The Diamondbacks made their 2026 draft board look pretty clear: athleticism, size, velocity, and players who already know how to impact a game before they ever reach pro ball.
Director of Amateur Scouting Ian Rebhan laid out that approach after the picks were in, and the first five selections fit the mold. Arizona opened with catcher Ryder Helfrick at No. 15 out of Arkansas, making him the highest drafted catcher in Razorback history and one of the rare college backstops who calls his own games.
From there, the D-backs kept leaning into upside and power arms. At No. 31 in Competitive Balance Round A, they grabbed right-hander Blake Bryant from Citizens Christian Academy, a 6-foot-6, 182-pound 18-year-old whose fastball sits at 91-94 mph and reaches 97, according to mlb.com. His mix also includes “two breaking balls and a fading changeup.”
At No. 53, Arizona went with infielder Carson Kerce from Georgia Tech, one of the ACC’s top infielders and mostly a third baseman. He “Slashed .313/.411/.475 over 198 at-bats including 20 doubles,” a big reason Georgia Tech led the nation in doubles, per ramblinwreck.com.
The next two picks brought more production and polish. Outfielder Brayden Dowd of Florida State went at No. 88 after earning third team All-ACC and All-ACC Academic Team honors.
He also showed a knack for coming through in key moments, finishing his junior season with two game-winning hits and four game-winning runs. Then at No. 116, the Diamondbacks took Missouri right-hander Josh McDevitt, another high-octane arm and one of the best pitchers in the SEC.
He leaned heavily on his fastball, throwing it more than 500 times, and struck out 102.
Rebhan’s comments made the pitching emphasis even more obvious once the draft moved deeper. Arizona used nine pitchers among its last 15 selections, continuing to stock the system with arms that bring both size and strike-throwing ability.
That run included Oklahoma right-hander LJ Mercurius at No. 148, whom Rebhan described this way: “You’re getting a really athletic starting pitcher that has a big fast ball. Fast ball, changeup dominant.
There’s a slider in there. We really liked him because of the athleticism and the strike-throwing ability…project him to be a major league starter.
Really like that profile in the fifth round,” Rebhan said.
Stony Brook left-hander Micah Worley went at No. 177, and Rebhan called him a “Big, major arm” with starter potential, pointing to a 98 mph fastball and slider while noting the changeup still needs development. Cal Poly right-hander Carson Turnquist followed at No. 206, another “big, physical, power-arm” pitcher with the chance to start and the ability to throw strikes and miss bats.
The later rounds stayed on the same track. At No.
296, Arizona selected Alabama-Birmingham right-hander Mason Steele, whom Rebhan called “Very interesting fast ball. He’s got a solid slider…another guy that flashes some starter traits to give you start potential in the minor leagues and see what it really turns into,” Rebhan said.
At No. 356, the Diamondbacks took Georgia left-hander Caleb Jameson, described as more of a reliever but someone who throws a lot of strikes and could end up handling bulk innings. Rebhan said he was “Part of that team this year that was one of better teams in the SEC and college baseball” and called him “An interesting arm there.”
Arizona then added right-hander Brannon Westmoreland from Arkansas at Little Rock at No. 416, Southern Illinois right-hander Andrew Evans at No.
446, Cal State Fullerton right-hander Joseph Jasso at No. 476, and Northeastern right-hander Andrew Wertz at No. 596.
By the end of the draft, the message was easy to read: the Diamondbacks kept chasing athletes with mound presence and plenty of room to grow.
The Snakes take their road trip to Washington this weekend.
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