El Paso Prospects Ready for 2026 MLB Draft

Major League Baseball’s 2026 draft will take place July 11‑12 in Philadelphia, with the first four rounds on Saturday and the remaining 16 rounds on Sunday. Fans tuned to MLB Network and MLB.com can follow the event as three hometown hopefuls from El Paso gear up to hear their names called.

Drew Gonzalez – The Hitting Shortstop from Americas

Americas High School’s Drew Gonzalez is a 6‑ft‑1, 197‑lb infielder who earned the 2026 El Paso Times All‑City MVP award after hitting 13 home runs and driving in 54 runs. He steered the Trailblazers to the Class 5A Division 1 regional finals and has committed to Texas Tech. Gonzalez can fill shortstop or third base duties, throws right and bats left.

Gonzalez has worked out for a host of MLB clubs, including the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles. “I hope to be drafted on day one,” he said. “The workouts were a learning experience, and I’m excited about the chance to play at the highest level.”

Armani Raygoza – Power‑Hitting First Base Star

The 6‑ft‑1, 195‑lb former Americas first baseman now dominates the Southland Conference at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Raygoza holds the UTRGV all‑time RBI record with 138 runs batted in and has posted 17 home runs in two consecutive seasons. He earned Southland Conference Player of the Year honors back‑to‑back years and earned a call‑up to the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League.

His climb through the Cape Cod Baseball League, a summer circuit that has produced over 1,750 MLB alumni since 1965, underscores his pro potential. Raygoza’s combination of power and clutch hitting makes him an attractive prospect for teams looking for a future first‑ baseman.

Diego Cardenas – Elite Power Hitter in the Draft Pool

Riverside High School alum Diego Cardenas burst onto the scene at El Paso Community College before transferring to Abilene Christian University, where he earned All‑American honors. In two seasons with ACU he clubbed 44 home runs, while his sophomore year at EPCC saw him hit 21 homers and drive in 69 runs. He’s listed at 6‑ft, 237‑lb and hopes to hear his name in the early rounds.

“I feel like I put myself in a position to get an opportunity to play at the next level,” Cardenas said. “I’ve been working hard ahead of the draft. It’s just a waiting game, but I’m hopeful for a shot to prove myself.”

El Paso’s Deep Baseball Heritage

El Paso’s talent pipeline stretches back decades, with more than a dozen locals reaching the majors after being selected in the MLB draft. The list reads like a who’s who of professional baseball:

• Alan Zinter (1989, 1st round, 24th) – New York Mets; 19‑year career spanning the Mets, Tigers, Red Sox, Mariners, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Astros and a stint in Japan.
• Armando Almanza (1993, 4th round) – St. Louis Cardinals; World Series champion with the 2003 Florida Marlins, later played for the Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves.
• Bruce Ruffin (1985, 2nd round, 34th) – Philadelphia Phillies; 60 wins and 63 saves in the majors, notable 24‑save season with the Colorado Rockies.
• Butch Henry (1987, 15th round) – Cincinnati Reds; 33 wins in the majors and 54 in the minors; All‑State performer at Eastwood.
• Frank Castillo (1987, 6th round) – Chicago Cubs; seven‑year MLB career, later with the Rockies, Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays and the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox.
• Rocky Coppinger (1993, 19th round) – Baltimore Orioles; 10‑6 record in his rookie campaign, finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
• Omar Quintanilla (2003, 1st round) – Oakland Athletics; played second base, third base and shortstop, appeared in two national championship games for Texas.
• Darell Hernaiz (2019, 5th round) – Baltimore Orioles; currently a key contributor in the Orioles’ High‑A Aberdeen system.
• Fernando Rodriguez (2003, 11th round) – Los Angeles Angels; 11 wins and 242 strikeouts, later returned to pitch for the Triple‑A El Paso Chihuahuas.
• Mark Grudzielanek (1991, 11th round) – Montreal Expos; .289 average with 2,040 hits and 90 homers over a 13‑year career.
• Justin Maese (2015, 3rd round) – Toronto Blue Jays; now a mainstay in the Atlanta Braves organization with the Double‑A Mississippi Braves.
• Ivan Melendez (2022, 2nd round) – Arizona Diamondbacks; reached Triple‑A Reno before being released earlier this season.

These names illustrate a steady pipeline of talent emerging from the El Paso area, giving the three 2026 prospects a proud legacy to live up to as they chase their own calls in the upcoming draft.

With the draft just weeks away, fans across the city will be watching the broadcast on MLB Network and MLB.com, hoping to see one of these local heroes become the next star in the long line of El Paso baseball greats.