Gavin Eddy gave Cal its first name off the board in the 2026 MLB Draft, going to the Houston Astros in the fifth round on Sunday, the second day of the draft.
The right-hander was the 153rd player selected, a spot that came earlier than many pre-draft projections had him going. MLB.com lists the draft value at about $467,700 for that pick.
At 6-foot-5 and 21 years old, Eddy drew attention as a sleeper after a strong junior season, and his best work came down the stretch. He didn’t enter the year looking like a fast riser after a sophomore campaign in 2025 that ended with a 5.74 earned-run average across 14 appearances, including nine starts. But he took a clear step forward in 2026.
Through his first nine starts, Eddy went 5-2 with a 3.26 ERA. Then he sharpened even more over his final five outings, posting a 2.38 ERA in that stretch and allowing one run in each of his last three starts. In his next-to-last start against Virginia, which was ranked 23rd at the time, he struck out 14 batters in seven innings.
Eddy wrapped up the season at 6-3 with a 2.87 ERA, strong production for a Cal team that finished 29-26.
Cal went without a player drafted last year, only the fourth time that has happened since the MLB draft began in 1965. More Cal players are expected to come off the board in this year’s draft.