A year after four Cal Poly baseball players were selected in the MLB Draft, two more joined the exclusive club of Cal Poly draftees in this year’s event on Monday, July 14.
Zach Daudet and Luke Kovach, both pivotal pieces for the Mustangs squad that won the Big West Championship in May, will be taking the leap to the pro level alongside Jack Collins, who signed a free agent deal following the draft.
The Houston Astros selected infielder Daudet with the 306th pick in the 10th round. Listed as a shortstop on draft boards, Daudet played almost exclusively first base for the Mustangs, logging zero innings at either middle infield position given the steady gloves of Nate Castellon and Ryan Fenn.
Daudet enjoyed a breakout year at the plate, slashing .367/.484/.612 with 15 doubles and nine home runs. After transferring to Cal Poly from Division II Regis University, Daudet hit only .202 in his junior year with no consistent defensive position to call home. Given the starting first baseman job this past season, Daudet ran with it, hitting leadoff for the Mustangs most of the season.
Daudet’s last collegiate hit was an 11th-inning walk-off home run against Utah Valley to send Cal Poly to the NCAA Eugene Regional Finals, a fitting end to a phenomenal season from the San Diego native.
Kovach was the second and final Mustang to be selected, with the Toronto Blue Jays snagging the southpaw in the 19th round.
Kovach only pitched eight and 2/3 innings this year after sitting out the entire 2024 campaign rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
Despite Kovach pitching to the tune of a 7.27 ERA in 2025, his pure stuff was intriguing as a left-hander, racking up 17 strikeouts in his limited time on the mound.
The Blue Jays were interested enough with Kovach’s profile to take a flier in the late rounds.
Collins, a catcher, is also making the leap to pro ball, signing an undrafted free agent deal with the Texas Rangers. Filling the void that Baltimore Orioles prospect Ryan Stafford left behind the plate, Collins was outstanding in his first and only year as a Mustang.
After transferring from Long Beach State, Collins made an immediate impact and was the team’s best hitter for a good stretch of the season.
Collins tallied 30 extra-base hits on the year, including 13 home runs. He was a Buster Posey Award semifinalist and made the All-Big West second team.
The trio will start their journey through the minor leagues in hopes of joining fellow Cal Poly alumni and current MLB players Bryan Woo, Drew Thorpe and Brooks Lee at the highest level.