Trio of Former Drags Hear Their Names Called in 2026 MLB Draft

PARIS, Texas — Three former Paris Junior College baseball players heard their names called during the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft as Caleb Jameson, Connor Kelley, and Greyson Chappel became the latest Dragons to continue their baseball careers at the professional level.

Jameson was selected in the 12th Round with the 356th overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Kelley was selected in the 14th Round with the 432nd overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays, and Chappel was selected in the 18th Round with the 529th overall pick by the Los Angeles Angels.

The selections continue a growing tradition of professional baseball success for Paris Junior College Baseball and further strengthen the program's reputation as one of the premier developmental stops in junior college baseball.

Jameson and Kelley formed one of the top pitching tandems in Region XIV during the Dragons' 2023 Regional Championship season. The duo helped lead PJC to a Region XIV Championship, a Super Regional appearance, and a Top-20 finish in the final national rankings.

The pair combined for 118 innings, 142 strikeouts, and 11 victories during the 2023 campaign while posting nearly identical ERAs. Kelley threw 61 innings while allowing just 55 hits and striking out 73 batters en route to a 3.92 ERA. Jameson tossed 57 innings, allowing only 55 hits while striking out 69 hitters and finishing with a 3.93 ERA.

Following his time in Paris, Kelley transferred to UTSA where he became a major contributor on the Roadrunners' 2025 Super Regional team before developing into the program's top arm and earning All-Conference honors in 2025 prior to being selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 14th Round.

Jameson returned to Paris for the 2024 season before continuing his collegiate career at Baylor and ultimately finishing at Georgia. Prior to an injury that cut short his 2024 season with the Dragons, Jameson was putting together an All-American caliber campaign, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.58 ERA while allowing just 11 hits and striking out 26 batters in 17 innings pitched.

At Georgia, Jameson appeared in 17 games during the 2026 season for a Bulldogs club that captured both the SEC Regular Season Championship and SEC Tournament Championship while advancing to the College World Series in Omaha before being selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 12th Round.

Kelley and Jameson now join Barrett Riebock, Dylan Crooks, and Austin Testerman to bring the total number of professional players from Paris Junior College's 2023 Regional Championship team to five.

Chappel spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Dragons before transferring to the University of Central Missouri for his final collegiate season.

During his two seasons in Paris, Chappel made 19 appearances out of the bullpen before emerging as one of Division II baseball's top pitchers in 2026.

Chappel made 14 appearances, including 13 starts, posting a 2.72 ERA across 46.1 innings while allowing just 28 hits and striking out 57 batters. Opponents hit just .179 against him as he earned First Team All-MIAA honors and ABCA/Rawlings All-Region recognition while helping lead Central Missouri to the Division II College World Series before being selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 18th Round with the 529th overall pick.

"We know that PJC is just a stopping point along the way for our players. Our goal is to lay the best foundation possible for our guys to build upon when they move on and to be ready to be major contributors when they get to the next level," said Clay Cox, Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach at Paris Junior College.

"We are chasing championships every year, but as a junior college coach, getting to see your players live out lifelong dreams, that is what we hang our hat on. Being able to say 'That's our guy' when they make it, that's what makes it special."

Paris Junior College Baseball congratulates Caleb Jameson, Connor Kelley, and Greyson Chappel on this tremendous accomplishment and looks forward to following each of their professional careers.