ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers continued to build organizational depth on the second and final day of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, making 16 selections across Rounds 5-20 after opening the draft by focusing on high-end talent during Day 1.
Following the selection of left-handed pitcher Gio Rojas with the 16th overall pick and right-hander Hudson Calhoun in the fourth round, the Rangers shifted their attention toward adding pitching depth while sprinkling in several versatile position players to round out the class.
Texas’ Day 2 strategy reflected a balanced approach, targeting experienced college players who could move through the system quickly while also taking chances on prospects with developmental upside. The club used much of the day to strengthen its pitching pipeline, selecting a mix of right-handed arms capable of filling both starting and relief roles at the professional level.
Among the notable additions was fifth-round selection Michael Anderson Jr., a powerful two-way player from Penn State who offers intriguing offensive potential and a fastball that has reached the upper 90s. The Rangers also added Nevada right-hander Aidan Brainard in the sixth round and Georgia pitcher Caden Aoki in the seventh, continuing a run of experienced college pitchers expected to sign and provide organizational depth.
With the draft complete, Texas finished with 20 total selections, including four picks made on Sunday and 16 more on Monday. The organization now turns its focus toward signing its draft class before the deadline, with particular attention on securing agreements with its early-round selections and evaluating bonus pool flexibility for prospects requiring above-slot deals.
The Rangers entered the draft looking to replenish a farm system while maintaining a blend of ceiling and polish throughout the class. Their final haul featured a combination of high school talent, accomplished college performers and several pitchers viewed as candidates to develop into future major league contributors.
