NEW YORK – A pair of Panthers were selected in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday afternoon as Dominic Kibler and Dylan O'Connell both were tabbed as the most recent draftees from the Milwaukee baseball program.
 
Kibler was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 12th round as the 352nd overall pick, while O'Connell was selected in the 15th round with the 441st overall pick.
 
This is the sixth time in program history that Milwaukee has had multiple selections in a single MLB draft and first since 2019. The duo also becomes Milwaukee's first draft selections since the 2024 MLB Draft, when Owen Rice was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 20th round.
 
Kibler became the 27th player in program history to be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, while O'Connell followed later in the afternoon as the 28th draft pick in program history.
 
Kibler, a catcher, and O'Connell, an outfielder, become the first Panther position players selected since Trevor Schwecke was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 13th round in 2019. Schwecke was the second Panther drafted following pitcher Jake Sommers being selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 10th round.
 
In his lone season with the Panthers, Kibler earned ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team honors after being named a First Team All-Horizon selection. In 60 games, he was tied for the team lead with 60 RBIs while collecting 61 hits, including 13 doubles and 11 home runs. He also scored 47 runs and was third on the team with a .988 OPS.
 
"What an exciting moment for Dominic," said head coach Shaun Wegner. "He came back home to Milwaukee with two goals in mind: to help the Panthers reclaim the Horizon League Championship and to individually accomplish his dream of playing professional baseball."
 
"Because of his high level of motivation and drive, today he realized his second goal after playing a key role in helping our team reach the NCAA Regional championship game," added Wegner. "I can't thank Dominic enough for the impact he made on me as a coach and on our program. I look forward to watching him compete as a member of the Braves organization."
 
Kibler is the second Panther to be selected by the Braves and first since pitcher Riley Frey was selected in the 19th round in 2023. Frey is currently at High-A Rome, where he owns a 3.18 ERA over 22 relief appearances for the Emperors this season.
 
O'Connell enjoyed a record-setting season with Milwaukee, establishing the program's single-season record with 41 stolen bases. In 58 games, he led the team with 72 hits, including a team-best 19 doubles, while adding eight home runs and 46 RBIs. He also tied for the team lead with 60 runs scored, hit a team-best .340 and finished second on the squad with a .998 OPS. Following the season, he was a member of both the Horizon All-League First Team as well as an All-Tournament Team selection.
 
"Dylan came here eager to play and compete at a high level," said Wegner. "He is as physically gifted as anyone we have had in a long time, and those tools showed themselves quickly. His speed was a cheat code at times this season, and he set school records while helping our program reach heights never seen before. I'm excited to see what he can do in professional baseball with the Athletics Organization."
 
O'Connell is just the second Panther taken by the Athletics organization and first since 2017, when pitcher Adam Reuss was chosen in the 29th round.
 
The Panthers have had two players reach the Major League level, and both are currently active. Daulton Varsho, selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2017 draft, is now a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. AJ Blubaugh, who was drafted by Houston in 2022, remains in the Astros organization.