The MLB Draft rounds 1 through 4 took place on Saturday, July 11th, and Bearcats Catcher Jack Natili was drafted No. 76 overall in the Third Round by the Colorado Rockies. The Catcher with big-hitting upside hit 19 home runs this past spring and had three 3-HR games. Natili signed a $1.1 million contract Sunday night, becoming the first Rockies draft pick to sign. He signed for the exact slot value, which at No. 76 is $1,103,500.
Natili appeared in 57 games for the Bearcats in 2026, batting .323 and recording 67 hits on the season. He hit 19 home runs and batted in 54 runs. He had an on-base percentage of .424 and a slugging percentage of .674. His OPS was 1.098, and he was walked 29 times on the season. Those statistics earned Natili a spot on the All-Big 12 Second Team.
In the opening game for the Bearcats at the Starkville Regional, they took on the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Louisiana's pitcher that day was Cody Brausch, who came into that game with a 6-1 record and a 2.04 ERA. Natili had maybe the best game of his career that day, batting 4 for 5, with 3 home runs, one double, 5 RBIs, and 4 runs scored himself.
That was Natili's third three-home-run game of the season, with the other two coming against Utah on March 21st, a 20-10 win, and against No. 21 UCF on April 19th, a 11-9 win.
Natili will likely start his Rockies career with the ACL Rockies, while also making stops at the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies and the High-A Spokane Indians.
3rd-rder Jack Natili signs w/@Rockies for $1.1 million (slot 76 value = $1,103,500). @GoBearcatsBASE C, big power translated into three 3-HR games and 19 HR overall this spring, strong arm & leadership skills behind the plate. @MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/Txe7Yox2oa
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 20, 2026
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