Houston's Collin Bland selected by Tampa Bay Rays in MLB Draft
· Yahoo Sports
Former Houston star and Vanderbilt baseball signee Collin Bland was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 113th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 MLB draft.
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The power-hitting 6-foot-3, 240-pound outfielder batted .432 with 12 doubles, eight home runs, 33 RBIs, 50 runs and a 1.471 OPS while drawing 48 walks, many of them intentional, and was named to the Commercial-Appeal All-Metro first team this season. Bland's outstanding senior season came after he set a Shelby County record with 13 homers in 2025.
Bland was also named to the TSWA All-State Team in Class 4A after leading the Mustangs to the TSSAA state title game, where they lost to five-time defending champion Farragut.
Bland is ranked as the No. 186 draft prospect by Perfect Game. He was one of two Memphis-area players, the other being Christian Brothers' Will Brick, who participated in the MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix, Arizona from June 23-25. Bland made a strong impression the combine, producing three of the 10 highest exit velocities on Day 2.
Bland will have to decide whether to sign with the Rays or go to Vanderbilt by July 27. The slot value, or recommended signing bonus, for where Bland was picked is $691,000.
Houston has produced three MLB players in its history, most notably former San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain. Former Mustangs shortstop Ryan Mitchell was drafted 55th overall last season by the St. Louis Cardinals and is now in their minor league system.
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at [email protected] and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Houston's Collin Bland selected by Tampa Bay Rays in MLB Draft