MLB Dreams Continue for 18 Drafted PGCBL Alumni

NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. – The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League is elated to announce that 18 of its former players were drafted to play Major League Baseball on July 11 and July 12 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

First out of the PGCBL this year to continue his dreams of playing professional baseball was the former Amsterdam Mohawk, Jack Natili, who played collegiate baseball at Rutgers University and the University of Cincinnati. Natili was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the third round (#76). Following the former Mohawk in the third round, the San Francisco Giants selected Peyton Bonds (#90), who played for the Saugerties Stallions in 2024.

The Mohawks saw four other former standouts drafted over the weekend, a league-high number of draftees. Two of them were drafted in the 11th round: Javar Williams (#321) and Ariston Veasey (#337). In the 13th round, Jake Long (#379) was drafted to the Los Angeles Angels. Both Williams and Natili played on the Mohawks' 2024 league championship team.

The Geneva Red Wings' only draftee in the 2026 Draft came in the seventh round. Joe Tiroly, (#215) of the 2024 Red Wings squad, was drafted to the San Diego Padres.

In the ninth round, two 2022 PGCBL veterans were drafted. Of the Niagara Power, Jayden Lobliner was drafted to the St. Louis Cardinals (#264). With the 273rd pick, Oklahoma State University and Albany ___ pitcher, Mario Pesca, was drafted to the Cleveland Guardians (#273). 

Five PGCBL vets were drafted in the tenth round, the highest number of players drafted in any round in PGCBL and Draft history. The first player, Luc Rising (#289), pitched for the Batavia Muckdogs just last season. At pick #298, the Giants selected Ian Korn, the Jamestown Tarp Skunks' right-handed pitcher from 2022. Five picks later at #303, Ryan Bilka, another Tarp Skunk, was selected by the Cleveland Guardians. Then, the New York Yankees selected Bayram Hot (#308), with two years and two teams-worth of PGCBL experience in Oneonta and Saugerties in 2023 and 2024. Rounding out the tenth for the PGCBL greats, the hometown Philadelphia Phillies selected Reece Moroney (#309), who played on last season's Stallions championship team.

Joining Williams and Veasey of Amsterdam, Adam Agresti of the 2023 Muckdogs was drafted to the Angels (#319), which would later select Long of the Mohawks to reunite the PGCBL pair.  

Former Utica Blue Sox player, Marcus Kruzan, was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 12th round (#371). 

The 16th round saw two vets selected: Darin Horn of the 2022 Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs (#465), drafted by the Chicago White Sox, and Dalton Harper of the 2024 and 2025 Niagara Falls Americans (#472), by the Atlanta Braves.

Rounding out all 18 Draft selections representing the PGCBL, catcher and former league champion (2024 Mohawks), Austin Fawley, was drafted by the Atlanta Braves (#562).