After a 37-23 season that ended with an NCAA Tournament berth, several Virginia baseball players sought to turn pro. Whether juniors, seniors or graduates, a handful of Cavaliers were eligible for the MLB draft and eagerly awaited to hear their names called Saturday and Sunday.
In the end, five players from the 2026 Virginia squad were drafted. From the first round all the way to the 14th round, here is how each Cavalier fared this year at the MLB draft.
Junior outfielder AJ Gracia — Atlanta Braves, first round, ninth overall
The highest Virginia draftee since infielder Pavin Smith in 2017, Gracia was the top pick for the Atlanta Braves in 2026. Gracia played just one season as a Cavalier, moving to the program from Duke with Coach Chris Pollard for the 2026 season. At Virginia, Gracia recorded his best offensive season yet with a .354 batting average, 14 home runs and 48 runs batted-in.
This earned Gracia Second Team All-ACC honors, as well as All-American recognition from Perfect Game and D1Baseball. Now joining a farm system with just one outfielder in its top five prospects, Gracia will have the chance to climb the ranks of the minor leagues quickly and reach the majors in the next year or two.
Junior infielder Eric Becker — Cincinnati Reds, second round, 58th overall
Drafted just one slot after where his brother Nick was selected in 2025, Becker was the second selection made by the Cincinnati Reds. Becker played all three of his collegiate seasons as a Cavalier, the lone 2026 draftee to do so. Becker was given significant responsibility from the start, manning the middle infield at second base alongside 2024 first rounder Griff O’Ferrall.
After making the ACC All-Freshman team, Becker earned the starting shortstop role in 2025 and led Virginia in batting average and RBIs. He was one of four Cavaliers to start in every game that season, and was named to the All-ACC Third Team.
In his final campaign, Becker made 45 starts at shortstop while being a consistently great leadoff hitter. He hit .317 with 24 extra-base hits and 42 RBIs. He made the All-ACC Third Team again, and served as a captain in Pollard’s first year. With the lone primary shortstop in the Reds’ top 10 prospects being just 18 years old, Becker will have an easier pathway to advance in the minor league system should he perform well.
Junior two-way player Kyle Johnson — Tampa Bay Rays, sixth round, 174th overall
The second draftee to move over to Virginia with Pollard, Johnson was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays with their seventh selection. Johnson played just one season in Charlottesville, making 41 starts between the mound, the outfield and the designated hitter role.
In 10 starts as a pitcher, Johnson had a 1-3 record but held opposing batters to just a .232 average. He struck out 45 batters in just 38 innings. At the plate, Johnson was a power bat that launched 14 extra-base hits for Virginia. He hit .241 as well with a .389 on-base percentage. While it is not 100 percent clear how the Rays plan to use Johnson, his versatility will certainly give him a lot of opportunities in the minor leagues.
Junior infielder Joe Tiroly — San Diego Padres, seventh round, 215th overall
Another transfer portal pickup for Pollard, Tiroly was taken by the San Diego Padres with their eighth selection. Tiroly also only played one season for the Cavaliers, arriving from Rider after winning MAAC Player of the Year, two All-MAAC awards and receiving Third Team All-American from ABCA between the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
In his 2026 campaign with Virginia, Tiroly started 60 games with most coming at second base. He hit for a .319 batting average, leading the team in home runs, hits and RBIs. He also became the seventh Cavalier ever with a three home-run game, which he accomplished May 10 against California.
While the Padres’ farm system has depth, they are light on middle infield prospects. Due to this, Tiroly will have a chance to prove himself early on and could move up quickly as well.
Graduate pitcher Tyler Kapa — Miami Marlins, 14th round, 415th overall
The final Virginia draftee in 2026, Kapa was taken by the Miami Marlins with their 15th selection. Kapa played just his final season with the Cavaliers, arriving from Eastern Michigan while also spending time at three other schools below the Division I level.
Kapa was a dominant bullpen arm for Virginia throughout 2026, holding a 2.70 ERA while earning an ACC-high 11 saves. He also held opponents scoreless in 76 percent of his appearances. While he is a late-round selection, Kapa will still have a chance to make the majors. Former Cavaliers like infielder Mark Reynolds and pitcher Mike Vasil still carved out MLB careers despite being drafted after the first few rounds.
Notable undrafted players
While five Cavaliers got drafted, there were plenty of others potentially expecting to join the professional ranks this weekend.
Firstly, there are the senior and graduate Virginia players that lack eligibility to go back to Charlottesville. This group includes outfielder Harrison Didawick, a Class of 2026 alumnus who was a four-year starter and has a share of the Cavalier single-season home run record.
Another notable omission from the draft was graduate pitcher Lucas Hartman, who was the do-it-all reliever for Virginia in 2026. Age may have played a factor in Hartman going undrafted, as he will turn 24 in September, with most college draftees being 21 or 22. But, the right-hander was still a reliable reliever who made more appearances than all but two players in the nation. Players in this group will look to sign undrafted free agent contracts or perhaps look for opportunities in overseas leagues.
The second group of undrafted Cavaliers are those with remaining eligibility. This group, including rising senior infielder Sam Harris, can return to Charlottesville in the fall as high-impact members of the 2027 squad. Other undrafted Virginia players in this category are rising senior infielder Antonio Perrotta and rising senior catcher Jake Weatherspoon.
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