The Seattle Mariners made several selections during the 2026 MLB Draft, including third baseman Ace Reese as the 24th overall pick. Reese, who previously played for Mississippi State, was a unanimous All-American in 2026. This marks the fourth time the Mariners have drafted a player from Mississippi State.
Reese’s collegiate career at Mississippi State spanned two seasons, during which he started 118 games. He achieved a batting average of .341, accumulating 40 doubles, one triple, 45 home runs, and 138 RBIs, alongside a 1.144 OPS. In his most recent spring season, Reese batted .336 with 24 home runs and 74 RBIs, also leading the Southeastern Conference with 23 doubles. He is one of only three players from Mississippi State to hit 20 or more home runs in consecutive seasons, joining Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro.
His 2026 home run total ranks fourth in Mississippi State’s single-season history, and his 45 home runs over two years are tied for ninth all-time at the university. Reese was also a two-time All-SEC first team selection and was named the 2025 SEC Newcomer of the Year. He received ten All-America honors during his time with the Bulldogs.
Day Two Selections for the Mariners
The second day of the draft saw the Mariners continue to build their prospect pool, making selections across various rounds. These picks included players from a range of colleges and high schools, focusing on different positions.
In the fifth round, the Mariners selected outfielder Hayden Yost from Florida. Following this, third baseman Henry Ford from Tennessee was chosen in the sixth round. The seventh round saw the Mariners pick shortstop Ryan Wynn from Georgia.
The eighth round brought catcher Mason Eckelman from Ohio State into the Mariners’ organization. Right-handed pitcher Drew Whalen from Auburn was selected in the ninth round, and second baseman Eric Jeon from Stanford was picked in the tenth round.
The Mariners continued to add pitching talent on day two. Right-handed pitcher Wyatt Queen from Oregon State was a round eleven selection, followed by right-handed pitcher Connor Marshburn from UNC Wilmington in round twelve. In the thirteenth round, right-handed pitcher Anthony Treto from Tarleton State was drafted, and right-handed pitcher Chris Diaz from Florida Gulf Coast was chosen in round fourteen.
Later rounds saw the Mariners select outfielder Charlie Sutherland from Minnesota in the fifteenth round and left-handed pitcher Chris Torres from U South Carolina Upstate in the sixteenth round. Right-handed pitcher Matthew Matthijs from UNC was picked in the seventeenth round.
The Mariners also drafted high school talent, selecting outfielder Dominic Santarelli from St. Joseph’s High School (WI) in the eighteenth round. Outfielder Michael Petite from VCU was chosen in the nineteenth round, and third baseman Connor Shouse from Texas Tech rounded out their selections in the twentieth round.
Other Notable Draft Picks
While Reese was a first-round pick for the Mariners, another Mississippi State player, reliever Ben Davis, was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round (104th overall). Davis, a senior, also played two seasons in Starkville, initially as a two-way player before focusing solely on pitching.
During his time on the mound for Mississippi State, Davis appeared in 49 games, making four starts. He recorded a 4-4 record with a 3.71 earned run average and six saves. He struck out 118 batters and walked 38 over 104 1/3 innings. This season, he was named second team All-SEC, making 26 appearances exclusively from the bullpen. In those appearances, he had five saves and a 3.64 ERA, with 57 strikeouts and 14 walks across 47 frames.
Davis is the fifteenth pitcher from Mississippi State to be selected in the past three drafts. He is also the first player from Mississippi State to be picked by the Rockies since Brad Cumbest in 2022. The Rockies have drafted a total of 12 prospects from Mississippi State in their history. The MLB Draft concluded with rounds 5-20 on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
Read Also
- East Lothian: Tom Kim ends three-year title drought at Genesis Scottish Open
- Tour de France: Mathieu van der Poel wins shortened ninth stage as Tadej Pogacar maintains lead
- London: Prince William and Kate join Jannik Sinner after Wimbledon victory
- Boston Red Sox focus on pitching and high-upside prospects in 2026 MLB Draft
Source: hailstate.com
