Three Cougars Selected in 2026 MLB Draft

PHILADEPHIA — Three members of the BYU baseball team were selected in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft held at Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, July 11-12. 

BYU righthanded pitcher Garrison Sumner was the first Cougar selected in the 13th round by the Baltimore Orioles with the 380th overall pick. He was followed by centerfielder Crew McChesney who was taken in the 17th round with the 495th pick by the Chicago White Sox. Incoming freshman outfielder Dimitri Williams, Jr., who prepped at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, California, was selected in the 20th round with the 584th pick by the Colorado Rockies. 

Three picks in 20 rounds of the MLB Draft ties the seventh highest total in BYU baseball history. Only six times in the program’s 100-plus seasons have four Cougars been selected in the first 20 rounds — 2022, 2002, 1986, 1983, 1982 and 1979.

SUMNER was previously selected in the 2025 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox in the 20th round but chose to return to BYU for his senior season in 2026. The 6-foot-3 righty from Eagle Mountain, Utah, appeared in 15 games as a senior, starting 10 while collecting four wins. He led the Cougar pitching staff in strikeouts (85), innings pitched (66.1) and batters struck out looking (21).

In his two seasons at BYU, Sumner appeared in 29 games with 21 starts. He threw 128 innings and struck out 145 batters while compiling a 7-6 career record as a Cougar.  

Despite missing 14 games of the 2026 season with a hamstring injury, McCHESNEY hit .307 while leading the Cougars in doubles (16) and triples (3). He also finished the year top three on the team in extra bases (27) and slugging (.584). Following the 2026 season McChesney was named to the Big 12 Spring All-Academic Team.

The 6-foot junior outfielder from Highland, Utah, appeared in 121 games with 107 seven starts over the last three seasons at BYU. He hit .301 with 79 RBI and 76 runs scored. He also collected 37 doubles, five triples and 14 home runs while slugging .513 and stealing 19 bases. 

WILLIAMS signed with the Cougars in November 2025 and is currently enrolled in summer term at BYU. The 6-foot-1, lefthanded centerfielder hit .286 with six doubles, two triples, and five home runs for Bishop O’Dowd HS as a senior in 2026. As a junior in 2025, he hit .390 and was named West Alameda Conference First Team All-League. 

Williams was a four-year high school varsity starter (2023-26) who also earned academic honors. He has the potential to be a five-tool player who could play right away as a freshman. Williams also pitches and was named the West Alameda Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2026.

Over the past four years, 10 Cougars have been selected in the MLB Draft, including Sumner (twice), McChesney, Williams, Ben Hansen (2024), Austin Deming (2023) Andrew Pintar (2022), Cy Neilson (2022), Nate Dahle (2022) and Cooper McKeehan (2022).