Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photos: UVA Athletics

Virginia juniors AJ Gracia and Eric Becker were both selected on the first day of the 2026 MLB Draft. Gracia, an outfielder, was picked ninth overall by the Atlanta Braves in the first round, while Becker was taken 58th overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round.

Gracia is the 17th Cavalier to be selected in the first round all-time and the first to go in the top 10 since Pavin Smith and Adam Haseley went eighth and ninth overall in 2017.

The three-time All-American, Gracia batted .354 (75 for 212) with 14 home runs and 48 RBI during his only season on Grounds. The junior led the Cavaliers in batting average, slugging percentage (.632), on-base percentage (.489) and runs (64).

The outfielder also paced the UVA offense with a team-best 24 multi-hit games and 18 multi-run contests. To go along with his All-American accolades, Gracia earned second team All-ACC honors and was a member of the 2025 USA Baseball National Collegiate Team.

If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

A three-year starter for Virginia, Becker will leave Grounds owning a career batting average of .348 (177 for 508) with 24 home runs, 46 doubles and 140 RBI in 141 games played. The shortstop was hit by 40 pitches over the course of his career, which is the second-most in program history. He was also named to the third-team All-ACC twice and was a member of the 2025 USA Baseball National Collegiate Team.

The MLB Draft concludes on Sunday with rounds 5 through 20. The remaining portion of the draft will be broadcast on MLB.com with coverage starting at 11:30 a.m. ET.

If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

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Pollard Lands Top 100 Prospect From The 2027 Recruiting Class

By Jerry Ratcliffe Chris Pollard has continued to build the future of Virginia baseball by landing one of the top prospects in the nation from the 2027 recruiting class. To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!