​The Texas Rangers drafted prep left-hander Gio Rojas with the 16th overall pick in the MLB Draft, and he already has ambitious goals, aiming to reach triple digits with his fastball in the near future. Rojas is widely regarded as an exceptional talent—so good that Texas didn’t expect him to slip to No. 16 on Saturday, their first-round pick. He was rated among the top players on many draft boards and was considered the top prep pitcher in the 2026 class. When he remained available for the Rangers, the team moved quickly, eager to secure him as their selection.
Rojas became the Rangers’ first-round pick who’s a prep pitcher since right-hander Kumar Rocker in 2022, and the first prep pitcher chosen by Texas since righty Cole Winn in 2018. Like Winn, Rojas left his home state of Colorado to attend high school in a baseball-rich region, a move that underscored his commitment and potential. The Rangers themselves were surprised to find him still available and were eager to lock in their pick as soon as possible. “In my estimation, the best pitcher in the draft,” amateur scouting director Kip Fagg said. “When doing all our preparation, we thought that there was a limited chance that Gio was going to be there, and very ecstatic that he was.”
Rojas appeared just as thrilled—perhaps relieved—that his path to professional baseball could begin. He has expressed a clear intention to sign with the Rangers and forgo his commitment to Miami. He was the first of three straight prep players selected by the Rangers on Day 1, marking a shift from their college-heavy strategy in recent first rounds. Rojas’ objective is to find his “groove” early in pro ball, which appears to mean establishing a regimen that helps him improve beyond his already impressive form. This season he went 11-1 with a 0.58 ERA, issued 13 walks, and struck out 124, with a fastball that has touched 98 mph. He’s determined to push that to 100 mph, believing that added muscle to his 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame will help him reach that milestone. “We’re going to start working and do what I got to do to grow, get better and hit the triple digits,” he said.
Rojas also flashed his talent on the international and national stages, tossing 11 scoreless innings for Team USA’s 18U team, which included infielder Brody Schumaker. Yes, he’s the son of Rangers manager Skip Schumaker, and the two have met on a few occasions. “He’s been my boy since,” Rojas said. “I just like his vibe.” Fagg described Rojas as a low-slot lefty with a repertory that includes a sweeper, a breaking ball, and a changeup, noting that facing him is a “very uncomfortable at-bat.” His Test of composure comes from competing against elite opponents, including Team USA, Stoneman Douglas, and summer league play. Rojas stressed that his best attribute is staying calm, a trait he developed by facing top competition.
Beyond his mechanics, Fagg highlighted the physical and mental tools that underpin Rojas’s upside: a resilience and competitive nature, combined with “some kind of pitcher and some kind of stuff” that provides a solid platform for further development. The Rangers, meanwhile, were delighted with the rest of their Day 1 selections, continuing to add promising prospects who could contribute down the line. As Rojas begins his professional journey, the focus will be on refining his command, strengthening his frame to sustain higher velocity, and maintaining the mental edge that has driven his success so far. If he can convert his potential into consistent performance, the Rangers’ investment could pay off with a formidable left-handed pitcher who can challenge major league hitters for years to come.