Five athletes from this year’s Alpine Bank Junior College World Series were selected in the Major League Baseball first-year player’s draft, held Sunday and Monday in Atlanta.

Robertson was the first JUCO World Series product to come off the board Monday after being in the 13th round (No. 385) by the Texas Rangers.

The sophomore started two games for eventual tournament runner-up Walters State, collecting wins on both occasions thanks in part to a World Series-best 15 total strikeouts. Robertson was selected to the all-tournament team for his efforts.

The right-hander is committed to Virginia Tech to continue his collegiate career, and should he opt not to sign, he will head to Blacksburg in the fall.

ALEX WALLACE, P, MCLENNAN

Wallace heard his name called in the 15th round (No. 447) by the Tampa Bay Rays. The sophomore made 10 starts this season before an injury ended his season prior to the start of the JUCO World Series, so he did not appear for the Highlanders in Grand Junction, but his season stats largely spoke for themselves: a 7-2 record and a 3.86 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 42 innings in the spring.

Wallace is committed to Baylor should he opt not to sign with the Rays.

JAXON GROSSMAN, P, SALT LAKE

The Texas Rangers double-dipped in the draft, grabbing both JUCO World Series all-tournament pitchers as part of their draft class. The reigning Robert Purkey, Jr. Outstanding Pitcher was selected in the 16th round (No. 475).

Grossman started two games for national champion Salt Lake in this year’s JUCO World Series, winning both games and allowing three earned runs in 11 innings at Suplizio Field. The sophomore’s 2.45 ERA was lowest among any pitcher who made at least one start in the tournament.

Should Grossman elect not to sign, he will head to Norman to continue his collegiate career with the University of Oklahoma.

DENTON BILLER, P, JOHNSON COUNTY

Only nine picks after Grossman was selected, Biller also came off the board as the Baltimore Orioles selected the righty at No. 484. Biller made only one appearance in the three games the Cavaliers played at the 2025 JUCO World Series. The freshman struck out six batters in 3 1/3 innings in the Cavaliers’ 14-13 win over Eastern Oklahoma State in the second day of the tournament.

“Being drafted means a lot. I’ve always looked forward to this day,” Biller told The Daily Sentinel.

Biller is still weighing his options as to whether or not he will sign with the Orioles. The pitcher is committed to Arkansas for the upcoming season; should he opt not to sign with Baltimore he will head to Fayetteville to join a perennial powerhouse Razorbacks squad.

HAYDEN MORRIS, P, BLINN

Morris, a right-handed pitcher, taken with the second-to-last pick in the draft’s penultimate round, 584th overall in the 19th round by the Yankees.

The redshirt freshman appeared in two games for the Buccaneers in this year’s JUCO World Series, allowing eight runs in 3 1/3 innings in his lone start of the tournament against Florida SouthWestern State, a game Blinn came back and win 14-13. He returned to the mound two nights later out of the bullpen for an elimination contest with McLennan; Morris surrendered three runs in his only inning on the night.

“Being drafted is a blessing! Not everyone can say that,” Morris told The Daily Sentinel.

The redshirt freshman does not intend to sign with the club and will return to Blinn for his final junior college campaign in 2026.

COLORADO MESA PITCHER SIGNS AS A FREE AGENT

Colorado Mesa redshirt senior right-hander Andrew Pogue signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Tigers, according a release form the school. Pogue transferred to the Mavericks from Illinois prior to the 2025 season. In his lone year at CMU, Pogue appeared in 13 games and sported a 5.03 ERA, good for third-best on the team amongst pitchers who threw at least 20 innings.

Pogue becomes the seventh former Maverick currently signed to an affiliated professional contract. He will join former Colorado Mesa first baseman Bligh Madris in the Tigers organization; other former Mavericks in affiliated baseball include Kyle Leahy, who has a 3.10 ERA across 38 games played for the St. Louis Cardinals, and a handful of players in the minor leagues in Andrew Morris, Hadyn McGeary, Spencer Bramwell, and Caleb Farmer.

Colorado Mesa did lose one incoming recruit to the draft. Outfielder Jack Barker, previously of College of Southern Idaho, was drafted in the 13th round by the Philadelphia Phillies. Barker opted to forgo his commitment to Mesa and will instead report to the Phillies Complex later this week, per a statement from the team.