Three Members of 2025 Bees Playoff Team Selected in 2026 MLB Draft

Burlington, IA – The 2025 season was a historic one for the Burlington Bees, making the

Prospect League playoffs for the first time in franchise history by winning the Northwest

Division in the second half.

Three key contributors to that team, Owen Nowak, Caleb Klein, and Kooper Schulte were all

selected in the 2026 MLB Draft.

Nowak was selected by the Houston Astros in the 12th round with the 361st overall pick. He hit

.364 with three home runs and 28 RBIs in 22 games played last summer for Burlington. His most

memorable hit came in the top of the ninth inning in the Northwest Division Championship at

Clinton, when he tied the game with a two out, two run single.

Klein was picked in the 15th round with the 442nd overall selection by the Atlanta Braves. After

beginning his career at Southeastern Community College, he spent his junior season at

Southeast Missouri State. In 2025 with the Bees, Klein hit .307 with seven extra base hits and 23

RBIs in 31 games played.

New London, Iowa native Kooper Schulte was drafted in the 20th round with the 600th overall

pick by the New York Mets. Schulte played under his dad, Justin Schulte, at Southeastern

Community College in 2024. After a year with the Blackhawks in which he earned first team all-

region honors, Schulte transferred to Iowa for his final two seasons of eligibility.

Schulte played in two separate seasons for the Bees. In 2023, he hit .373 with eight doubles in

67 at bats. He returned to Burlington in 2025, playing in 49 games as the team's shortstop,

posting a .341 batting average, with 20 extra base hits and 48 RBIs.

These three become the fourth, fifth, and sixth players drafted in the Bees Prospect League era