IRVINE, Calif – There’s nothing quite like hearing your name called in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft. For one former Orange County Riptide third baseman, that moment represented more than a lifelong dream — it marked the beginning of a new chapter that could reshape the trajectory of his career.
Ace Reese, a 21-year-old infielder from Mississippi State, was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the No. 24 overall selection in the 2026 MLB draft Saturday afternoon.
Congratulations to @OCRiptide Alum Ace Reese on being drafted by the @Mariners! #CCL2026 | #MLBDraft2026 pic.twitter.com/VLlMbj8NSn
— California Collegiate League (@CCL_Baseball) July 11, 2026
MLB Pipeline ranked Reese as the No. 18 overall prospect in this year’s draft and claimed the top spot among third basemen. Reese is the top player selected from a Mississippi State program that had seven players drafted in 2025 and joins a talented group of Major Leaguers, including A’s designated hitter Brent Rooker and Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff.
The newest Mariner played with the Riptide in 2024 as a 19-year-old coming off his freshman season at the University of Houston, where the third baseman slashed .278/.395/.506 in 48 games for the Cougars.
In his lone season with Orange County, the 6-foot-4, 220 pound Reese posted a .446 on-base percentage and .969 OPS with 22 RBIs in 23 games. The 21-year-old led the Riptide in most major offensive categories, including a .369 average which ranked fourth in the California Collegiate League. Riptide first base coach Andrew Ramos, who has been with the club for five seasons, witnessed his unwavering talent in person two years ago.
“He probably had one of the better summers then I think a lot of guys have had,” Ramos said. “He was fun to watch.”
Following the 2024 summer season, Reese entered the portal and transferred to Mississippi State, playing two seasons with the Bulldogs before being selected by Seattle. As a sophomore in 2025, Reese earned Southeastern Conference newcomer of the year honors after batting .352/.422/.718 with 21 homers while dealing with a significant toe injury.
In 62 games this season, Reese clubbed 24 home runs and 74 RBIs while owning a stellar 1.152 OPS. His outstanding junior season earned him a unanimous first team All-American selection by Baseball America. The explosive pop in his bat impressed Seattle’s front office enough to make him the team’s top selection in Saturday’s draft.
“What we feel is one of the best pure college power bats in this Draft,” Scott Hunter, Mariners vice president of amateur scouting told MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer.
The power in the big lefty’s bat helped etch his name into OC Riptide history. Reese became the first Riptide alumnus selected in the first round and is set to become the sixth player in franchise history to reach the major leagues — joining Caleb Kilian, Dominic Fletcher, Trey Lipscomb, Hunter Bigge and current Mets’ first baseman Eric Wagaman.
Wagaman, who hit sixth for New York in Saturday’s game against Boston, became the fifth player to join the list after debuting with the Los Angeles Angels in September 2024.
The slugger should slot nicely into Seattle’s farm system and could quickly make his way through the minors with former top ten prospect Colt Emerson possibly moving over to shortstop with JP Crawford’s five-year contract expiring at the end of the 2026 season.
“They (Seattle) are going to get an offensive machine,” Ramos said. “He’s a spark plug.”
Saturday’s selection signifies the value the third baseman possessed within the Seattle organization along with evaluators around the league and could prove to be a vital piece to the future success of the reigning American League West champions.
MLB.com Scouting Grade- Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 55
