Arizona Diamondbacks selected Cal Poly right-hander Carson Turnquist in the seventh round.
The Arizona Diamondbacks continued to bolster their pitching depth by selecting Cal Poly right-hander Carson Turnquist in the seventh round of the 2026 MLB Draft.
Turnquist enters professional baseball following a remarkable comeback season that helped power Cal Poly to the first NCAA Super Regional appearance in program history.
After missing significant time while recovering from Tommy John surgery, the right-hander emerged as one of the Big West’s top starters and reestablished himself as a legitimate professional prospect.
Breakout year followed long recovery
The 2026 season marked Turnquist’s return to form.
After spending all of 2024 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and making only limited appearances in 2025, he stepped into Cal Poly’s weekend rotation when ace Ethan Volmerding was sidelined with an injury early in March.
Turnquist seized the opportunity.
He rattled off seven consecutive winning starts and became one of the Mustangs’ most dependable arms, finishing the season 9-3 with a 4.01 ERA and 92 strikeouts across 76.1 innings. His performance earned Second-Team All-Big West honors while helping lead Cal Poly to the deepest NCAA Tournament run in school history.
Former Oklahoma transfer reached another level
Before arriving at Cal Poly, Turnquist began his collegiate career at Oklahoma, where he appeared in five games as a true freshman in 2023 and struck out seven batters in 5.1 innings.
That summer, he impressed with the Santa Barbara Foresters, posting a 4-0 record, a 0.61 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 32.2 innings, showcasing the talent that made him one of California’s top prep pitchers.
His progress was temporarily halted by Tommy John surgery in December 2023, but his perseverance ultimately paid off with a standout 2026 campaign.
Strong amateur resume offers upside
A standout at Paso Robles High School, Turnquist was regarded as one of the top right-handed pitching prospects in California before beginning his college career.
Now fully healthy, he gives the Diamondbacks a polished college arm with experience leading a rotation, missing bats and overcoming adversity.
Arizona’s selection reflects confidence that Turnquist’s impressive comeback season is just the beginning, as the organization adds another pitcher who showed the ability to thrive against high-level competition while helping make history at Cal Poly.
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