Mariners snag Mississippi State 3B Reese with No. 24 Draft pick

With the No. 24 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Mariners selected third baseman Ace Reese out of Mississippi State.

Reese, MLB Pipeline’s No. 18 Draft prospect, powered onto the scene after transferring to Mississippi State from Houston before the 2025 season. In two years with the Bulldogs, the slugging third baseman posted a .341/.425/.719 slash line, crushing 45 home runs in just 118 total games. Reese was named the SEC Newcomer of the Year in 2025 and was a first-team All-SEC selection at third base in 2026. He was the top-ranked third baseman in the 2026 Draft class.

With his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame, Reese generates easy power from the left side, possessing the pop to hit homers to any part of the ballpark. That’s even the case against same-side pitching, as Reese has shown the ability to hit lefties as well as righties. Thanks to impressive bat speed and leverage, he profiles as a potential 25-to-30-homer hitter at the big league level.

Reese's power is a lot more valuable if he can remain at third base, but that’s still up for debate. Reese made 12 errors and had a fielding percentage of just .889 in 2025, although he improved (eight errors, .935 fielding percentage) with the glove as a junior in 2026. With below-average athleticism and limited range and quickness, Reese could wind up playing first base or even left field.

Reese is the top player selected from a Mississippi State program that had seven Draft picks in 2025 and has produced a number of current Major Leaguers, including Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff, A’s designated hitter Brent Rooker and Pirates outfielder Jake Mangum. The last first-rounder from the school was switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje in 2024.