The University of Mississippi Athletics
Townsend and Rabe Selected In First Round of 2026 MLB Draft
7/11/2026 | Baseball
PHILADELPHIA – For the first time in program history, two Rebels were selected in the first round of the same Major League Baseball Draft as Cade Townsend and Taylor Rabe both heard their names called in the opening round of the 2026 MLB Draft.
Townsend was selected as the 23rd overall pick by the Chicago Cubs while Rabe was selected as the 30th overall pick by the Kansas City Royals. Townsend became the ninth first round pick in program history before Rabe became the 10th seven picks later.
Townsend was a 2026 Golden Spikes Semifinalist and was named to the 2026 All-SEC Second Team after turning in an impressive sophomore season.
Townsend led all Rebel starters during the 2026 regular season in ERA (3.81), opposing batting average (.218), fewest home runs allowed (9), and batters struck out looking (26). He finished the season with a strikeouts per nine innings of 12.38 which was ranked sixth in the SEC. His WHIP of 1.20 was ranked 15th in the conference and his strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.00 was ranked 16th.
Townsend put together three-consecutive quality starts from April 4 to April 18. He was the first Rebel to accomplish that feat since both Hunter Elliott and Dylan DeLucia did it in 2022. He also became the first Rebel to be named SEC Pitcher of the Week since 2021 after his start against Tennessee in which he took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and allowed just four baserunners while striking out seven.
Rabe led all Rebel pitchers in ERA (3.55), opposing batting average (.221), fewest runs allowed (30), fewest walks allowed (15), strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.00), and strikeouts per nine innings (12.43). He struck out 105 batters in 2026, crossing the 100-strikeout mark for the first time in his career.
Rabe finished the 2026 season as the SEC leader in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 7.00. That was the fourth-best ratio in all of Division I and the second-best amongst players in the Power Four conferences. He issued just 15 walks all season while striking out 105 batters.
Rabe became the first Rebel since Liam Doyle in 2024 with back-to-back 10+ strikeout outings when he struck out 14 against Texas A&M and 13 against Alabama to end the regular season. His 27 total strikeouts over those two outings were the most over two starts since Gunnar Hoglund in 2021. He finished the season with 51 strikeouts over his final five starts.
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Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss baseball on X at @OleMissBSB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/OleMissBaseball, on Instagram at Instagram.com/officialolemissbsb and on TikTok at @olemissbsb. Also, follow head coach Mike Bianco on X at @CoachMikeBianco.
Townsend was selected as the 23rd overall pick by the Chicago Cubs while Rabe was selected as the 30th overall pick by the Kansas City Royals. Townsend became the ninth first round pick in program history before Rabe became the 10th seven picks later.
Townsend was a 2026 Golden Spikes Semifinalist and was named to the 2026 All-SEC Second Team after turning in an impressive sophomore season.
Townsend led all Rebel starters during the 2026 regular season in ERA (3.81), opposing batting average (.218), fewest home runs allowed (9), and batters struck out looking (26). He finished the season with a strikeouts per nine innings of 12.38 which was ranked sixth in the SEC. His WHIP of 1.20 was ranked 15th in the conference and his strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.00 was ranked 16th.
Townsend put together three-consecutive quality starts from April 4 to April 18. He was the first Rebel to accomplish that feat since both Hunter Elliott and Dylan DeLucia did it in 2022. He also became the first Rebel to be named SEC Pitcher of the Week since 2021 after his start against Tennessee in which he took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and allowed just four baserunners while striking out seven.
Rabe led all Rebel pitchers in ERA (3.55), opposing batting average (.221), fewest runs allowed (30), fewest walks allowed (15), strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.00), and strikeouts per nine innings (12.43). He struck out 105 batters in 2026, crossing the 100-strikeout mark for the first time in his career.
Rabe finished the 2026 season as the SEC leader in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 7.00. That was the fourth-best ratio in all of Division I and the second-best amongst players in the Power Four conferences. He issued just 15 walks all season while striking out 105 batters.
Rabe became the first Rebel since Liam Doyle in 2024 with back-to-back 10+ strikeout outings when he struck out 14 against Texas A&M and 13 against Alabama to end the regular season. His 27 total strikeouts over those two outings were the most over two starts since Gunnar Hoglund in 2021. He finished the season with 51 strikeouts over his final five starts.
STAY CONNECTED
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss baseball on X at @OleMissBSB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/OleMissBaseball, on Instagram at Instagram.com/officialolemissbsb and on TikTok at @olemissbsb. Also, follow head coach Mike Bianco on X at @CoachMikeBianco.
Players Mentioned
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Tuesday, June 09