BSB | Four Gaels Taken in 2026 MLB Draft
7/13/2026 10:44:00 AM | Baseball
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Saint Mary's baseball program had four student-athletes selected in the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday, tying the program record for most draft picks in a single draft and the most since 2018. Position players Tanner Griffith, Diego Castellanos and Jacob Johnson as well as senior ace John Damozonio heard their names called on Sunday, giving worthy recognition to one of the best mid-major programs in the country.
Tanner Griffith was first off the board for the Gaels, taken in the eleventh round as the 329th pick to the Kansas City Royals. The Livermore native was the team's everyday center fielder and, after three years in Moraga, Griffith broke out for a career campaign in 2026. Griffith was widely known as one of the best leadoff hitters in the West Coast Conference, leading the league in on-base percentage (.477), walks (45) and stolen bases (18). He was named to the All-WCC Second Team and became the highest draft pick since Chris Campos was taken in the seventh round in the 2022 draft.
Following Griffith was right fielder Diego Castellanos who ended the 2026 season as one of the best hitters in the country. Castellanos set the WCC and program record with a 39-game hit streak that lasted from March 24 all the way through the NCAA Los Angeles Regional. Like many Gaels, Castellanos also had a breakout season in 2026, leading the team with a .382 batting average and being named to the All-WCC First Team. Castellanos and teammate Makoa Sniffen became the first 90-hit players in program history, contributing to an offense that ranked third in all of Division I with a .327 batting average. The junior outfielder was named to the All-WCC First Team and was one of a program record four players named to an ABCA All-West Region Team. Castellanos was officially taken in the 14th round as the 428th pick to the New York Yankees.
Saint Mary's may have made headlines at the plate as one of the best offenses in the country, but they were led by senior ace John Damozonio on the mound. Damozonio was a four-year Gael dating back to 2022 and had himself a career season with a team high seven wins and a 2.70 ERA. Damozonio recorded a career high 87 strikeouts and reached double-digit strikeouts twice this season including a career high eleven strikeouts in a 11-4 victory over Pacific. Damozonio put the country on notice with a herculean seven inning performance against No. 1 UCLA in the NCAA Regional opener. He held the Bruins to two runs off five hits as Saint Mary's went on to win 3-2, becoming the first four-seed in NCAA Tournament history to defeat the number one overall seed in the regional opener. Damozonio played his way into a draft pick with a stellar senior season as he will take his talents to the Atlanta Braves, taken in the 17th round as the 502nd pick in the draft on Sunday.
Lastly for Saint Mary's was another postseason star in designated hitter Jacob Johnson. Johnson was just two picks later than Damozonio, taken by the St. Louis Cardinals as the 504th pick in the 17th round. Johnson was a pleasant surprise for the Gaels in 2026, transferring in from Cuesta Junior College. He finished second in the WCC with 15 home runs while maintaining a .338 batting average over his 58 games played. Johnson took the nation by storm as he belted three home runs in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional including two long balls in the regional opener against No. 1 UCLA. The Danville native homered to right field in the top of the ninth inning to put the Gaels ahead 3-2, contributing to one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history. He went on to be named to the All-Regional team and also became just the third ABCA All-American in program history, earning Second Team All-America honors as announced in June.
Gaels head coach Eric Valenzuela continues to add to an impressive reputation, helping Saint Mary's to its second consecutive NCAA Regional and the program's first ever regional final after knocking off No. 1 UCLA not once, but twice in the Los Angeles Regional back in May. Valenzuela's four draft picks on Sunday tied the program record and was the most since 2018. Over Valenzuela's nine seasons in Moraga, he has accumulated 23 total draft picks including notable selections such as Corbin Burnes and Tony Gonsolin back in 2016.
Additional information on Saint Mary's draft history can be found HERE or at smcgaels.com.
Jr. | OF | Tanner Griffith: Round 11, Pick 329 (Kansas City Royals)
Jr. | OF | Diego Castellanos: Round 14, Pick 428 (New York Yankees)
Sr. | RHP | John Damozonio: Round 17, Pick 502 (Atlanta Braves)
R-So. | OF/DH | Jacob Johnson: Round 17, Pick 504 (St. Louis Cardinals)
The complete list of draft picks from the 2026 MLB Draft can be found HERE or at mlb.com.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Tanner Griffith was first off the board for the Gaels, taken in the eleventh round as the 329th pick to the Kansas City Royals. The Livermore native was the team's everyday center fielder and, after three years in Moraga, Griffith broke out for a career campaign in 2026. Griffith was widely known as one of the best leadoff hitters in the West Coast Conference, leading the league in on-base percentage (.477), walks (45) and stolen bases (18). He was named to the All-WCC Second Team and became the highest draft pick since Chris Campos was taken in the seventh round in the 2022 draft.
Following Griffith was right fielder Diego Castellanos who ended the 2026 season as one of the best hitters in the country. Castellanos set the WCC and program record with a 39-game hit streak that lasted from March 24 all the way through the NCAA Los Angeles Regional. Like many Gaels, Castellanos also had a breakout season in 2026, leading the team with a .382 batting average and being named to the All-WCC First Team. Castellanos and teammate Makoa Sniffen became the first 90-hit players in program history, contributing to an offense that ranked third in all of Division I with a .327 batting average. The junior outfielder was named to the All-WCC First Team and was one of a program record four players named to an ABCA All-West Region Team. Castellanos was officially taken in the 14th round as the 428th pick to the New York Yankees.
Saint Mary's may have made headlines at the plate as one of the best offenses in the country, but they were led by senior ace John Damozonio on the mound. Damozonio was a four-year Gael dating back to 2022 and had himself a career season with a team high seven wins and a 2.70 ERA. Damozonio recorded a career high 87 strikeouts and reached double-digit strikeouts twice this season including a career high eleven strikeouts in a 11-4 victory over Pacific. Damozonio put the country on notice with a herculean seven inning performance against No. 1 UCLA in the NCAA Regional opener. He held the Bruins to two runs off five hits as Saint Mary's went on to win 3-2, becoming the first four-seed in NCAA Tournament history to defeat the number one overall seed in the regional opener. Damozonio played his way into a draft pick with a stellar senior season as he will take his talents to the Atlanta Braves, taken in the 17th round as the 502nd pick in the draft on Sunday.
Lastly for Saint Mary's was another postseason star in designated hitter Jacob Johnson. Johnson was just two picks later than Damozonio, taken by the St. Louis Cardinals as the 504th pick in the 17th round. Johnson was a pleasant surprise for the Gaels in 2026, transferring in from Cuesta Junior College. He finished second in the WCC with 15 home runs while maintaining a .338 batting average over his 58 games played. Johnson took the nation by storm as he belted three home runs in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional including two long balls in the regional opener against No. 1 UCLA. The Danville native homered to right field in the top of the ninth inning to put the Gaels ahead 3-2, contributing to one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history. He went on to be named to the All-Regional team and also became just the third ABCA All-American in program history, earning Second Team All-America honors as announced in June.
I'm super proud of this group of guys and everything they've accomplished", said Valenzuela. "Not only are they great players but even better people that come from great families. We wish them luck on their journeys to the major leagues and thank them for their contributions to our program! (Valenzuela).
Gaels head coach Eric Valenzuela continues to add to an impressive reputation, helping Saint Mary's to its second consecutive NCAA Regional and the program's first ever regional final after knocking off No. 1 UCLA not once, but twice in the Los Angeles Regional back in May. Valenzuela's four draft picks on Sunday tied the program record and was the most since 2018. Over Valenzuela's nine seasons in Moraga, he has accumulated 23 total draft picks including notable selections such as Corbin Burnes and Tony Gonsolin back in 2016.
Additional information on Saint Mary's draft history can be found HERE or at smcgaels.com.
Jr. | OF | Tanner Griffith: Round 11, Pick 329 (Kansas City Royals)
Jr. | OF | Diego Castellanos: Round 14, Pick 428 (New York Yankees)
Sr. | RHP | John Damozonio: Round 17, Pick 502 (Atlanta Braves)
R-So. | OF/DH | Jacob Johnson: Round 17, Pick 504 (St. Louis Cardinals)
The complete list of draft picks from the 2026 MLB Draft can be found HERE or at mlb.com.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
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