Former Niagara Falls American Dalton Harper Selected in MLB Draft

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Dalton Harper, a former Niagara Falls Americans catcher, was

chosen by the Atlanta Braves in the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday.

Committed to Penn State University for the 2027 collegiate season, the Atlanta Braves selected

Harper with the 472nd pick in the 16th round.

A native of Cheektowaga, N.Y. and graduate of Maryvale High School, Harper was named the

2026 NJCAA Division III Baseball Player of the Year. He hit .556 and finished with 17 HR and

91 RBIs apart of the SUNY Niagara NJCAA Division III national championship team.

Harper played for the Americans for two seasons, one of which was the team’s inaugural season

in 2024, when Harper recorded 17 RBIs. In 2025, he had a .492 on-base percentage in 14 games.

By: Tom Rook

July 13, 2026