PHILADELPHIA — The Santa Clara University baseball team had two players drafted Sunday in the 2026 Major League Draft, with right-handed pitcher Max Bayles and shortstop Ben Cleary both being selected on day two of the event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
 
Bayles was chosen in the seventh round by the Minnesota Twins with the 197th overall pick. Cleary was picked in the 12th round by the Cleveland Guardians with the 363rd overall selection. The picks marked the second time in three years Santa Clara has had multiple players drafted. Infielder Robert Hipwell (6th round, San Francisco Giants) and right-handed pitcher Blake Hammond (15th round, Athletics) were both drafted in 2024.
 
Bayles had a breakout junior season in 2026, ranking second in the West Coast Conference with 104 strikeouts and a 2.54 ERA. He totaled 11 games with at least six strikeouts, including a season- and career-high-matching 12 on May 14 versus Pepperdine. The righty made 51 appearances (29 starts) in three years for the Broncos. He finished his career ranked No. 6 in career strikeouts at Santa Clara with 259 while limiting opponents to a .210 batting average in 180 innings. He was a three-time all-WCC honoree, capping his career with a first team nod this spring. He collected eight weekly WCC awards in his career, including six Pitcher of the Week accolades (3 in 2026).
 
Bayles has been on the national radar for some time. He was named to the Golden Spikes Award and NCBWA "Stopper of the Year" watch lists in 2025. This year, he was named a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation's National Pitcher of the Year award. That followed a busy summer in 2025 where he played in both the prestigious Cape Cod League and received an invite to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp.
 
Cleary has been an everyday starter in the Broncos' infield since he arrived on campus in 2024. He played in 149 games with 146 starts over three years, batting .308 with 30 doubles and 63 RBIs in his career. Cleary was also a three-time all-WCC honoree, earning second team recognition this spring. He had a career year in 2026, batting .358, slugging .500 and posting a .452 on-base percentage with 10 doubles, 30 RBIs, 39 runs scored and eight stolen bases. He also tallied 576 total putouts and assists in three years playing second base and shortstop.
 
Bayles' selection by Minnesota was the Twins' first pick of a Bronco since 1994 when they selected right-handed pitcher Tom Mott in the fourth round. Bayles joins the same franchise as current Major League Bronco Tommy Nance, who was traded to the Twins from the Blue Jays on Sunday. Cleary being picked by the Guardians was Cleveland's first time picking a Bronco since 2006 when it chose infielder Dustin Realini in the 28th round.