TCU had three players selected on Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft, while Lance Davis withdrew and strengthened the Horned Frogs’ 2027 rotation.
TCU baseball watched three Horned Frogs come off the board during the opening day of the 2026 MLB Draft—and then received another major win when Lance Davis chose to stay in Fort Worth.
Chase Brunson led the way, going No. 42 overall to the Washington Nationals in the second round. The longtime TCU center fielder arrived from San Clemente High School and immediately carved out a role in the lineup, eventually starting for three seasons.
Brunson finished his Horned Frogs career with 26 home runs and 122 RBI.
He also led TCU with a .462 on-base percentage in 2026, giving Washington a polished college bat with proven production and experience in the middle of the field.
Sawyer Strosnider followed at No. 66 overall, landing with the Milwaukee Brewers near the end of the second round.
His draft-day wait lasted much longer than expected.
Strosnider entered the season with top-10 buzz and remained a projected first-round selection even after batting .273 during his sophomore campaign.
Instead, he slipped into Round 2, where Milwaukee took a chance on the upside that made him one of the most discussed prospects on TCU’s roster.
A source told HornedFrogBlitz that Strosnider is expected to receive a signing bonus around the $1.3 million slot value attached to the pick.
Tommy LaPour became TCU’s third selection when the Minnesota Twins drafted him No. 107 overall in the fourth round.
LaPour struck out 105 batters across 107.2 innings during two seasons with the Horned Frogs.
His 2026 season was interrupted by an elbow injury that cost him nine weeks, but he returned for the final stretch of the regular season and the Big 12 tournament.
While those three players prepare for professional baseball, Davis gave TCU fans a reason to look ahead.
The left-hander withdrew from the draft and will return for the 2027 season after earning second-team All-Big 12 honors. Davis posted a 3.71 ERA with a 5-3 record, led TCU with 80 innings and recorded 51 strikeouts against just 17 walks.
His return gives new pitching coach Thomas Eshelman a dependable weekend starter and potential Friday-night ace.
Davis and Zack James now provide two proven pieces for a rotation that won’t need a full rebuild.
TCU lost three significant players on Saturday. It may have saved its pitching staff in the process.
