Former River Monsters Champion Ruger Riojas Selected by Phillies in 2026 MLB Draft

The River Monsters family has another reason to celebrate.

Former Seguin River Monsters right-handed pitcher Ruger Riojas was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday with the 100th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft.

Riojas, who went on to pitch for the University of Texas after beginning his college career at UTSA, continued to grow into one of the top arms in college baseball. As a senior in 2026, he recorded a 3.97 ERA, struck out 120 batters and worked 81 2/3 innings for the Longhorns.

Before his rise at Texas, Riojas was part of a special chapter in River Monsters history.

In 2023, Riojas suited up for the Seguin River Monsters during the same summer the organization captured the Texas Collegiate League Championship. At just 19 years old, he became a key arm for the River Monsters pitching staff and showed the talent, toughness and command that would later help carry him to the MLB Draft.

During the 2023 TCL season, Riojas appeared in 19 games for the River Monsters, making two starts and finishing with a 1-1 record. He posted an impressive 1.27 ERA across 35 1/3 innings, allowing just 25 hits, seven runs and five earned runs.

Riojas also struck out 41 batters while walking only 10, finishing the summer with a 0.99 WHIP and five saves. His numbers reflected the kind of dominance that helped fuel a championship-caliber pitching staff: 10.44 strikeouts per nine innings, 2.55 walks per nine innings and a strong 4.10 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

His time with the River Monsters was an early glimpse of what was to come.

After his summer in Seguin, Riojas continued his development at the college level, eventually transferring to Texas and working under pitching coach Max Weiner. He arrived as a reliever before earning his way into the starting rotation and becoming a major piece of the Longhorns’ staff.

Riojas’ arsenal helped separate him from other arms in the draft class. His fastball has been reported to reach 98 miles per hour, and he pairs it with a deep off-speed mix that includes a splitter, cutter, slider and curveball.

His final performance as a Longhorn was another reminder of his big-game ability. Facing elimination at the College World Series, Riojas struck out seven batters and held Alabama to two runs over six innings.

For the River Monsters, Riojas’ selection is more than a draft-day headline. It is another example of what summer collegiate baseball can help build — development, opportunity, and a path forward for players chasing the next level.

From a 2023 TCL Championship season with the River Monsters to hearing his name called by the Philadelphia Phillies, Ruger Riojas’ journey is one the entire River Monsters organization is proud to celebrate.