 69th overall pick. He became the second-highest selection in FGCU history, behind only MLB star Chris Sale, who went 13th overall in 2010. This season, Dempsey led the Eagles with 226 plate appearances, driving in 45 RBIs and collecting 76 hits, 57 runs, 18 doubles, and 10 home runs. He also shined on the mound, recording 116 strikeouts across 82 2/3 innings, along with two complete games and two shutouts. In June, Dempsey became just the second player to win the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award in back-to-back years. “I am super excited to be with the Tigers,” Dempsey said after his selection. “I already know they are a great organization, and I am really fired up to work with them.”
Bishop Verot’s Aidan Knaak, at 19th in the draft, was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in Round 5 (163rd overall). Knaak previously finished a standout senior season as a 2023 Southwest Florida Baseball Player of the Year finalist for the Vikings, posting a 9-3 record with a 1.24 ERA and a conference-best 116 strikeouts. At Clemson, he earned the National Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors in 2024. He went 14-2 across his first two seasons with the Tigers and accumulated more than 300 strikeouts during his Clemson career.
FGCU redshirt sophomore Hunter Possehl was selected by the Kansas City Royals in Round 8 (239th overall). As a redshirt sophomore for FGCU, Possehl made 14 starts, striking out 65 batters in 67 innings. He posted a 9-6 record with a 3.21 ERA and earned All-ASUN Conference Second Team honors for his performance.
The Baltimore Orioles drafted a player who had shined for both FSW and LSU Shreveport. The Venezuela native hit .347 with seven home runs, 68 runs scored, 60 RBIs, and 41 stolen bases for FSW during the 2024-25 season. At LSU Shreveport last year, he batted .388 with 12 home runs and 82 RBIs, finishing as the Red River Athletic Conference Player of the Year and earning NAIA first-team All-American honors.
In the rounds that followed, Seattle Mariners selected another standout who contributed to the conference’s success. The junior, who earned Second-Team All-ASUN honors, went 5-2 with a 3.98 ERA and 74 strikeouts over 72.1 innings, while limiting opponents to a .217 batting average.
The draft spotlight also captured other notable players with regional ties, illustrating the depth and talent emanating from Southwest Florida. The selections highlight how players from FGCU, FSW, and local high schools are reaching the professional level, continuing to elevate the region’s reputation for producing high-caliber baseball athletes.
Overall, the 2026 draft underscored the strength of Florida’s college programs, with Florida and Florida State leading the state in selections. For Southwest Florida, the result is a notable year in which multiple area products earned professional opportunities, reinforcing the region’s reputation as a fertile ground for budding baseball talent.