Diamondbacks take Oklahoma RHP LJ Mercurius as part of Day 2 of 2026 MLB Draft

LOS ANGELES — The MLB Draft is split into two days, with the top four rounds of the event having concluded on Saturday and Rounds 5-20 taking place throughout the day on Sunday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected five players on Day 1, picking three hitters and two pitchers to bring into the organization:

• Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick (15)
• Prep pitcher Blake Bryant (31)
• Georgia Tech infielder Carson Kerce (53)
• Florida State outfielder Brayden Dowd (88)
• Missouri pitcher Josh McDevitt (116)

Arizona’s first choice on Sunday was right-handed pitcher LJ Mercurius of the Oklahoma Sooners with the No. 148 pick in the fifth round.

Mercurius made 22 appearances (12 starts) for the national champions in 2026 with a 4.43 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 83.1 innings. He picked up four saves.

The Diamondbacks have found value at this stage of the draft over the years, like any team. They drafted pitcher Brandon Pfaadt in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft. Jake Lamb was a sixth-round pick, while Brandon Webb and Paul Goldschmidt were both eighth-rounders.

Arizona made one pick in each round through the end of the draft, with a reported bonus pool of $13,603,100.

Diamondbacks Day 2 MLB Draft picks

– Round 5: Right-handed pitcher LJ Mercurius, Oklahoma (No. 148)

– Round 6: Left-handed pitcher Micah Worley, Stony Brook (No. 177)

– Round 7: Right-handed pitcher Carson Turnquist, Cal Poly (No. 206)

– Round 8: Outfielder Paul Schoenfeld, West Virginia (No. 236)

– Round 9: First baseman Chris Katz, Mercer (No. 266)

– Round 10: Right-handed pitcher Mason Steele, Alabama-Birmingham (No. 296)

– Round 11: First baseman Cody Boshell, Bishop Snyder HS (No. 326)

– Round 12: Left-handed pitcher Caleb Jameson, Georgia (No. 356)

– Round 13: Shortstop Jack Spanier, Minnesota (No. 386)

– Round 14: Right-handed pitcher Brannon Westmoreland, Arkansas-Little Rock (No. 416)

– Round 15: Right-handed pitcher Andrew Evans, Southern Illinois (No. 446)

– Round 16: Right-handed pitcher Joseph Jasso, Cal State Fullerton (No. 476)

– Round 17: Shortstop Rylan Alaniz, Trinity HS, Texas (No. 506)

– Round 18: Outfielder Jake Duer, Texas A&M (No. 536)

– Round 19: Catcher Weber Neels, Minnesota (No. 566)

– Round 20: Right-handed pitcher Andrew Wertz, Northeastern University (No. 596)

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