Franden inks deal with Blue Jays
7/23/2026 6:22:00 AM | Baseball
TORONTO – Sam Houston infielder Ryan Franden has signed a free-agent deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, following the conclusion of this week's MLB Draft. Â
The 2026 season was the fourth for Franden with the Bearkats, and his best season at the college level. A redshirt junior, he hit .311 for the Kats this year with a team-high nine home runs to go with 35 RBI, 11 doubles and a triple. Â
The Katy Seven Lakes HS product was named the Conference USA Hitter of the Week after homering three times in a series win over McNeese to open the season and put up his season totals despite missing three weeks during the year due to injury immediately after the win over the Cowboys. Â
In all, Franden played in 99 games over four years for the Kats, including 86 over the past two years. He debuted as a true freshman for the 2023 squad which claimed the WAC Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. He missed 2024 due to injury, but was a key piece of the squad in both 2025 and 2026. Â
He closes his Bearkat career with a .305 average, 11 homers, 61 RBI and 106 total hits. Â
Franden is the second Kat this week to find his way into an MLB organization after staff ace Ryan Petereson was selected by the Miami Marlins on Sunday with the 71st overall pick of the MLB Draft.
