Mariners Take Mississippi State Slugger Ace Reese With 24th Pick
The club sees Reese as a near-ready, high-floor power bat that reportedly signed for an underslot bonus freeing money for other draft moves.
Overview
- Ace Reese was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the 24th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday.
- Multiple outlets report Reese and the Mariners agreed to an underslot signing worth $3.5 million, which is below the No. 24 slot value and can be reallocated to other picks.
- Reese finished the 2026 season as a D1Baseball Second-team All-American after hitting .336 with a career-high 24 home runs and 74 RBI for Mississippi State.
- Scouts and team officials describe him as a bat-first, left-handed power hitter with a high floor, but they have lingering questions about his long-term defense after he played only third base in college.
- The pick fits a clear Mariners Day One strategy of favoring experienced college players this year and the reported underslot deal gives Seattle flexibility to pursue additional targets in later rounds.