The Texas Rangers selected Nevada Wolf Pack right-handed pitcher Aidan Brainard with the No. 178 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 Major League Baseball draft on July 12, 2026. Brainard’s selection makes him the first player from the Mountain West Conference taken this year and continues a recent trend of Nevada producing professional-level pitching talent.
From junior college to the pro ranks
Brainard, listed at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, arrived at Nevada for his senior season after stops at Northeast Community College (2023-24) and Regis (2025). In his lone season with the Wolf Pack, he compiled a 5-4 record with a 6.53 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 62 innings.
His performance against conference opponents stood out: in Mountain West play he was 4-0 with a 2.77 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 39 innings. He earned Mountain West pitcher of the week honors on April 20 following a two-hit, seven-strikeout outing in a win at New Mexico.
What this means for Nevada baseball
Brainard is the 10th Nevada player drafted since 2019 and the third Wolf Pack pitcher taken in the first six rounds over that span, joining Grant Ford (2019, fifth round) and Kade Morris (2023, third round). The program has now placed a player in the draft for the fourth straight season, following right-hander Peyton Fosher, who was selected in the 19th round by the Miami Marlins last year.
- Draft: 2026 MLB Draft, sixth round, No. 178 overall
- College journey: Northeast Community College (2023-24), Regis (2025), Nevada (2026)
- 2026 season (Nevada): 5-4, 6.53 ERA, 68 K in 62 IP
- Mountain West play: 4-0, 2.77 ERA, 48 K in 39 IP
Prospect context and local impact
For Reno and the Wolf Pack program, Brainard’s selection highlights Nevada’s continued ability to develop pitchers who attract major-league interest. The pick also reinforces the Mountain West’s presence in the draft this year and offers a tangible recruiting point for Nevada coaches when talking to prospective pitchers in northern Nevada and neighboring states.
| Stat | Overall (2026) | Mountain West |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 5-4 | 4-0 |
| ERA | 6.53 | 2.77 |
| Strikeouts | 68 (62 IP) | 48 (39 IP) |
Brainard’s pro assignment will begin once contract terms are finalized and he reports to the Rangers’ organization. For the Wolf Pack, the loss will be felt on the pitching staff but is also a point of pride: Nevada’s recent string of draftees signals sustained program momentum and gives the community another local player to follow in the professional ranks.
Coverage of Nevada baseball and local athletes will continue as the draft unfolds and as signees report to their respective organizations.
