Mizzou to the Majors: McDevitt, Durnin Drafted in Fourth Round of MLB Draft

· Yahoo Sports

Missouri baseball continues to prove it belongs under the brightest lights. The Tigers showcased their elite talent in the fourth round of the 2026 MLB Draft, as two of the program’s best got snatched up by the big leagues.

Clutch right-handed pitcher Josh McDevitt was the first Tiger off the board, going 116th overall to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Moments later, the Houston Astros kept Mizzou’s momentum rolling by capturing shortstop Kam Durnin with the 121st overall pick. These selections are sure to solidify both players’ status as cornerstones for the program and a huge victory on the Tigers’ recruiting side at the national stage.

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The Pitching Weapon: Josh McDevitt

After spending three seasons with the Tigers developing his craft, the right-handed ace took his game to a whole other level during his final season in Columbia. Serving as the anchor of the rotation, McDevitt racked up a career-high 102 strikeouts over 79.1 innings across 15 starts.

Alongside this, he etched his name into the schools record books, cementing the 11th-most strikeouts in a single season in program history. In doing so, he teamed up with Brady Kehlenbrink to become the first pair of Mizzou teammates to each strikeout 100-plus batters in a season.

During his 2026 campaign, he tossed five innings to secure a massive SEC series victory over Vanderbilt, while also anchoring a critical road series win against Kentucky. He also recorded a dominant seven-strikeout performance to help lead the Tigers in their conference win over Arkansas. To cap off his campaign, McDevitt helped the Tigers earn their first SEC Tournament win since 2017 against Ole Miss.

Arizona is getting a battle-tested arm who knows how to dominate under immense pressure and tough SEC play.

The Offensive Star: Kam Durnin

A huge powerhouse transfer from Wichita State, Durnin overcame an early-season injury to start 43 games at shortstop and lead Mizzou in nearly every major offensive category.

Last season, he posted a team-leading .329 batting average, a .570 slugging percentage, a .438 on-base percentage and a stellar OPS of 1.008. From sparking a memorable 11-run comeback against UIC with a 415-foot blast to hitting two home runs against No.5 Georgia, Durnin continuously weaponized his power against the toughest of competition. He saved his best for last, hitting a major .425 over his final 10 games and reached base seven times in nine postseason plate appearances to lead Mizzou in their SEC Tournament victory.

With his selection, Durnin officially becomes the third active Mizzou product currently inside the Astros organization. He heads to the professional ranks to reunite with former 2024 Tiger standouts Bryce Mayer and Trevor Austin.

Houston has quickly transformed into a home away from home for elite Tiger talent, but there is not doubt that Durnin’s presence at shortstop and his team-leading bat will be sorely missed at Taylor Stadium.

Takeaways

Losing two foundational pillars such as McDevitt and Durnin leaves massive holes to fill on the diamond and up to bat next spring. However, seeing both talents developed into top-125 MLB Draft picks provides the Mizzou coaching staff with something to look forward to on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal.

Alongside this, head coach Kerrick Jackson has already proven he is not wasting any time reloading the roster. The Tigers, ranked 19th nationally in the transfer portal ratings, have been active in the portal, successfully locking down players to combat the draft departures.

Click here to read our full Mizzou baseball transfer portal tracker and meet all the new additions joining the Tigers.

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