Local business? Support local news on PlanoWeekly.news

Back to Sport

At No. 16, Texas picks high-school lefty Gio Rojas in MLB Draft

The Rangers made Gio Rojas their first selection in the 2026 draft Saturday.

Una Vargas· AI-assisted, edited by Jake Team

July 12, 20261 min read

Baseball draft - illustration, Jake Team LLC

Plano, Texas — The Rangers used the 16th overall selection Saturday to take high-school left-hander Gio Rojas in the 2026 MLB Draft.

Rojas, 19, pitched at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He entered the draft ranked eighth by MLB Pipeline, which also placed him among the class’s strongest left-handed pitching prospects.

Texas scouting director Kip Fagg said the organization had evaluated the possibility of Rojas reaching its pick and had a plan if he did.

Rojas can touch 98 mph with his fastball, MLB reported. He also features a sweeping slider and changeup after a senior season in which he had a 0.58 ERA in 72 innings with 124 strikeouts.

The draft moves into its later rounds Sunday. Plano readers are in the Rangers’ North Texas fan market as the club continues building its farm system.

Sources:

https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/rangers-select-gio-rojas-with-no-16-pick-in-2026-mlb-draft

https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/texas-rangers

Share

Una Vargas· AI-assisted, edited by Jake Team

Una Vargas covers Plano high school and area college sports.

Related Stories

Sport

Maverriers Fall Flat in 39-Point Loss to Timberwolves

Dallas suffered a 133-94 defeat Thursday in Minneapolis. Bones Hyland led the way with 24 points, while the Mavericks could not contain the home team's dominant offensive output.

Una VargasNovember 13, 20262 min read
Sport

Ball’s 31-Footer Opened the Floodgates Against Dallas

LaMelo Ball and Bones Hyland combined for 11 3-pointers as Minnesota beat Dallas 133-94, exposing the gap between the Timberwolves’ shotmaking and the Mavericks’ 13-of-48 perimeter response.

Una VargasNovember 13, 20263 min read

More in Weather