Cubs Take New Mexico Prep Standout Dylan Blomker in Fifth Round of MLB Draft

The Chicago Cubs added a hard-throwing New Mexico high schooler to their farm system on the second day of the 2026 MLB Draft, selecting La Cueva High School right-hander Dylan Blomker with the 159th overall pick in the fifth round.

The slot value attached to the pick sits just above $441,000, a figure that typically serves as a rough benchmark for the eventual signing bonus. Blomker was one of just two prep players Chicago drafted this year, a class the club otherwise loaded with college arms.

A Dominant Senior Season

Blomker capped his high school career by being named the 2025-26 Gatorade New Mexico Baseball Player of the Year. Over 53 innings this past season, he went 8-1 with a sparkling 1.99 ERA and racked up 113 strikeouts, numbers that made him one of the most productive arms in the state and helped push him onto the radar of pro scouts and evaluators nationally.

The 18-year-old right-hander stands roughly 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, with a fastball that has touched the mid-90s and a slider considered his best secondary pitch. He had been committed to pitch collegiately at LSU, where he was rated among the top arms in a strong incoming class.

Turning Pro Instead of College

Despite that commitment, Blomker has confirmed he will bypass college baseball entirely and begin his professional career right away. He informed New Mexico’s KOB News that he intends to sign and start his pro career immediately rather than head to Baton Rouge this fall.

The decision reflects both the earning opportunity presented by an over-slot bonus and Blomker’s own belief that professional development offers his fastest path forward. He’s expected to report to Cubs minor league camp once his contract is finalized, giving Chicago a new project arm to develop as it continues restocking its pitching pipeline.

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