3 Nittany Lions Selected in 2026 MLB Draft

One Penn State senior and two signees heard their names called during the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday.

The first Nittany Lion off the board was outfielder Michael Anderson, who was selected No. 149 overall in the fifth round by the Texas Rangers on Sunday morning. He was drafted as a two-way player and became the highest-selected Penn Stater taken since catcher Matt Wood went in the fourth round in 2022.

Anderson earned first-team All-American honors during his lone season in Happy Valley following stints with Rhode Island and Arkansas. He slashed an impressive .358/.470/.742 in 2026 and broke the program record for single-season home runs with 20, while also pacing the Big Ten in OPS.

One round later, signee Alex Weingartner went No. 166 overall to the Chicago White Sox. Though he also pitched in high school, Weingartner was drafted as an outfielder. His older brother Ryan Weingartner, who played with the Nittany Lions in 2025, is also in the professional ranks as part of the St. Louis Cardinals’ farm system.

In the evening, signee Dalton Harper was drafted No. 472 overall in the 16th round by the Atlanta Braves. He was named the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Player of the Year while catching for SUNY Niagara Community College last season. He batted .556 with 17 home runs across 246 plate appearances.

Weingartner and Harper will have the option to sign professional contracts or attend Penn State next season with their remaining eligibility in attempt to bolster their draft stock.