Here are Diamondbacks' 2026 Draft picks

PHOENIX -- It will be some time before the Diamondbacks know just how good their 2026 MLB Draft class will turn out to be, but as for the process they went through to make them, that was a success.

A year of flights and long car rides by their scouts, crosscheckers and supervisors wrapped up Sunday with picks from Round 5-20.

“I can't say enough about all the people in that room and all the work that went into this week and the discussions we had in there, and the hours we worked,” Arizona scouting director Ian Rebhan said. “This is closing the book on a yearlong process, and I think reflecting on it, just how prepared we were and having a plan from Round 1 all the way through Round 20. Realizing that all the sacrifices everybody makes of not being home and stuff like that was worth it when you end up with a class like this.”

On the first day of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Diamondbacks stayed true to the philosophy they’ve followed for most of the last decade -- find athletic, up-the-middle position players and pitchers with projectible arms.

After picking catcher Ryder Helfrick with their first pick (15th overall), the Diamondbacks nabbed prep right-hander Blake Bryant out of Citizens Christian Academy (Ga.) with their Competitive Balance Round A pick (31st overall).

• D-backs' 2026 Draft Tracker

While high school arms can be tricky, the Diamondbacks were thrilled to get Bryant, who had committed to Clemson University. Bryant also excelled on the basketball court in high school, which spoke volumes to Arizona scouts about his athleticism.

“This is all about just premium athleticism, premium strikes, 'wow' stuff, velocity,” said Diamondbacks scouting director Ian Rebhan. “He is an elite athlete. Just your prototypical projection high school pitcher that we think has a ton of development runway, a ton of upside and just really excited to get the raw traits that we're getting with Blake into the organization.”

All told, the Diamondbacks selected 21 players, including 11 pitchers and three high schoolers -- a pitcher and two infielders.

Blake Bryant, RHP (No. 65 Draft prospect)
Round CB-A, Pick 31
Bats/throws: R/R
School: Citizens Christian Academy (Ga.)
Calling Card: At 6-foot-6, 182 pounds, Bryant is a projectable high school arm. His fastball already sits at 91-94 mph and tops out at 97 mph with ride and armside run, and Bryant should add more velocity as he gets stronger. He has a sweeping slider that could become a plus offering and he also throws a curve.
Quote: “Being in control of the game is one of the greatest feelings. If you go out there and you strike out the side, and your defense is basically just standing there like flowers, don’t have to do nothing, then you know you’ve done your job, you’re out there.” -- Bryant, to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution

Carson Kerce, SS (No. 114)
Round 2, Pick 53
Bats/throws: R/R
School: Georgia Tech
Calling Card: Regarded as one of the best contact hitters in NCAA Division I. He has a disciplined approach at the plate which produces a lot of line drives and hard-hit grounders from gap to gap.
Quote: “We think Carson is one of the best college shortstops in the class this year, so I think that speaks to how happy we are we got him where he did. I think the intrigue with Carson is just the offensive profile as a whole. I mean, he checks every box. He doesn't swing and miss. He doesn't expand the strike zone. He walks. He doesn't strike out. And there is power in there. From an objective standpoint, he hits the ball really hard. He hits it to all fields.” -- Rebhan

Brayden Dowd, OF (No. 178)
Round 3, Pick 88
Bats/throws: L/L
School: Florida State University
Calling Card: Scouts like the way he can handle the bat from the left side of the plate. He repeats his swing well, making a ton of contact and spraying the ball around the whole field. He controls the zone well, drawing more walks than strikeouts.
Quote: “Really good play discipline skills, makes a ton of contact. We think there's sneaky power in there. I mean, it's almost a .500 on-base percentage. He did show the ability to slug a little bit. We think there's more untapped potential in the power there. He's just a really instinctual player, both in the box and in center field.” -- Rebhan

Josh McDevitt, RHP (No. 236)
Round 4, Pick 116
Bats/throws: R/R
School: University of Missouri
Calling Card: McDevitt’s delivery features quality extension and a low release height that provide deception and make his heater difficult to hit.
Quote: “Really intrigued by the starter potential, and then the fastball here is kind of the calling card. It's a real fastball. Got a ton of swing and miss. I think when you're a Friday night starter in the SEC, the track record of being a really good starting pitcher in the Major Leagues checks out.” -- Rebhan

Rounds 5-10

The Diamondbacks loaded up on college arms in this part of the Draft, selecting four collegiate pitchers, including right-hander LJ Mercurius, who was a big part of the bullpen during Oklahoma’s run to the National Championship last month, in the fifth round. They also nabbed lefty Micah Worley (Stoney Brook), right-hander Carson Turnquist (Cal Poly) and righty Mason Steele (Alabama-Birmingham).

Player to watch: OF Paul Schoenfeld
Round 8, Pick 236
Bats/throws: L/L
School: West Virginia University
Calling Card: Gritty player who was a key component of a West Virginia team that went to the College World Series last month. Started in junior college, then went to Division II Colorado-Mesa before landing at West Virginia as a fifth-year senior.
Quote: “I’ve had a chip on my shoulder my whole life. I’ve never been a big guy, a standout guy. I just want to continue to be myself out there; be the best version of myself every single day.” -- Schoenfeld, to BlueGoldNews.com

Rounds 11-15

Again, another plethora of college arms taken in these rounds with one high school position player chosen -- first baseman Cody Boshell out of Bishop Snyder (Fla.). The other position player selected was shortstop Jack Spanier out of the University of Minnesota.

Player to watch: 1B Cody Boshell
Round 11, Pick 326
Bats/throws: L/L
School: Bishop Snyder High School (Fla.)
Calling Card: Boshell goes a bit against the usual up-the-middle position players the Diamondbacks look for, but he was too interesting a prospect to not grab. “We really like the hitter here,” Rebhan said. “I think when you go under the hood and compare him to some of the other high school profiles, he really separated himself from even some of the more famous players in this class.”

Rounds 16-20

In these final rounds, the Diamondbacks were looking for players who have a carrying tool that stands out, something that can be counted on with some degree of certainty. Two of the five players selected here were college pitchers with good fastballs, while one of the three high school players they took went here in shortstop Rylan Alaniz from Trinity High School in Texas.

Player to watch: C Weber Neels
Round 19, Pick 566
Bats/throws: R/R
School: University of Minnesota
Quote: “Just like the leadership ability, and the makeup here really sold us. I think when you're getting a catcher this late, those are the traits you're looking for. But I don't want to take away from his skillset, either. I think he receives the ball well. We think he can stick at the catching position. He does make contact and performed in the Big 10.” -- Rebhan