Bates Selected in 20th Round of 2026 MLB Draft by Los Angeles Dodgers
July 12, 2026 | Baseball
NEWS
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Left-handed pitcher Zach Bates was selected during the 2026 MLB Draft, picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 20th round (613th and final pick) on Sunday evening.
Bates has spent the last two seasons with the Fighting Illini after transferring in from Iowa Central Community College. In his first year with the program in 2025, Bates was an All-Big Ten Third Team honoree, leading the Illini with eight saves and posting a 2.83 ERA across 23 relief appearances. His seven saves during Big Ten play are tied for the third-most in a single season in program history.
Holding opponents to a .153 average in 2025, Bates accumulated 34 strikeouts in 28.2 innings of work.
Bates missed the entirety of the 2026 season with an injury.
He is the first Illini to be selected by the Dodgers since 2019, when Cyrillo Watson was drafted in the 23rd round.
