AUSTIN — Three University of Texas baseball players were selected on the opening day of the 2026 Major League Baseball draft, a milestone for the Longhorns program that has not seen three top-100 draft picks in the same year since 2004.
Longhorns make early impact
Carson Tinney, a junior catcher who transferred to Texas from Notre Dame, was the first Longhorn off the board. Tinney was taken No. 43 overall by the Minnesota Twins in the second round. In his lone season with the Longhorns he batted .326 with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs, and earned an American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings Gold Glove.
The Mets selected junior outfielder Aiden Robbins in the third round at No. 92 overall. Robbins, also a transfer to Texas for the 2026 season, finished with a .333 average, 24 homers — tied for third-most in a Longhorn single season — and 64 RBIs. He collected First Team All-American honors from Baseball America and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and was named the Southeastern Conference’s Newcomer of the Year.
Later in the third round the Philadelphia Phillies chose senior right-hander Ruger Riojas at No. 100 overall. In his second season in Austin, Riojas led the team with 17 starts and posted a 6–2 record with a 3.97 ERA, earning ABCA/Rawlings Second Team All-Region recognition.
What this means for Texas and the state
The three selections highlight Texas’ ability to develop and attract high-level talent, including transfers who made immediate contributions. For Austin and Travis County, the draft success reinforces the university’s reputation as a production pipeline for professional baseball and keeps local attention on the program as it readies for the next collegiate season.
- Three Longhorns selected among the top 100 picks — first time in 22 years.
- Tinney: No. 43 (Twins) — .326, 22 HR, 58 RBI, Gold Glove.
- Robbins: No. 92 (Mets) — .333, 24 HR, 64 RBI, multiple First Team All-American honors.
- Riojas: No. 100 (Phillies) — 6–2, 3.97 ERA, team-high 17 starts.
Coaches and program officials will watch how these players transition to professional affiliates. Their selections also may aid recruiting by demonstrating the national visibility Longhorn players receive.
| Player | Draft Pick | MLB Team | Key 2026 Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Tinney | 43 | Minnesota Twins | .326, 22 HR, 58 RBI |
| Aiden Robbins | 92 | New York Mets | .333, 24 HR, 64 RBI |
| Ruger Riojas | 100 | Philadelphia Phillies | 6–2, 3.97 ERA, 17 starts |
Those who follow Texas baseball will be watching the professional assignments and development paths the Twins, Mets and Phillies set for these players. The selections cap a season in which the Longhorns benefited from impact transfers and veteran leadership, and they underscore the program’s role in Texas’ wider baseball landscape.
Reporting from Austin.
