Burns Eighth Round Pick Adds to Texas MLB Draft Class

From Austin, where the University of Texas continues to stack MLB Draft picks, Burns added his name to the board with an eighth-round selection in the 2026 MLB Draft. For Houston-area college baseball followers and Longhorn alumni, the pick adds another marker for a Texas program that keeps feeding professional baseball.

The University of Texas announced that Burns was taken in the eighth round of the 2026 MLB Draft. The school’s report focused on the selection itself, extending the latest draft run for the Longhorns and putting Burns into the next phase of his baseball career.

Burns joins the 2026 MLB Draft board

An eighth-round pick is still a strong pro opportunity. MLB organizations use those middle rounds to target players they believe can move through a system with polish, pitchability, and room to develop. Burns now becomes part of that group, with pro instruction and a contract decision next on the calendar.

Texas has built its identity around sending players to pro ball, so each draft call carries weight beyond one roster spot. Burns’ selection reflects the reach of the Longhorns staff and the visibility that comes with pitching in a major college program. For players in the state, that pipeline still matters.

Why the pick matters for Texas baseball

College baseball in Texas draws strong attention across the state, including in Houston, where fans track the Longhorns, Aggies, Cougars, Owls, and other programs through spring and draft season. An eighth-round selection may not draw the same headlines as a first-rounder, but it still represents years of development paying off on draft day.

For the University of Texas, every draft pick helps reinforce the program’s standing in recruiting and roster building. High school players and transfer prospects notice who gets drafted, and they notice how often it happens. Burns now becomes part of that recruiting pitch.

The next concrete step is Burns’ move into the professional system that drafted him, where signing details and his first assignment should follow after the draft process wraps. Texas, in turn, will continue tracking its 2026 draft class as players begin their minor league careers.

This article is a summary of reporting by University of Texas Athletics. Read the full story here.