Day 1 of the 2026 Draft included the Rockies' picks from Rounds 1-4, including Tyler Bell at No. 10 overall. Day 2 begins Sunday at 9:30 a.m. MT through the conclusion of the Draft, spanning Rounds 5-20. Stream it live on MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+ and the MLB App.
DENVER -- University of Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson has become the second player in three years to go from Golden Spikes to Purple Pinstripes.
The Rockies selected Jackson with their second pick -- 38th overall in Competitive Balance Round A -- Saturday on the first day of the 2026 MLB Draft.
2026 MLB DRAFT PRESENTED BY NIPPON EXPRESS
Day 2: LIVE (Rounds 5-20)
• Round-by-round analysis
Coverage
Jackson, MLB Pipeline's 28th-ranked Draft prospect, won the 2026 Golden Spikes Award given to the best amateur player in the country. First baseman/outfielder Charlie Condon, who was taken by the Rockies third overall in the 2024 Draft and is at Triple-A Albuquerque as the club’s No. 2 prospect, won the award in ‘24.
In 1999, Colorado selected another Golden Spikes winner -- Jason Jennings, a right-handed pitcher from Baylor University who earned 2002 National League Rookie of the Year honors for the Rockies.
Jackson was the second of five picks the Rockies made on Saturday. They took University of Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell in the first round (10th overall), UCLA right-hander Logan Reedmann in the second round (38th), University of Cincinnati catcher Jack Natili in the third round (76th) and Mississippi State right-hander Ben Davis in the fourth round (104th).
It was a year full of honors for Jackson. He also won the Dick Howser Trophy as the top collegiate player in the country and the Buster Posey Catcher of the Year Award, along with being a consensus first-team All-American.
Jackson became just the third Triple Crown winner in Southeastern Conference history after batting .379 with 32 homers and a school-record 87 RBIs. The junior also led all Division I players in runs scored (88) and total bases (212), and he became the first catcher in Division I history to hit at least 25 homers and steal at least 25 bases in the same season.
At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Jackson displays power to all fields and he improved his contact skills. Defensively, Jackson has improved behind the plate and scouts believe he can be an average defender as a pro after he cleans up his receiving and blocking, along with his throwing accuracy. Jackson has the athleticism to play a corner outfield spot if necessary.
- Round 2, Pick 38
- Bats/throws: R/R
- School: University of Georgia
- Calling Card: It’s an all-round offensive game. He is the first catcher in NCAA Division I history to finish a season with at least 25 homers (he hit 32) and steal at least 25 bases in a season. He also batted .379 with a school-record 87 RBIs, and led Division I in runs (88) and total bases (212).
- Quote: “Golden Spikes Award winner, first catcher in Division I history to have 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases, so he’s really super-talented,” Rockies assistant general manager Tommy Tanous said.
Logan Reddemann, RHP
- Round 2, Pick 39
- Bats/throws: B/R
- School: UCLA
- Calling Card: Strike-throwing was his forte when he began his collegiate career at the University of San Diego. After transferring to UCLA, he improved his fastball velocity to the mid 90s. He brings an advanced pitch mix for a collegiate pitcher. A hard cutter and a changeup have received high marks from scouts, but he also brings a curve and a sweeper.
- Quote: “It’s incredibly impressive -- it’s almost a professional arsenal,” Tanous said. “The last six or seven games, he really came on.”
Jack Natili, C
- Round 3, Pick 76
- Bats/throws: R/R
- School: University of Cincinnati
- Calling Card: Much like Jackson, Nitili brings elite power. He turned in a college season full of big production, with 19 home runs and 65 RBIs in 60 games. He also finished second in home runs (six) last year swinging a wood bat in the Cape Cod League.
- Quote: “They were both [Jackson and Nitili] players that we had high on our board, that we felt if we had access to, we wanted to jump on that opportunity,” Rockies general manager Paul DePodesta said. ”We think both of them have a chance to have long careers in the big leagues.”
Ben Davis, RHP
- Round 4, Pick 104
- Bats/throws: R/R
- School: Mississippi State
- Calling Card: At 6-4 and 230 pounds, Davis has a power build that teams like in starting pitches. He also brings a power mix that he uses aggressively, but his slider and sweeper are effective secondary pitches.
- Quote: “He’s a big horse,” Tanous said. “You watch him and you don’t want to be in the batter’s box against him.”