Former Nighthawk Jack Spanier Selected by Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026 MLB Draft
The University of Minnesota shortstop spent the 2025 season with the Nighthawks.
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected former Upper Valley Nighthawks shortstop Jack Spanier in the 13th round, 386th overall, of the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday.
The 22-year-old, who spent three seasons at the University of Minnesota, slashed .291/.428/.487 with a .915 OPS for the Golden Gophers en route to being named a Brooks Wallace Award semifinalist.
In 22 contests for the Nighthawks before getting injured last summer, the St. Cloud, Minnesota native posted a solid slash line of .264/.449 /.333, notching five extra-base hits and going 17-for-18 on stolen base attempts.
Spanier’s Golden Gophers teammate, catcher Weber Neels, was also selected by the Diamondbacks in the 19th round, 566th overall. Minnesota saw a program-record eight players selected by the end of Day Two.
Spanier was the second middle infielder selected by the Diamondbacks after Arizona drafted Georgia Tech shortstop Carson Kerce in the second round.