Vanderbilt baseball signee Keon Johnson to Astros in 2026 MLB Draft

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Keon Johnson, a Vanderbilt baseball recruit, was selected in the third round in the 2026 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros on July 11.

Johnson is expected to sign and begin his professional career rather than play for the Commodores.

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The No. 42 player in the 2026 class by Perfect Game and the No. 119 player in the draft by MLB Pipeline, Johnson is seen as a polished performer who doesn’t have a carrying tool. A high school shortstop at First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, Georgia, Johnson may ultimately end up at third base in the long term.

Johnson has been committed to Vanderbilt since November 2024, at which point he was considered a top-10 player in the class. He was always seen as a draft risk, though his stock dropped some after that point.

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt baseball signee Keon Johnson to Astros in 2026 MLB Draft