Ole Miss Baseball’s Townsend and Rabe Go First in 2026 MLB Draft

PHILADELPHIA — Ole Miss baseball made history Tuesday as Cade Townsend and Taylor Rabe became the first players from the program to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft in the same year. Townsend was picked 23rd overall by the Chicago Cubs, while Rabe was selected 30th overall by the Kansas City Royals, according to MLB draft sources.

Townsend, a 2026 Golden Spikes Award semifinalist and All-SEC Second Team selection, led Ole Miss starters in ERA (3.81), opponent batting average (.218), home runs allowed (9), and strikeouts looking (26) during his sophomore season. He finished with a strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate of 12.38, ranking sixth in the SEC. Townsend also earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors after a strong performance against Tennessee, where he took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning.

Rabe led the Rebels in ERA (3.55), opposing batting average (.221), and strikeouts (105). He posted a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 7.00, the best in the SEC and fourth-best nationally among Division I players. Rabe also achieved back-to-back 10-plus strikeout outings against Texas A&M and Alabama, finishing the season with 51 strikeouts over his final five starts.

Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco praised the players’ accomplishments, noting that Townsend and Rabe’s first-round selections mark a historic milestone for the program. The duo’s selections continue Ole Miss’s tradition of developing professional-level talent, with Townsend and Rabe now among the top prospects in the 2026 MLB Draft.

Fans can follow Ole Miss baseball updates on social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, as the team prepares for upcoming seasons and draft-related events.

Source: Original Article