The Minnesota Twins selected University of Utah right-handed pitcher Colter McAnelly on Sunday during the 2026 MLB Draft. McAnelly, a native of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was taken in the 18th round as the 527th overall pick.
This selection marks the 82nd draft pick in recorded Utah baseball history and is the second Utah player chosen in this year's draft, following outfielder Jake Long, who was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 13th round earlier on Sunday.
McAnelly is the fifth Utah selection by the Minnesota Twins all-time. The Twins previously selected Merit Jones in both the 2024 and 2025 drafts.
During his three seasons at Utah, McAnelly recorded 42 appearances and 37 starts. He holds a career record of 12-15 with a 4.99 ERA and 207 strikeouts, a total that ranks fourth all-time in Utah history.
As a junior in 2026, McAnelly made 13 starts, finishing with a 3-7 record across 67.1 innings pitched. Notable performances included a victory in the first game played at America First Ballpark, where he pitched six innings of a combined shutout against Grand Canyon.
In 2025, McAnelly earned first-team All-Big 12 honors as a sophomore. During that season, he posted a 3.79 ERA over 92.2 innings pitched and led the Big 12 in innings pitched.
His 92 strikeouts during the 2025 regular season ranked fifth in the Big 12 and represented the most by a Utah pitcher since 2016. D1
Baseball.com also ranked him as the 47th-ranked starting pitcher on their late-season national awards list.
Before joining the University of Utah, McAnelly attended Cheyenne East High School. He was ranked by Perfect Game as the number one player in Wyoming for the Class of 2023.
