Another Aruban selected in MLB Draft for Los Angeles Dodgers

ORANJESTAD – Aruba has another reason to celebrate on the international baseball stage. Max Irving, whose father Maximilion Irving and mother Sherry are both from Aruba, has been selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 18th round (553rd overall) of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft.

Irving becomes another player with strong Aruban roots to be drafted into professional baseball, further strengthening Aruba's reputation as one of the Caribbean's premier producers of baseball talent.

The selection follows an outstanding season at Montverde Academy, where Irving batted an impressive .474 with 37 hits, 12 doubles, seven home runs, 28 RBIs, 38 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. He played a key role in leading the Eagles to their first district championship since 2023.

Being selected in the MLB Draft is a milestone achieved by only a small percentage of baseball players. Irving will now enter contract negotiations with the Dodgers before the signing deadline.

Should the two sides fail to reach an agreement, Irving remains committed to the University of South Florida, where he can begin his collegiate baseball career while remaining eligible for a future MLB Draft.

His selection marks another proud moment for Aruba's baseball community and serves as further evidence of the island's continuing impact on Major League Baseball.