​Meet Dylan Blomker, a professional baseball pitcher who turned pro after being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft. The former La Cueva standout was selected in the fifth round, 159th overall, on the second day of the draft. Blomker, a right-handed pitcher known for his upper-90s arm speed, is 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. He announced that he would pass on a college career at LSU to begin his professional career immediately and expects to sign a contract within the coming week, with the plan to report to a rookie level affiliate before the month ends.
Blomker had previously worked out for the Cubs last month, and although he didn’t hear his name during the opening rounds on Saturday, he didn’t have to wait long on Day 2. He learned roughly an hour before the official pick that Chicago would draft him. “It was a pretty cool moment,” Blomker said, acknowledging that he watched MLB Network’s draft coverage repeatedly after the selection was announced. He noted that the Cubs were the first MLB organization to show interest in him last summer after initiating contact.
In March, Blomker received a tour of the Cubs’ spring training complex in the Phoenix area when La Cueva competed in a notable prep tournament. According to MLB.com, the No. 159 pick carries a draft pool value of about $441,300, though values can fluctuate. MLB teams often exceed their pool, and Chicago’s overall pool is reported to be a little over $9.6 million. Each pick in the top 10 rounds has a designated value.
Blomker cited multiple factors in his decision to turn pro. “Pro ball was my best bet,” he explained, noting that it’s where he believes he can best succeed, with money also playing a role. The decision ends an 13-year wait for him to reach this milestone, a moment he described as “pretty crazy” and “pretty cool” because he can pursue his dream of playing professional baseball at 18. He acknowledged that the draft process was stressful and that there were bumps along the way, but those experiences helped toughen him and exposed him to the business side of the sport before he enters it more fully. “These last two days have been unreal, something I’ll never forget,” he said.
Nearby peers also heard their names in the draft. Jack Byers of Artesia, a right-handed pitcher like Blomker, went in the 17th round to the Detroit Tigers at No. 516 and has since committed to the University of Arizona. From New Mexico’s college ranks, Cooper Corkrean, a left-handed pitcher from the University of New Mexico, went No. 539 to Kansas City in the 18th round. The state’s high school and college programs continue to see representation in the yearly draft, underscoring the depth of talent produced in New Mexico and across the region. For New Mexico, the spotlight remains on Blomker’s immediate transition to professional baseball and what the Cubs envision for his development in the farm system.