Seven Cal Poly Baseball players heard their names called in the 2026 MLB Draft, the program’s most in a single year since 2008, when eight Mustangs were selected. Four players were selected within the first 10 rounds of the draft, the most since 2014.
RHP Carson Turnquist — Arizona Diamondbacks, Round 7, Pick 206
The first Mustang selected, Turnquist lands with the Diamondbacks organization in the seventh round. The Paso Robles native recently entered the transfer portal for the second time in his career, previously transferring from Oklahoma to Cal Poly after his freshman season. Turnquist missed the entire 2024 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and was used sparingly in 2025. On the mound, Turnquist boasts a plus fastball, sitting around 94-95 mph and touching the upper 90s with good ride. In his first full season with the Mustangs in 2026, Turnquist struck out 92 in 76 1/3 innings with a 4.01 ERA. The 6-foot-5 right-hander struggled with command at times, but has the pure stuff to help him rise through the Diamondbacks system.
LHP Josh Volmerding — Boston Red Sox, Round 8, Pick 244
Volmerding was Cal Poly’s Saturday starter in the weekend rotation in 2025, but injuries limited the southpaw to just over 27 innings in 2026. Volmerding’s 6.51 ERA doesn’t jump off the page, but a combination of high strikeout numbers and projectable traits was appealing to the Red Sox in the eighth round. Volmerding’s fastball sits in the low 90s, but at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, his frame suggests that there could be more velocity in the tank. Volmerding wields a devastating slider that generates plenty of swing-and-miss, especially against left-handed hitters.
C Ryan Tayman — New York Mets, Round 9, Pick 270
After transferring from Cal, Tayman made good use of his one year at Cal Poly, stamping his name in the record books. The Big West co-Field Player of the Year and Cal Poly’s Division I single-season home run leader launched 18 home runs while batting .357. The Grover Beach native’s decision to transfer to his hometown school paid off, as he’s the latest Cal Poly catcher to break into professional baseball. To go along with his home run total, Tayman led the Mustangs’ offense in numerous other categories, including average, OPS, total bases, and RBI.
RHP Nick Bonn — St. Louis Cardinals, Round 10, Pick 294
Just like Tayman, Bonn made the most of his one year as a Mustang, becoming the program’s single-season saves leader with 17. The Dallas Baptist transfer struck out 50 batters in just under 50 innings and finished with a 3.44 ERA on the season. Bonn did not allow a run in Cal Poly’s postseason run and was named the Big West Tournament MVP. The slender righty touched triple digits with his fastball and pairs it with a sweeper and a splitter as secondary offerings.
3B Alejandro Garza — Cleveland Guardians, Round 15, Pick 453
Garza, Cal Poly’s all-time hits leader, was productive from the moment he stepped on campus, hitting .318 or better in each of his three years. A high school shortstop, “Peanut” won the third-base job as a freshman and never gave it back. Garza struck out just 45 times during his tenure at Cal Poly, and his pesky approach at the plate kept him as a mainstay at the top of the order. Garza’s approach differs from the high-power, high-strikeout archetype that is becoming increasingly common, making him a natural fit for Cleveland, an organization that highly values bat-to-ball skills.
RHP Griffin Naess — Chicago Cubs, Round 15, Pick 457
Naess served as the Mustangs’ Friday starter in his sophomore and junior campaigns, following up a season in which he won Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year. Naess keeps hitters unbalanced and uncomfortable despite not throwing over 90 mph regularly, thanks to a phenomenal changeup that he throws in any count. Naess garnered the reputation of being a “big-game” pitcher, saving his best outings for the most important games. In 2026, Naess had his least effective season in terms of ERA, but blew past his career high in strikeouts, racking up 97 punchouts on the year, including 14 in a game against Washington State.
LHP Chris Downs — San Diego Padres, Round 19, Pick 575
Downs filled a variety of roles throughout his three years at Cal Poly: making starts, pitching multiple innings out of the bullpen, serving as a left-handed specialist, and working in high-leverage situations. The towering left-hander’s versatility intrigued the Padres in the penultimate round of the draft, and he also posted strong showings in summer ball, including in the heralded Cape Cod League. Downs’ fastball reaches the low 90s and plays up due to good extension that he creates off the mound. He pairs it with a slider that generates whiffs and a changeup to keep hitters honest. Raised in Southern California, Downs has an opportunity to come up close to home with the Padres.
Volmerding, Tayman, Garza, Naess, and Downs can all return for another year at Cal Poly if they choose, but Sunday’s draft has created a compelling alternative for the Mustang standouts.
