The 2026 MLB Draft: Florida State Baseball Made Super Simple

What Is the MLB Draft? (ELI5)

Imagine the biggest baseball league in the USA, called Major League Baseball (MLB). Every year, the big teams get to pick new players from colleges and high schools to join them. This picking game is called the Draft. It’s like choosing players for your kickball team, but for real grown-up baseball!

How the Draft Works – Easy Steps

1. MLB teams take turns in a specific order.
2. Each team chooses a player from college or high school (these young players are called prospects).
3. If a player is picked, they can either sign (agree to join) or choose to stay or return to school.

Florida State’s Big Moment

The 2026 MLB Draft is happening right now! Last year (2025), the Florida State University (FSU) baseball team, called the Seminoles, had a record: 11 of their players got picked by MLB teams. That was the most ever for their school. Now, the coach, Link Jarrett, and his helpers think a similar number might get picked this year too.

[!IMPORTANT]
FSU set a school record with 11 players drafted in 2025, and 2026 could be just as big!

Who Are the Star Players Likely to Be Picked?

FSU’s group of players that might get chosen is led by their best players from last season:

• Wes Mendes – He was named the best pitcher in the ACC (a big group of schools that play sports together). A pitcher is the player who throws the ball to the batter.
• Myles Bailey – He plays first base (written as 1B). That means he stands near the first base to catch throws.

The rest of the starting pitchers (the players who throw the ball) are also expected to be picked:

• Trey Beard – A left-handed pitcher (LHP) – he throws with his left hand.
• Bryson Moore – A right-handed pitcher (RHP) – throws with his right hand.
• John Abraham – Also a right-handed pitcher (RHP).

High School Prospects to Watch

Coach Jarrett is also watching some younger players from high school who might get drafted. The most famous is:

• Landon Thome – He plays as a middle infielder (MIF), which means he plays in the middle of the field near second base. A website called MLB.com says he is the 34th-best young player in the whole country this year.

Can Players Say "No" to the Draft?

Yes! When a player is picked, they don’t have to immediately go play for that team. They can choose to:

• Go to the pro team (turn professional), or
• Stay or return to school (like FSU) to keep learning and playing.

This year, the last day to decide and sign (which means officially agree to join the pro team) is Monday, July 27.

[!IMPORTANT]
July 27 is a critical day! Myles Bailey might decide to go pro or come back to FSU for his third year. We’ll find out then.

When Does the Draft Happen and How to Watch?

The MLB Draft is like a two-day TV show:

• Day 1 (Saturday, July 11): They pick players in rounds 1 through 4.
• Day 2 (Sunday, July 12): They pick players in rounds 5 through 20.

To keep up with who got picked and who signed, the article says to stay with "Tomahawk Nation" (a fan site for FSU) for updates.

Florida State Draft-Eligible Players

The original article includes a special list of FSU players who can be drafted.

Listed in alphabetical order

Out of college eligibility
(This category means players who have finished their college time and can’t play college anymore. The full name list appeared in the original article; the college players we discussed above are part of FSU’s draft-eligible story.)

Florida State Players and Prospects Selected (Live Tracking)

Bolded players have signed

Below is the schedule for the draft days so you know when to tune in:

Day 1: Saturday, July 11 (Rounds 1-4)

• 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET: Preview show + Picks 1-10 (on NBC/Peacock)
• 2:30-4:30 p.m. ET: Picks 11-40 (on MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+)
• 4:30-7:45 p.m. ET: Picks 41-135 (on MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+)

Day 2: Sunday, July 12 (Rounds 5-20)

• 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. ET (on MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+)

Summary

Let’s wrap it up like a tidy sandwich:

• The 2026 MLB Draft is here, and FSU might have many players picked like last year’s record 11.
• Stars like Wes Mendes, Myles Bailey, Trey Beard, Bryson Moore, John Abraham, and high schooler Landon Thome are in the spotlight.
• Players can choose to sign or stay in school; the deadline is July 27.
• The draft is on July 11 (Day 1) and July 12 (Day 2), with TV coverage on MLB channels.
• Follow Tomahawk Nation for updates on who gets selected and who signs.

FAQ

Q1: What does "drafted" mean in baseball?
A: It means a professional team chooses a player from college or high school to join their organization, like picking a teammate in a schoolyard.

Q2: Why is July 27 important?
A: It’s the last day players can sign with the pro team they were drafted by. Myles Bailey will decide by then if he goes pro or returns to FSU for his third season.

Q3: What is a "pitcher" and what do LHP/RHP mean?
A: A pitcher is the player who throws the ball to the batter. LHP means they throw with their left hand; RHP means with their right hand.

Q4: Where can I watch the 2026 MLB Draft?
A: On Day 1 (July 11), early picks are on NBC/Peacock and later on MLB Network and MLB websites. Day 2 (July 12) is on MLB.com, MLB.TV, and MLB+.

Q5: What is the ACC?
A: It’s a group of universities (like Florida State) that compete in sports together. Being "ACC Pitcher of the Year" means you were the best pitcher in that group.