Carlon becomes first Arizona State's first-round pick since 2020

Pitchers Jaden Alba (left) and Cole Carlon (right) walk to the dugout before a game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Sunday, Apr. 26, 2026. (Echo From The Buttes/Andrew Hayslett)

Cole Carlon’s walk-up song is “Have a Nice Day” by Treaty Oak Revival. On Saturday, Carlon had a nice day as he was tuned into the MLB Draft.

The Toronto Blue Jays selected former Sun Devil Cole Carlon 39th overall in the 2026 MLB Draft. Carlon was the 4th lefty pitcher selected, and the 15th pitcher selected overall. 

Carlon is the highest a player has been drafted since 2020, when Spencer Torkelson and Alika Williams were picked first by the Tigers and 37th by the Tampa Bay Rays, respectively. He is the highest drafted pitcher out of Arizona State since Mike Leake in 2009. He is the first first-round draft selection under head coach Willie Bloomquist.

Carlon had a three-year career at Arizona State.

The Tempe native and Corona Del Sol graduate’s freshman season was nothing spectacular, appearing in 26 games (second most on the team) with a 7.53 ERA and 1.94 WHIP. The 40 and two-thirds innings Carlon threw were the most pitched by any freshman on the team.

Carlon appeared in a mixed-use role with a pair of starts in his first season as a Sun Devil, finishing with a 3-1 record (tied-third most wins on the team). He also recorded a pair of saves.

Carlon spent his summer playing ball in the Alaska Baseball League, where he won Most Outstanding Player, posting a 3.08 ERA and a .907 OPS as a two-way player. In his sophomore season, he broke out under new Arizona State pitching coach Jeremy Accardo.

Carlon became the Sun Devils closer, racking up a club-leading four saves while throwing a 3.33 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. He threw 54 innings and made a team-leading 29 appearances. In two consecutive outings in April, he threw four or more innings and collected a win in one and a save in the other, showcasing length.

Carlon’s strikeout rate rose to 14.3 per nine innings. Opposing hitters batted .167 against him. His whiff percentage of 41.9% was second-best among those with 500+ pitches in the regular season. 

Carlon was named to the Big 12 all-conference team in 2025. He also received NCWBA third-team All-American honors.

Carlon played for the Collegiate National Team for USA Baseball and spent a short stint in the Cape Cod Baseball League before his junior season. He moved into the Friday night starter role. Expectations were high for him, as he received Baseball America’s third Team Preseason All-American and Big 12 Preseason Team honors. 

Carlon lived up to those expectations and posted a 3.87 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. His 83 and two-thirds innings pitched were the most on the team, and he recorded a 5-2 record for the Sun Devils. 

Carlon reached triple digits in velocity in 2026. His strikeout rate rose to 14.3 per nine innings.

Carlon received several postseason awards, including his second time on the Big 12 all-conference first team. He also received third team All-American honors from D1 Baseball.

Carlon posted a 4.54 career ERA, with his last two seasons sitting at 3.66 ERA. His career WHIP is 1.318 in 178 and a third innings. His career strikeout rate is 12.8, as his fastball and slider are his two best pitches.

This is the second year Arizona State’s Friday night starter went on the first day of the MLB draft. Lefty Ben Jacobs was selected with the 98th overall pick (3rd round) by the Detroit Tigers.