​From Eugene to Detroit, the Oregon Ducks are sending a highly regarded talent to the Motor City, as the Detroit Tigers selected Ducks shortstop Maddox Molony in the sixth round of the 2026 MLB Draft, using the No. 187 overall pick to secure him. At the outset of the season, Molony was regarded as a top-50 prospect for the 2026 draft with the potential to sneak into the first round, but his performance at the plate in 2026 was below expectations. He posted a .233 batting average while slugging 12 home runs and driving in 39 runs for Oregon. Despite the modest offensive output, Molony remains a standout defender in the middle infield and could project as a long-term contributor at shortstop.
Even with a down year at the plate, Molony showcased his power by hitting 12 homers this season and remains third in Oregon program history with 37 career homers as a Duck. He also enjoyed a strong two-year stretch at Oregon, batting over .300 in his first two seasons, which keeps open the possibility that 2026 was an anomaly rather than a trend. Being drafted in the early rounds of a lengthy MLB draft class is a significant honor, and Molony could sign immediately and begin his professional journey. Yet the high expectations surrounding him date back to his freshman year, and there is a real option that he returns to Eugene for a final season with his hometown program, aiming for a higher selection next year. He has until July 27 to decide his future.
Molony possesses a clean swing path and a smooth overall approach, and his natural fit at shortstop suggests he could sign and continue his development with the Tigers. He becomes the third Ducks player drafted this weekend, following Ryan Cooney (selected by the Blue Jays) and Cal Scolari (chosen by the White Sox). Oregon commit Andruw Giles was also selected, this time by the Pittsburgh Pirates. For ongoing Oregon Ducks coverage, follow Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like the Ducks Wire Facebook page to stay informed with news, notes, and analysis about the program. This report originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon’s Maddox Molony selected by Detroit Tigers in MLB draft, and has been updated for SEO purposes.