Lambert, Katz, Hugas Selected In 2026 MLB Draft
7/12/2026 7:55:00 PM | Baseball
MACON – Garrett Lambert, Chris Katz and Miguel Hugas all heard their name called on the second day of the 2026 MLB Draft. Head coach Craig Gibson has now produced 37 MLB Draft Picks since taking over the program in 2004.
Lambert, a redshirt freshman right-handed pitcher, was the first Bear selected when the Colorado Rockies chose him with the first pick of the sixth round (165th overall). Lambert started every Friday night for the Bears this past season and led Mercer with 90 strikeouts and a 4.31 ERA. A native of Lilburn, Georgia, Lambert spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career with the Bears and maintained a career 4.12 ERA over 89.2 innings and 19 starts.
After missing the entirety of the 2025 season, and the majority of 2024, Lambert made a mark in his first full collegiate campaign. Lambert was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and an All-SoCon First Teamer as well as representing Mercer on the SoCon All-Tournament Team. Lambert also earned a spot on the NCBWA Freshman All-America Second Team and Baseball America Freshman All-America First Team.
Lambert was the second college pitcher from the state of Georgia selected, trailing only Georgia's Joey Volchko, and the first member of the SoCon to be picked in this year's MLB Draft. Lambert also was the Bears' highest draft pick since Colby Thomas went in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft to the Oakland Athletics.
Katz, a senior outfielder, was the second Bear off the board when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him with the 13th pick of the ninth round (266th overall). A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Katz spent the first four years of his collegiate career at Wake Forest before coming to Mercer ahead of the 2026 season. Katz left a mark on the program that will be talked about for years and had one of the best seasons in Mercer baseball history.
The SoCon tabbed Katz as the Player of the Year after he led the league in hits (85), runs (82), home runs (23), extra-base hits (42), RBI (74), walks (51), on-base percentage (.510), slugging percentage (.791), OPS (1.301) and total bases (174). Katz slashed .386/.510/.791 across 220 at-bats, ended his only year in Macon as the single-season runs leader and mashed the second-most homers in a single year in program history.
Not only was Katz the SoCon Player of the Year, he was also an All-SoCon First Teamer and a member of the SoCon All-Tournament Team. Katz also received All-America honors by the ABCA/Rawlings, the College Baseball Foundation and the NCBWA.
Hugas, a junior right-handed pitcher, became the third Bear selected when the Baltimore Orioles chose him with the seventh pick of the 14th round (410th overall). A transfer from Chipola CC, Hugas moved to Macon before the 2026 season. Hugas started every Saturday night for the Bears and led the team with nine wins and 77.1 innings pitched. Hugas hurled three quality starts last season. The Caracas, Venezuela, native tossed a dominant eight innings against Tennessee Tech and held the Golden Eagles to just two runs in a 10-2 win.
Lambert, a redshirt freshman right-handed pitcher, was the first Bear selected when the Colorado Rockies chose him with the first pick of the sixth round (165th overall). Lambert started every Friday night for the Bears this past season and led Mercer with 90 strikeouts and a 4.31 ERA. A native of Lilburn, Georgia, Lambert spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career with the Bears and maintained a career 4.12 ERA over 89.2 innings and 19 starts.
After missing the entirety of the 2025 season, and the majority of 2024, Lambert made a mark in his first full collegiate campaign. Lambert was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and an All-SoCon First Teamer as well as representing Mercer on the SoCon All-Tournament Team. Lambert also earned a spot on the NCBWA Freshman All-America Second Team and Baseball America Freshman All-America First Team.
Lambert was the second college pitcher from the state of Georgia selected, trailing only Georgia's Joey Volchko, and the first member of the SoCon to be picked in this year's MLB Draft. Lambert also was the Bears' highest draft pick since Colby Thomas went in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft to the Oakland Athletics.
Katz, a senior outfielder, was the second Bear off the board when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him with the 13th pick of the ninth round (266th overall). A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Katz spent the first four years of his collegiate career at Wake Forest before coming to Mercer ahead of the 2026 season. Katz left a mark on the program that will be talked about for years and had one of the best seasons in Mercer baseball history.
The SoCon tabbed Katz as the Player of the Year after he led the league in hits (85), runs (82), home runs (23), extra-base hits (42), RBI (74), walks (51), on-base percentage (.510), slugging percentage (.791), OPS (1.301) and total bases (174). Katz slashed .386/.510/.791 across 220 at-bats, ended his only year in Macon as the single-season runs leader and mashed the second-most homers in a single year in program history.
Not only was Katz the SoCon Player of the Year, he was also an All-SoCon First Teamer and a member of the SoCon All-Tournament Team. Katz also received All-America honors by the ABCA/Rawlings, the College Baseball Foundation and the NCBWA.
Hugas, a junior right-handed pitcher, became the third Bear selected when the Baltimore Orioles chose him with the seventh pick of the 14th round (410th overall). A transfer from Chipola CC, Hugas moved to Macon before the 2026 season. Hugas started every Saturday night for the Bears and led the team with nine wins and 77.1 innings pitched. Hugas hurled three quality starts last season. The Caracas, Venezuela, native tossed a dominant eight innings against Tennessee Tech and held the Golden Eagles to just two runs in a 10-2 win.
Players Mentioned
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