Dallas, Texas — The Texas Rangers selected left-handed pitcher Gio Rojas with the 16th overall choice in Saturday’s first round of the 2026 MLB Draft.
Rojas, 19, came from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. MLB Pipeline had ranked him eighth among draft prospects and called him one of the leading left-handed pitchers in the class.
Rangers scouting director Kip Fagg said the club had prepared for Rojas being available but believed the chance was limited. The organization chose him with its first selection of the draft.
MLB reported that Rojas reached 98 mph with his fastball and also uses a sweeping slider and a changeup. In his final high-school season, he posted a 0.58 ERA over 72 innings with 124 strikeouts.
