Another standout pitcher from the College of Central Florida is heading to the professional ranks after being selected during the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft.
Right-handed pitcher Lance Hartley was chosen by the Kansas City Royals with the 359th overall pick during the 12th round of the draft on Sunday, July 12.
The selection follows a stellar sophomore season with the Ocala-based Patriots, where the 6-foot-5, 228-pound athlete proved to be a dominant force on the mound.
During his recent campaign with the College of Central Florida, Hartley made five appearances, including four starts, compiling a perfect 2-0 record and a sharp 3.38 ERA. He showcased exceptional power and command over 16 innings of work, racking up 22 strikeouts while maintaining a low 0.88 “Walks and Hits Per Inning” (WHIP).
Hartley, a native of Cameron, West Virginia, who previously attended Cameron High School and Potomac State, is currently maintaining his rhythm this summer in the Appalachian League as a member of the Burlington Sock Puppets.
Hartley’s selection continues a proud recent tradition of Major League franchises tapping into the elite talent cultivated at the Ocala college.
During the 2025 MLB Draft, two of Hartley’s former Patriots teammates were also selected to play at the professional level.
Joey Wimpelberg was chosen in the 17th round with the 519th pick by the Detroit Tigers, while right-hander Cory Geinzer was selected with the 565th pick in the 19th round by the Texas Rangers.
That same draft cycle also saw Ocala native and Forest High School alumnus Kolten Smith, who completed a collegiate run at the University of Georgia, taken in the 12th round by the Minnesota Twins.
With Hartley now taking the next major step in his baseball career, the College of Central Florida Patriots program adds another prominent name to its growing lineage of professional prospects.
Leave your words of encouragement for Lance Hartley in the comments below or a letter to the editor as he prepares to begin his journey into professional baseball with the Kansas City Royals organization.