​Day Two of the 2026 MLB Draft: The Texas Rangers will be selecting sixteen players today, covering Rounds 5 through 20. We’ll provide live updates throughout the day as each pick is announced. For context, if a team selects a player in the first ten rounds but fails to sign them, that team loses the bonus pool money tied to that pick. Consequently, players chosen in the first ten rounds are almost certain to sign, while selections later in the first round—or players picked beyond the tenth round—often sign for less than slot value, allowing teams to apply the savings to other signings. In the Rangers’ case, this includes their third-round pick, Brody Bumila, who has indicated he was offered first-round money. Players selected after the tenth round are less likely to sign because there’s no penalty to the team’s bonus pool if they don’t sign. A post-tenth-round signee can receive up to $150,000 without it counting toward the bonus pool.
5th Round — Michael Anderson Jr., DH/RHP, Penn State. Ranked #263 on Baseball America’s top 500, Anderson stands 6’3” and weighs 230 pounds. A right-handed hitter and pitcher, the senior spent two years with Rhode Island before transferring to Arkansas, where he went 0-for-8 in four games. He then moved to Penn State for his final season, posting a .358/.470/.742 slash line in 232 plate appearances with 20 home runs, 23 walks, and 30 strikeouts. He possesses big power and bat speed, but there are questions about his contact rate and his propensity to chase. He’s slow and has primarily played first base, though this year he appeared as a DH for Penn State. Anderson was announced as a two-way player and pitched in 8 games (8.2 innings) as a freshman for Rhode Island, plus two games for Penn State. He’s reached 97 mph on the mound, and during the transfer portal period some believed his upside was greater on the mound than as a hitter. He’s expected to receive a chance to pitch out of the bullpen as well as contribute as a hitter.
6th Round — Aidan Brainard, RHP, University of Nevada. Brainard is a 6’3”, 210-pound right-hander who played his college baseball after spending time at Northeast Community College in Nebraska and Regis University in Denver, culminating with his senior year at Nevada-Reno. His stat line shows a 6.77 ERA over 115.2 innings across his junior and senior seasons, with 125 strikeouts, 71 walks, and 22 hit by pitches. Control appears to be an area needing improvement. Nevada Sports Net published a feature on Brainard, and it’s worth noting he attended Columbine High in Colorado, a connection shared with Rangers first-round pick Gio Rojas.
7th Round — Caden Aoki, RHP, University of Georgia. Aoki is a 6’0”, 185-pound right-handed pitcher who just completed his fifth year of college ball, continuing to develop as a pro prospect.