Rangers Draft Brody Bumila Despite New UCL Tear
A fresh UCL tear that could require Tommy John surgery may delay his pro debut, leaving him to weigh signing with Texas or enrolling at the University of Texas.
Overview
- The Texas Rangers chose 6-foot-9 left-hander Brody Bumila with the 89th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft despite his recent elbow setback.
- Bumila shared an MRI with teams showing a new injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in his left arm after an internal-brace procedure in 2025, and he may need Tommy John surgery that could sideline him for more than a year.
- He finished his senior season with overpowering numbers—5-0 record, 96 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings, and a single-game school record 20 strikeouts—and earned MaxPreps national and Gatorade Massachusetts player honors.
- The Rangers say they will work on his rehab and development if he signs, but Bumila can still opt to honor his 2024 commitment to the University of Texas, which would put him out of the draft until after his 21st birthday.
- The pick reflects Texas’s willingness to invest in high-upside, injured prospects and adds to a string of early summer draft selections from Massachusetts while testing the Rangers’ lower-ranked farm system to manage long-term recovery and development.