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Graphic announcing Mesa Community College baseball alumnus Eric Nachtsheim being selected by the San Francisco Giants in the sixth round of the 2026 MLB Draft with the 179th overall pick. Nachtsheim stands in a red Mesa uniform on the left, while the right side features large
Graphic announcing Mesa Community College baseball alumnus Eric Nachtsheim being selected by the San Francisco Giants in the sixth round of the 2026 MLB Draft with the 179th overall pick. Nachtsheim stands in a red Mesa uniform on the left, while the right side features large
Posted: Jul 13, 2026

FORMER THUNDERBIRD BASEBALL STANDOUT ERIC NACHTSHEIM DRAFTED BY THE GIANTS IN 2026 MLB DRAFT

Former Mesa Community College pitcher Eric Nachtsheim has been selected by the San Francisco Giants with the 179th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft.

Nachtsheim becomes the latest Thunderbird baseball alumnus to begin a professional career after developing into one of the nation's top pitching prospects during his collegiate career at Mesa Community College and McNeese State.

After going undrafted out of high school in Nevada and again following two seasons at Mesa Community College and his first year at McNeese State, Nachtsheim emerged as one of the top senior pitching prospects in the 2026 MLB Draft.

His breakout senior season at McNeese earned national recognition. Nachtsheim was named a Baseball America Second Team All-American and a Perfect Game Second Team All-American while also collecting ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team honors. He was selected First Team All-Southland Conference and was named the Southland Conference Relief Pitcher of the Year.

Despite moving between the starting rotation and the bullpen throughout the season, Nachtsheim delivered one of the nation's most dominant pitching campaigns. He finished 8-4 with three saves and a 3.39 ERA across 20 appearances, including nine starts. He struck out a school-record 129 batters in 93.0 innings, leading the Southland Conference and ranking eighth nationally while posting a 1.10 WHIP and holding opponents to a .227 batting average.

His fastball proved to be one of the most effective pitches in college baseball, generating an NCAA Division I-leading 98 strikeouts. Nachtsheim closed the season in dominant fashion, allowing just eight earned runs over his final five starts.

One of his signature performances came on March 6 when he tossed a complete-game victory over HCU, striking out 16 batters without issuing a walk.

Before his standout career at McNeese, Nachtsheim established himself as one of Region I's top pitchers during two seasons at Mesa Community College.

As a sophomore in 2024, he earned First Team All-ACCAC and First Team All-Region I honors after compiling a 6-3 record with a 2.64 ERA, the fifth-best mark in the conference. He made 16 appearances, threw 71.2 innings and struck out 83 batters, the third-highest total in the ACCAC.

Over his two-year Thunderbird career from 2022-24, Nachtsheim posted a 7-4 record with a 3.72 ERA while recording 109 strikeouts in 116.0 innings pitched. He also finished with a 1.42 WHIP and averaged 8.49 strikeouts per nine innings.