MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — Another Mountaineer is officially headed to professional baseball.
With the 91st overall pick in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Kansas City Royals selected West Virginia left-handed pitcher Maxx Yehl. Yehl entered the draft ranked No. 217 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft Prospects list, and after a dominant 2026 season in Morgantown, it’s easy to see why he was one of the top left-handed pitchers available.
With their 3rd-round pick (No. 91 overall), the @Royals select @WVUBaseball left-handed pitcher Maxx Yehl, No. 217 on the Top 250 Draft prospects list.
Watch live: https://t.co/XWNTXiKgPC pic.twitter.com/sGHexcT1ju
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) July 11, 2026
Yehl put together one of the best seasons by a West Virginia pitcher in recent memory, finishing the year with a 9-3 record, a 2.13 ERA, and 112 strikeouts while serving as the ace of the Mountaineers’ staff. His ability to consistently attack hitters with a low-90s fastball, plus secondary pitches, and outstanding command helped lead WVU to the program’s first-ever College World Series appearance and established him as one of the premier arms in college baseball.
During his time at West Virginia, Yehl developed into one of the most reliable pitchers in the country. Before his breakout 2026 campaign, he was a key piece of the Mountaineers’ bullpen in 2024, leading the team with 24 appearances while going 2-0 with two saves, a 3.99 ERA, and 32 strikeouts in 29.1 innings. His steady progression into a frontline starter is a testament to both his work ethic and the development of WVU’s pitching program.
Now, Yehl will begin his professional career with the Royals organization, becoming another Mountaineer to hear his name called during a historic MLB Draft for West Virginia baseball. His selection is yet another reminder of the level of talent Steve Sabins and his staff have built in Morgantown, and Royals fans are getting a polished left-hander with the ability to move through the minor leagues quickly.
