Yankees secure Dietz and Harrison as 2026 draft class takes shape
With the signing deadline for most draftees set for 27 July 2026, the New York Yankees have finalised agreements with first-round selection Hunter Dietz and fifth-round pick Bear Harrison, while several other prospects are expected to follow suit.
The New York Yankees have advanced significantly in their 2026 Major League Baseball Draft class, securing agreements with key selections as the organisation looks to consolidate its talent pool ahead of the upcoming signing deadline. The draft, which commenced with the Chicago White Sox selecting UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky first overall, saw the Yankees make their first selection with Arkansas left-hander Hunter Dietz in the first round.
As of mid-July 2026, the Yankees have confirmed that Dietz has signed for $2,497,500. This figure sits $329,200 under the assigned slot value, a strategic move that allows the organisation to distribute the surplus bonus funds to other prospects within the class. The signing was confirmed by Yankees vice president of scouting Damon Oppenheimer on 13 July, marking one of the earliest completions for the club.
Further down the draft board, fifth-round pick Bear Harrison has also finalised his deal, signing for the full slot value of $437,200. Harrison’s agreement, reported by MLB.com’s Jim Callis on 16 July, follows university statements confirming his transition to professional baseball. The club has also seen ninth-round pick David Leslie sign for $37,500, a figure $166,000 under slot, providing additional flexibility for the bonus pool.
Several other draftees are expected or confirmed to sign, reflecting a cohesive approach to the class. Second-round pick Sean Duncan, a Vanderbilt commit, is expected to sign, while fourth-round selection Paul Gutierrez-Contreras II and fifth-round pick Bear Harrison were tagged as certain signings based on university announcements. Sixth-round pick Andrew Gonzalez has also signed, forgoing a commitment to Texas Tech, and 13th-round pick Lee Garris has confirmed his agreement after forgoing his commitment to James Madison University.
The signing window for most players in the draft closes at 5:00 PM ET on 27 July 2026. While teams are allotted $150,000 per pick for selections in Rounds 11 through 20, which does not count toward the total bonus pool, the Yankees appear to be utilising their surplus funds to secure the remaining members of their 32-player class. Other players such as William Cutshall and Jason Krieger have also confirmed their signings, with the organisation moving to finalise the remainder of the group before the deadline.
