Four former MAC players selected in the 2026 MLB Draft
The Best Little Conference in the Midwest saw several stars get their names called for an opportunity to play at the next level.
Although the future of the MLB Draft format looms, the future of Mid-American Conference baseball remains bright.
The 2026 MLB Draft concluded earlier last week, and across 20 rounds and 613 selections, four players from the MAC heard their names called to take their talents to the professional ranks.
They were all selections made on the final day, with two players drafted by American League teams and the other two by National League teams.
The highest draft pick from the MAC was Miami right-handed pitcher Austin Berggren, who was drafted in the 12th round (Pick #368) by the New York Yankees.
Austin Berggren, Miami (New York Yankees)
Berggren primarily served in the closer slot for the RedHawks last season and finished with 61 strikeouts and a 3.65 ERA. As an incoming transfer from Nebraska, he really improved his ERA this season at Miami. With this pick, the Yankees get a six-foot-three, 225-pound relief pitcher with a penchant for striking out batters and a ton of potential to build upon considering he is coming off his best season as a college pitcher.
He will likely be a guy who moves through the farm systems fast due to his experience over other pitchers already in their minor league system. As a first-team all-MAC selection as a relief pitcher, he threw 44.1 innings in 25 appearances and secured three wins and seven saves as a closer.
Charlie Scholvin, Toledo (Minnesota Twins)
Selected in the 15th Round, Scholvin gives the Twins a much-needed middle infielder to move through their farm system. A first-team all-MAC at season's end, Scholvin surprised scouts with his .360 average, 82 hits, 18 doubles, five home runs, 50 RBIs and 68 runs scored for the Rockets in 2026. What makes him even more dangerous at the next level is his athleticism on the basepaths, as he stole 25 bases as well.
Scholvin was also second in runs scored, fourth in stolen bases and hits, fifth in doubles, and sixth in on-base percentage (.488). Scholvin is a ball magnet as well, tying for the most hit-by-pitches in the NCAA in 2025. He projects as a potential leadoff hitter at the next level and fits right in with the Twins' plans for the future.
Tanner Mally, Western Michigan (San Francisco Giants)
Tanner Mally became the first Western Michigan player drafted by the San Francisco Giants since Pat Misch back in 2003 with his selection in the 17th round. Mally won the NCAA Division I batting title this past season with an impressive .446 batting average, WMU's highest average by a player since 1965. Mally wasn't just a masher; he also finished second in the nation in on-base percentage with a .554 mark, and set WMU single-season records for both on-base percentage and hits with 87.
Ben Weinrib of MLB.com listed Mally's selection as one of the most intriguing picks from Day 2 of the ‘26 MLB Draft:
"He’s a strong defender in center and extremely disciplined at the plate, although he has next-to-no power, so it will be interesting to see how he handles professional pitching."
Mally becomes the 116th Bronco to be drafted by an MLB organization.
Ethan Stade, Bowling Green (Atlanta Braves)
Stade, the six-foot-four, 220-pound left-handed pitcher from the Bowling Green State Falcons, rounded out the MAC selections in the 2026 MLB Draft after being taken by the Atlanta Braves in the 18th round. With this selection, it makes it three consecutive seasons a Falcon has been drafted (DJ Newman [2025], Nathan Archer [2024]).
The Draft has always confused me with some prospects as to why they don't get selected higher, and Stade is another example. Stade is coming off an incredible senior season where he recorded 103 strikeouts. In doing so, he became only the third Falcon in program history to reach triple digits in one season in strikeouts; only 20 pitchers in the country struck out more batters than Stade in the 2026 campaign. Again, confused how a senior pitcher who has an intimidating size presence on the mound, who also strikes out batters at a high rate, lasts 18 rounds.
Nonetheless, the Braves continue to build a solid roster with likely a steal in the later rounds of the Draft with the addition of Stade, who is ready to play in the minors immediately.
All in all, four solid players who have the opportunity to go from the MAC to the show.
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