The 2026 MLB Draft is underway as all 30 organizations look to add the next generation of talent to their farm systems.
The Sporting Tribune will update this tracker throughout the draft with every first-round selection, scouting notes, and analysis as picks become official. The complete draft order can be found on MLB.com.
Live Draft Tracker
No. 1 Overall - Chicago White Sox
Selection: Roch Cholowsky
Position/School: SS, UCLA
Analysis:
Cholowsky has a chance to run the course of spring as 1-1 through-and-through. A touted two-sport prep from Arizona who turned down multiple millions in the 2023 draft, he landed at UCLA where he was an impact player from his first day in Westwood, finishing his collegiate career slashing .329/.448/.624 with 52 home runs; and though there may not be a statue built, a lasting impact on an historic program. While his wood bat summer prior to his draft-eligible spring, and the spring itself, didn't match the expectations of what he had done as a sophomore, the well-rounded impact toolset make him one of the best amateur prospects in years, and for some, in decades. A righthanded hitter, he has a simplistic operation in the box with a rhythmic load and low launch trigger point where he fires with excellent barrel accuracy and the ability to adjust throughout his swing. He will drop an abbreviated leg kick to a rhythmic toe tap and hip swivel with two strikes to shorten up. His ability to find the barrel, swing at pitches in his hot zone and put the ball in the air allow him to tap into his plus raw power with naturalness, and he should see 25-30 home run seasons annually. He has consistently made good swing decisions though he will expand at times and is susceptible to more quality spin; with still above-average swing-and-miss rates. He is a relatively complete hitter who should hit for average and power and front line offenses swinging between the first 3-4 spots in a lineup. He impacts the game with his glove with incredible instincts and pacing to alter the game, consistently being two steps ahead of everyone else and viewing the game ahead of the out-by-out nature. He has incredible lateral range and can track balls in every direction, with range proving anywhere from shallow center to deep left and the front row of the third base seating chart. His decision-making, both with his glove and with his throwing decisions add value where he can throw from different angles all while maintaining his plus arm strength. It's instincts and skill that are rarely seen from someone who has his hitting prowess, and his glove alone could carry the profile where he could win hardware. Praised for his leadership, he is a high-energy player who plays with expressive emotions and has the on-and-off field traits to possess some star power, adding to his commercial value of being a known commodity prior to stepping onto a professional diamond, which may seem like a lazy part of the report but clubs (above the scouting department) like that secondary value. His father Dan is a well-known and well-liked scout which has made Roch a popular name in the scouting community for years -- apple doesn't fall far from the tree. He'll draw comps to Troy Tulowitzki, which if that is the end outcome you'd have to imagine all parties will be pleased being a franchise staple for over a decade while regularly getting Midsummer Classic reps and votes and garnering some award season attention.
No. 2 Overall - Tampa Bay Rays
Selection: Grady Emerson
Position/School: SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)
Analysis:
Emerson is one of the more complete preps in recent memory in terms of tools and polish as a pure hitter and smooth defender who should advance quickly thanks to his ability. He has a lengthy track record of performing at the highest levels, including leading off for Team USA's gold-medal winning 18U club, which helped leading to him being only the second prep player ever to be a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award joining fellow Dallas-metro based prep Bobby Witt Jr. (2019). Everything he does on the field is smooth and composed, starting in the box where his left-handed swing is fluid, balanced and quick. He has strong hands and wrists, allowing him to fire the barrel through the zone with ease and create excellent contact with strength to all fields. While he isn't a slugger, there is quality bat speed and feel for the barrel which allows him to drive the ball and get over the fence through natural contact order, projecting for 25-30 annual. He stays within the zone with his swing decisions and has a simple balanced approach of just simply producing offense. A rare whiffer, it is a polished offensive skillset that should put him near the top of batting orders for a long time, hitting for average, getting on base and leaving the park more than occasionally. An above-average runner, physical gains should keep his run tool as a positive value asset. While not flashy, he is a high-end defender at shortstop who operates as smoothly on the dirt as he does in the box with a composed nature. He has the athleticism to make adjustments, has subtly solid range and has a plus arm to back it. The overall package will make for one of the better prospects in baseball upon putting pen to paper and give him substantial upside as a front-of-the-order hitter who can man a premium defensive home; a prototype that usually sees some frequency in the Midsummer Classic and has his face on banners on the streets surrounding his home stadium. He is committed to Texas.
No. 3 Overall - Minnesota Twins
Selection: Vahn Lackey
Position/School: C, Georgia Tech
Analysis:
Lackey possesses athletic and offensive tools rarely, if ever, seen from a catcher making him one of the most valuable prospects in any draft class of recent memory, and his performance over the past calendar year with Georgia Tech and Team USA's collegiate club may make him the top prospect in the class. A right-handed hitter, he has a rhythmic bat wiggle and moderate leg kick which remains fluid throughout the operation, helping him create some whippy bat speed to pair with his plus bat-to-ball skills. His ability to make contact and find the meat of the barrel aid to tapping into his above-average or better raw power, and while he still has some room to fill in his frame, a contact-based power output that sees some peaks-and-valleys between 20-30 home runs annually can be expected; while some swing plane adjustments may push it closer to the higher mark with regularity. He has a balanced approach where he is looking for pitches to drive, but will lean towards patience giving him some on-base value. The overall offensive package is well-rounded with a plus hit tool and power in the bag paired with on-base abilities, which should give him a solid slash line all above league-average markers. Defensively, he shines behind the plate where he is an outstanding athlete who plays calm and composed. He has soft hands and can pick balls like a middle infielder, paired with quick lateral mobility to keep everything in front of him without surrendering any game-pacing to keep runners honest without even getting to the arm. The arm itself is special, where he is electric out of the crouch, direct to proper mechanics and has plus arm strength that help him to borderline 80 pop times and consistent sub 1.9's; even from his knees. The glove is so special, he was kicked around the field and played every position for Georgia Tech this year (minus on the mound) and could even pinch at shortstop if necessary. It's a special defensive profile that will carry real value. Adding to his defensive value is how he handles a pitching staff and is praised for his leadership and beloved by teammates. This is a catching anomaly with rarely seen tools from the premium position that make him one of the most enticing draft prospects in recent years; with this being one of the only times a club could make an attempt at an outcome similar to J.T. Realmuto or Russell Martin, and while it won't come with any MVP hardware, there is franchise-altering opportunities with a prospect of this sort making him the most appealing (and maybe most valuable) prospect in the class.
No. 4 Overall - San Francisco Giants
Selection: Jackson Flora
Position/School: RHP, UC Santa Barbara
Analysis: TBD
No. 5 Overall - Pittsburgh Pirates
Selection: Derek Curiel
Position/School: OF, LSU
Analysis:
Curiel was a touted prep outfielder from Southern California powerhouse Orange Lutheran who got some top two-round run before pulling his name from the card and landing as a two-year starter in Baton Rouge while continuing to show his elite hitting chops. A lefthanded hitter, he is a contact-specialist who has a simple operation in the box and direct swing that helps him with plus or better bat-to-ball skills. He was more intentful with his rips this spring but has middling bat speed and an approach, bat path and limited physicality that lead to below-average power projection and hopes he can get to low teen digits over a full season's workload. He likes to put the game in motion and prefers to swing if granted but rarely ever expands and keeps his swing-and-miss to a minimum, fitting a bit of a leadoff archetype who has fair on-base ability that is more hit tool based. His profile creates some tricky balance in development because he will need to tap into his power a bit more to see the full bat value, but it can't come at the cost of deterring any of his plus hit tool which could sneak into plus-plus territory; this is similar to Nick Madrigal a few years back, but comes with a more balanced middle at present. Defensively, he shifted from left field into center this past spring, which has been his more natural position where he has solid feel and naturalness in the field while his above-average pure speed can play up to balls in the gaps or in front of him, leading to a solid chance at a long term future in center. There is some polarization in the prospect due to how much impact will come at the plate, but there is a notably high-floor with his other tools and advanced abilities which could make him a quick mover if left alone in certain development areas, and should see an everyday future.
No. 6 Overall - Kansas City Royals
Selection: Zion Rose
Position/School: OF, Louisville
Analysis:
Rose was a touted prep backstop from Florida development powerhouse IMG Academy, but landed in Louisville where his draft-eligible season was slowed by an ankle injury but he quickly made up for the lost time by showcasing his tools with a substantial late-season performance. A righthanded hitter, he has a direct line drive swing with adjustability to a looser and explosive rip or can be more deliberate when aiding to his plus contact skills. The linear plane and inside-out tendencies take away some of his ability to leave the park though he has plus raw power and could be a small mechanical tweak away from getting towards average in-game power production. An aggressive hitter, he is just as happy to bunt his way to first as he is to swing for the fences and is constantly looking to put the game in motion, while his contact skills limit his outs at the plate. He has plus speed and gains a half grade on the run tool for his ability to use it on the basepaths, adding baserunning value to his offensive profile. There is a smattering of above-average or better raw tools on the offensive side, with multiple development directions to tap into the final product. A catcher in high school, his speed pushed him to the outfield where he played left in deference to Lucas Moore and has shown more raw results than what he has at the plate. It's mostly a speed-based tracking and route taking operation and it should improve with reps; and while his speed should put him in center, game pacing likely lands him in a corner. He is going to impact the game on offense and could grow into some defensive chops that will only add value to what should be an everyday big league hitter who could land anywhere in the lineup pending his development path.
No. 7 Overall - Baltimore Orioles
Selection: Eric Booth Jr.
Position/School: OF, Oak Grove HS (MS)
Analysis:
Booth is an impact-laden prep outfielder with top of the class speed, athleticism and hitability. His left-handed swing can get erratic with his longer hand load and upper-half dominant cut that creates downhill plane, though his synchronization and mechanical consistency has improved over the spring -- paired with his strong bat-to-ball skills and explosivity -- giving him an impactful hit tool where he lets his speed (stay tuned on this) out of the box create havoc. The swing plane will need attention despite the progressive markers, and with his solid bat speed and strong upper-and-lower half (he is compactly built and quite strong), he should tap into his raw power with ease and post average-or-above power numbers north of 20-25 annual home runs. He has a solid eye for the strike zone, used the whole field and limits his whiffs, giving him a fairly polished offensive profile who will have an intriguing swing development. He is a borderline 80-runner who can impact the game through his wheels both on the basepaths and on the grass. There is a little less polish in utilization of his run tool, but he is quick-to-the-ball in the outfield and an incredible athlete giving him a solid chance of staying in center field long-term. He turned 18 on July 4 making him one of the younger players in the class. The impact speed and athleticism, paired with his hitability, make him a prime candidate for a throwback leadoff man; while the frame/power projection add more than a tick to the profile making him a swing variance (not hit variance) upside play that should garner some Midsummer Classic voter frequency and potential award notice at his peak as an offensive staple -- or in short, potentially the highest upside in the class if all pans out. He is committed to Vanderbilt.
No. 8 Overall - Athletics
Selection: Drew Burress
Position/School: OF, Georgia Tech
Analysis:
Burress is an undersized thumper who has unrivaled power-patience performance in the class leading all of Divison-1 baseball in home runs and walks over the past three seasons. A righthanded hitter, he has an unorthodox look in the box with an open stance and heavy barrel tip before firing into a big leg kick and big separation before exploding through the zone with a surprisingly whippy and compact swing with an accurate barrel. The swing itself helps him produce substantial bat speed and ringing explosivity through the zone while his swing plane paired with the aforementioned help him tap into his plus raw with frequency. He is a highly disciplined hitter who will ambush to his pull side and fall into some bucket step lapses due to his mechanics, but it has been what has made the smaller thumper successful (he's listed 5-foot-9), and despite the polarizing swing and size, he may be a well above-average offensive producer at the next level who reaches base at a high clip and slugs 20-25 home runs annually. He is a solid athlete and defender in center field who should hold some staying power even if he packs on some compact muscle and loses a step from his above-average speed; while his above-average arm could swing over to and play in right field. There are some mixed bag of opinions on how things will work at the next level, but the biggest supporters see star power backed by a lengthy track record of success, and even if there is middle ground he should become a solid regular who earns some midsummer classic attention at his peak years.
No. 9 Overall - Atlanta Braves
Selection: AJ Garcia
Position/School: OF, Virginia
Analysis:
Gracia is one of the more polished bats in the class. A lefthanded hitter, he has gone through some swing alterations over the past few years and seems to have found a groove in his current set that eliminated some tension and hand drift while still retaining his high end feel for the barrel. He added notable muscle over the last year and it showed more in the box than in the box score as it took time to get to his plus raw power that played to all fields. His swing path and swing decisions aid to his power, as a highly disciplined hitter who tends to pull the trigger at the right time to do damage. Every bit of this player looks the part of a hitter who will produce at a high clip, and he should boast notably louder slash lines with focus to the on-base while also pushing 25-30+ home runs annually at his peak. Defensively, he is a fair center fielder who will likely get pushed to left field by superior defenders; though his instincts and efficiency in the field should allow him to serve as a center fielder in multiple facets. He could be a plus defender in the corners, though he lacks the arm strength to control the running game from right field and isn't as fleet of foot. Some have mentioned he lost a shade of athleticism as he filled out this spring, while others note an illness during the offseason may have taken its toll, and the full picture wasn't present despite still being one of the best players and offensive producers in the nation. The bat will carry him to an everyday role in the big leagues with solid chances of being a run producer in the middle of lineups and meriting some voting attention come award season at his peaks that reminds some of Brandon Nimmo.
No. 10 Overall - Colorado Rockies
Selection: Tyler Bell
Position/School: SS, Kentucky
Analysis:
Bell was the 66th overall pick in the 2024 draft, which had a recommended slot bonus of $1.26 million, and despite the Tampa Bay Rays best efforts, he opted to not sign which may be a wise business move as he could see that slot increase by triple, or quadruple after two years of producing for Kentucky and Team USA's Collegiate club. A switch-hitter, he has a quick and loose cut from both sides and makes plenty of contact. He is deeper into his lower half this spring than in previous years which has allowed him to swing uphill with more ease and tap into some of his power pull side. There is explosive bat speed and while the generalized slugging numbers haven't made dramatic jumps, the batted ball data is loud and expressive of getting towards 20-25 annual home runs at he continues adjusting the mechanics, and adding strength to his frame. He is a patient hitter who swings at pitches he can drive and will take his share of walks, though he will whiff at the occasional off-speed. Playing through a non-throwing shoulder injury, he is a solid defender at shortstop with a quick first step, sound glove work and above-average arm strength that helps him work from different, and challenging angles. It is likely his future is at shortstop, though he was a utility man over the summer and can play all over the dirt. A draft-eligible sophomore, he has an opportunity to return to school, though that would come with little leverage as a third-time draftee; and will likely miss notable time to start his pro career as surgery will be required on his torn left labrum. There is high-level compete here adding to what is a well-rounded toolshed and ability to use it, giving him above-average everyday upside and some Midsummer Classic votes at his peaks.
No. 11 Overall - Washington Nationals
Selection: Chris Hacopian
Position/School: 2B, Texas A&M
Analysis:
Hacopian is one of the more polished pure hitters in the draft class who torched the Big10 and wood bat summer leagues before transferring from Maryland to Texas A&M where he has been a solid performer despite missing scattered time with a back injury. A right-handed hitter, he has altered his noisy load from his 'Terps days that included a high leg kick and busy hand pump to a more controlled and balanced load with a toe tap and shortened hand and rhythmic hand load that puts him in a consistent hitting position. Regardless of the load, he has always hit with high-end bat-to-ball skills backed behind a strong physique which has created some of the most appeasing batted ball metrics in the nation. He is consistent with the barrel and has impressive bat speed, but hits mostly on a line and doesn't always elevate; while most would like to see him pull the ball more to tap into his plus raw power, the quality of contact should keep his power production around average and north of 20 home runs annually. He is an elite decision maker in the box who is highly selective in his swing decisions, rarely expanding the zone or whiffing, adding to the overall offensive profile. Nearing his physical peak, the 'now' raw power and athletic growth are likely to bill the projection. He spent most of the season with the Aggies as a designated hitter and partial second baseman due to a lower back injury, though he played the left side of the infield at Maryland and got a brief chance with the Aggies with an almost immediate push. He is a calm defender, but lacks the foot speed to man shortstop and it may even be questionable at second; while his average arm could swing to third base, his dirt future is in question with no dead set defensive home. This is a polished hitter who should advance quickly through development and reach his middle-of-the-order projection in a hurry, though where his glove will be remains a question; either way, it will be an impact bat that will give him a lengthy big-league career.
No. 12 Overall - Los Angeles Angels
Selection: Jared Grindlinger
Position/School: OF, Huntington Beach HS (CA)
Analysis:
Grindlinger was a standout on Team USA's national 18U club that won a gold in 2025 who reclassified from 2027 to 2026 in mid-February -- the day after his "junior" season debut -- and immediately became the youngest player in the draft class and the best two-way player since Bryce Eldridge (2023) with eerily similar tools and projection. While there is a split on whether he has a stronger future on the mound or at the plate, there is upside in both cases, as a mid-rotation arm or middle-of-the-order run producer. On the mound, he is a high-level mover with a fluid and repeatable delivery, getting down the mound incredibly well with solid extension, helping him fill the strike-zone and manipulate shapes well ahead of his age bracket. He hides the ball well and let's it fly with ease, adding some small hitch when gassing up his heater which sits 91-94 and has touched 97, with more sustainable velocity coming as he grows naturally into his 6-foot-3 frame. While a lot of his fastball grade will be physical projection based, he does a good job of spotting it and it has some liveliness to his arm side. While his slider is mostly standard with two-plane break, he can alter it out of the hand to manipulate shape and power making it an above-average, swing-and-miss breaker. He has solid feel for his changeup, which potentially will be his best pitch, selling and tunneling well with his heater while seeing a double-digit velocity separation and showing feel to locate at will. He has all the ingredients of a mid-rotation arm who can throw strikes and eat innings with a trio of weapons. At the plate, he has a fluid swing from the left side that help him make frequent, and hard contact. He has long levers and big hands (the hands help with pitch shaping as well) that give him excellent barrel control and zone coverage, making him a rare whiff and above-average contact hitter. He stays in the zone with his swing decisions and has proven to be quite passive, sometimes going a full game without a swing, and taking his walks at a high clip. There is notable power projection between physical progression and his swing mechanics where he will get torqued in his load, making quick turns in the box and finishing with some natural loft. Mixing his above-average contact and plate discipline, and his plus power projection, there is middle-of-the-order upside in the bat. While he is an above-average runner and solid athlete, his defensive reps have been limited due to his pitching, and he likely will be destined for the corner outfield where his arm would fit in right field. There is a mass variance in potential outcomes for a two-way player of this caliber, and the fact that Grindlinger is the youngest player in the draft class by two weeks and -- once drafted -- the youngest player taken in the bonus-era by over a month (he turned 17 in mid-May), there is patience and org-wide focus on development needed to tap into either peak upside outcome, or, hopefully for baseball's sake, both outcomes. He is committed to Tennessee where his brother, Trent, is a catching prospect for 2027.
No. 13 Overall - St. Louis Cardinals
Selection: Trevor Condon
Position/School: OF, Etowah HS (GA)
Analysis:
Condon is a sparkplug prep outfielder who has table-setting tools. His left-handed swing starts a bit unorthodox with his front foot not kicked but airborn through mid-pitch delivery that he will at times alter to a long toe-tap while his barrel is upright at his belt before finishing in a more natural, line drive rip. Despite all the moving parts that can look unnatural, he is regularly timed up while possessing plus bat-to-ball skills and feel for the barrel. There is present bat speed and quick hands that let him rip a handful of balls confidently over-the-fence, though his projection is mostly low double-digit home run totals and hard pull side gap slug. There is flair to his offensive game and he will hunt pitches in his zone with high intent given the chance. There is feel for the zone and fair pitch recognition. He is an aggressive runner with plus-plus speed, making him a constant stolen base threat. That same speed makes him a quick-to-the-ball defender in center field where he could be a plus defender in the long run with solid athleticism and aggression. He plays the game with an intense edge and is constantly looking to put the game in motion making him a prime candidate for a front-of-the-order future on an everyday basis, causing havoc where possible; 50-grade future plays up due to intense playing style. He is committed to Tennessee.
No. 14 Overall - Miami Marlins
Selection: Jacob Lombard
Position/School: SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL)
Analysis:
Lombard comes from an impressive baseball family lineage and has a flurry of impact tools with star-power upside. A right-handed hitter, he has simple and athletic operation in the box with a compact swing and loads of strength at contact. It is an aggressive swing with impressive bat speed and physicality behind it, which helps him post high-end exit velocities and leave the yard to all fields at present. With an athletic, 6-foot-3 frame and already present physical gains, he has plus raw power as a teenager and could produce 30+ home runs annually as he continues physically maturing and improving his feel to hit. Though he stays in the zone with his swing decisions, there has been swing-and-miss concerns that create a variable hit tool -- not dissimilar to his brother George Jr. who has held his own in terms of hit tool in pro ball, aiding to those who aren't as concerned about the variance and believe the power will counter balance even a 30 or 40 hit tool. Most see a swing foundation and baseline for the hit tool to come around, with his loudest supporters saying he can hit for average in the long haul. He is a plus-plus runner who knows how to use his speed on the basepaths and in the field. He is a slick defender at shortstop with the athleticism and ability to make some acrobatic adjustments, while letting his advanced instincts aid his long term projection at a premium defensive home. His arm-strength may be tested at short, but with his ability to retain the pacing of the game and show a quick release should give him a lengthy stay at short. He is the son of former six-year big-leaguer George (current Tigers bench coach) and brother of George Jr. (Yankees 2023 first-rounder and current universal top-20 prospect in the league). He is praised for his makeup, with some scouts calling it elite. The hit tool creates substantial variance but the speed-power tools create some 30-30 star-power upside. He is committed to Miami.
No. 15 Overall - Arizona Diamondbacks
Selection: Ryder Helfrick
Position/School: C, Arkansas
Analysis:
Helfrick was a touted Northern California prep backstop who landed in Fayetteville where he mashed in his final two seasons and had impressive summer stints in the Cape Cod in 2024 and last summer with Team USA's collegiate club where he split catching duties with Vahn Lackey. A right-handed hitter, he is a short loader into a tightly wound rubber band creating a consistently explosive swing through the zone. He has done a better job of staying compact in his swing though can still get long and has questionable contact skills. The explosivity through the zone comes with plus bat speed, loads of strength at contact and an ability to pull the ball leading to an impressive ability to get to his plus raw power it in games. There may still be some physical gains ahead here, and with already plus raw, it's easy to project 25-30 annual over-the-fence output. He has made steady improvements on limiting how often he expands the zone and covers the outer half, but there is still plenty of swing-and-miss and chase against secondaries; while his modest patience and power output will have to counterbalance the whiffs to create value with the bat. Defensively, he can impact a game behind the plate where he is an athletic mover with impressive receiving and framing skills; all backed by plus arm strength that keeps the running game in check. He has been calling games from behind the plate adding to his defensive value. While the hit tool creates some variance, the plus power and plus defensive chops give him the upside of a franchise staple who garners some Midsummer Classic attention in his peak offensive years.
No. 16 Overall - Texas Rangers
Selection: Gio Rojas
Position/School: LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
Analysis:
Rojas was part of the two headed horse at the front of Team USA's national 18U rotation that won gold and has an argument as top southpaw in the class with frame projection and great ability to spin and locate. His entire arsenal features high-spin characteristics, including his heater which sits 93-96 and touches 98 which he can hold through outings. His fastball plays up from his ability to command it and the angles he creates by snapping it off from a lower 3/4 slot creating some explosive life to his arm side. His low 80's slider is a more true sweeper that projects as a true plus swing-and-miss weapon, snapping across and below the zone with late depth. His changeup in a similar velocity bucket to his breaker also has some above-average or plus projection with unique high-spin traits, not dissimilar to Danny Duffy, that he tunnels off his fastball to create some empty swings, though it is a low usage pitch. His delivery is remarkably loose and athletic with full fluidity from start-to-finish which helps him repeat and fill the zone with frequency. He has improved some tempo and pacing quirks in his mechanics and continual progress of this should make him an above-average strike thrower. There is room to fill into his 6-foot-4 frame and more sustained power could be on the horizon. He is a high-end athlete who could probably spot as an outfielder, though his mound upside is where his future lies. An on-mound athlete with the ability to locate and spin three above-average to plus pitches tend to land with frontline rotation projection, and Rojas fits the bill with higher than mid-rotation upside who should pitch in big games for a long time. He is committed to Miami
No. 17 Overall - Houston Astros
Selection: Logan Hughes
Position/School: OF, Texas Tech
Analysis:
Hughes is an impressive hitter with some of the more unrivaled supporting metrics and track record behind him. A lefthanded hitter, he has a simple operation and swings with a compact and direct cut. He is on the barrel with frequency and has strength behind every swing that helps him get to his plus raw power via natural order and should produce at a 20-30 clip annually. A patient hitter who takes what he is given, there is a near complete offensive profile here who limits his outs at the plate or in the field and can carry an offense near the middle of the order and should boast above-average slash lines throughout his career. His value rests in the bat as he is a below-average runner and fringy defender in the corner outfield without the arm to sneak a spot in right field; and may not be a big enough physical target to plug at first base. Buying on the bat here and hoping you can land him in left field, as he is one of the more advanced hitters in the class with both floor and ceiling that should move him quickly.
No. 18 Overall - Cincinnati Reds
Selection: Justin Lebron
Position/School: SS, Alabama
Analysis:
LeBron has been a hot topic prospect since his first year with Alabama and was maybe the most nationally scrutinized player in the nation over the spring due to a high-variance hit tool, but the impact should keep him firmly into prospect status as one of the highest ceiling players in the class. A right-handed hitter, his swing is geared for damage, utilizing a strong lower half in his coil and spring mechanics that lead into a loose cut. He has incredibly quick hands, high-end bat speed and has started filling out his lean, athletic 6-foot-2 frame and is now seeing plus raw that he can get to in games with the potential of plus production, north of 25-30 home runs if the hit tool comes around. The swing can cause imbalances and isn't always synced up, and paired with some pitch recognition struggles, he is tested against off-speed and didn't see many fastballs during conference play which carried notable -- albeit improved -- swing-and-miss. He adjusted his two-strike approach and has improved his swing decisions, but it will be an ever-going test to get the hit tool to translate enough to get to the power and carry the upside. While the hit tool creates variance, the athletic tools are off-the-charts. He is a plus, maybe 7 runner, who is ever aggressive on the basepaths giving him value on the bases and a potential 30+ base stealer. That same footspeed works well at shortstop where he ranges laterally as well as anyone, paired with soft mitts, elite body control and a plus arm that stays strong from all throwing angles; making him a potential plus, maybe better, defender at a premium defensive home. He had a high error count this season which came mostly on more standard plays, but that errancy is erased on the scouting chart; most everyone believes this is an impact defender. The makeup is high here as is the compete level. The hit tool creates incredible variance but even if it's a 30, the power-speed-glove will turn him into an impact player that would especially fit the mold of modern shortstops with a hopeful outcome varying from Paul DeJong to Trevor Story; it's an immense upside play with most projecting the bat as a 40 or better meaning they see a 30-30 player who plays award-winning defense at short.
No. 19 Overall - Cleveland Guardians
Selection: Liam Peterson
Position/School: RHP, Florida
Analysis:
Peterson was a touted prep arm at Calvary Christian HS (Fla.) sharing a high school rotation with current Blue Jays prospect Landen Maroudis and fellow first-round candidate Hunter Dietz, and opted to turn down some notable table offers to become a three-year starter for the Gators, showcasing some of the best pure arsenals in college ball each of the last three years. His fastball sits 95-96 and has grabbed triple digits with 20"+ IVB on the norm, though his heater will get tagged due to getting too much of the zone with it. His upper 80's slider is a real plus weapon with late action, darting off late to his glove side creating some ugly swings-and-misses. He lives mostly off the heat and slider, but will incorporate a low 80's curveball with 12-6 shape and a mid 80's changeup with fair actions, both of which could also land as above-average or better pitches with some attention. His frame and arm speed make him a specialty in terms of arm talent, though his delivery isn't quite picturesque with a short, compact arm action into a high release point that has some effort and limits his strike-throwing ability to fringy at best. There is likely to be a delivery and pitch usage overhaul upon hitting pro development. He should walk away with at least two plus pitches which gives him relief upside, though if a team can tap into one (or both) of his curve/changeup and get to anywhere near average control, there is incredible rotation upside towards the front, but it will take love and attention.
No. 20 Overall - Boston Red Sox
Selection: Jake Schaffner
Position/School: SS, North Carolina
Analysis:
Schaffner is a sparkplug infielder who transferred to North Carolina from North Dakota State and has made impressive strides for one of the nation's top-ranked teams. A left-handed hitter, he has minimal loading movement and is short to the ball leading to impressive contact rates. It's a compact cut with a line drive plane that creates hard contact to the gaps, and while his raw power is middling, he is a strong athlete who will keep pitchers honest with some pullside thump that should land him in the low teens of over-the-fence production. The progressive plate discipline markers give credence to his decision making in the box and add a half grade to the hit tool and place him as a table-setting option. Adding some strength over the winter, with more to come, his run tool notched up a grade where he is a plus runner who is quick out of the box and aggressive on the basepaths. He is a strong athlete with impressive hands and footwork, which may come from his hockey playing days where his silky mitts earned him All-State honors in Wisconsin (pretty big deal, actually), but the delicacy of his hands give him a chance to stick at short if he can improve his arm strength which simmers around fringe-average (surprising given he was all-conference quarterback in football; another big deal, actually). His contact skills, swing decisions, speed and athleticism scream table-setting projection, while more impact with the bat could add to what is a strong-side platoon floor.
No. 21 Overall - San Diego Padres
Selection: Coleman Borthwick
Position/School: 3B, South Walton HS (FL)
Analysis: TBD
No. 22 Overall - Detroit Tigers
Selection: Cameron Flukey
Position/School: RHP, Coastal Carolina
Analysis:
Flukey was the anchor for Coastal Carolina's runner-up finish in the 2025 College World Series and was tracking towards RHP1 entering the spring, but a rib cage stress reaction limited him to just 24 innings over seven starts. His fastball sits 94-96 and touches 99 with notable carry from a higher release point and solid extension. His curveball flashes plus coming from the same high release point and seeing the bottom fall out with impressive top-down shape, though it could use a touch of power from its mid-to-upper 70's velocity bucket. His mid 80's slider misses bats well with a tight spin and gyro traits. He throws a changeup in the mid 80's with budding feel, but still rudimentary shape and ability to utilize it, letting his curve act a lefty isolation pitch. He has plenty of moving pieces to get his long limbs in sync but is very often controlled through his longer arm action and delivers strikes at a high clip and should be a plus strike-thrower in the long run. There is still plenty of room to add to his long, lean frame which could indicate more power to the entire arsenal. He has all the tools to see a rotation future with both a solid floor and ceiling, which should balance around a 3/4 rotation arm with potential peaks upwards of a solid 2.
No. 23 Overall - Chicago Cubs
Selection: Cade Townsend
Position/School: RHP, Mississippi
Analysis: TBD
No. 24 Overall - Seattle Mariners
Selection: Ace Reese
Position/School: 3B, Mississippi State
Analysis:
Reese has a well-rounded offensive profile that he took from Houston as a freshman into two years at Mississippi State where he was a loud threat in the SEC posting back-to-back 1.1+ OPS and 20+ home run seasons. He is a loose operator in the left-handed box with a compact swing and longer, controlled levers that help him with impressive bat-to-ball skills, especially lower in the zone. Pairing his athletic and strong frame (where he has already packed on 20-30 pounds of muscle) with plus bat speed and feel to lift the ball, he has plus raw power and can get to it with ease to all parts of the park making him a 25-30 home run threat at his peaks. He is aggressive in the box and can chase secondaries at times, but not enough to cause alarm and giving him one of the more well-rounded offensive profiles in the class who could balance a pair of above-average offensive tools; and selecting team dictating whether he'll be a 55/55 or 6/5 split in any direction, or in short, middle-of-the-order run producer when all is said and done. Defensively, he has swung around the left corner and may be best suited for left field where his reasonable athleticism would add more value than doing a direct kick to first base. He's not the best dirt mover and doesn't have enough arm to make up for his lackluster feel for third base. There might be some pressure on the bat, but plenty of offensive tools to believe the bat will play at an everyday clip and in the middle-of-the-order regardless of where the glove lands; there is impact upside here.
No. 25 Overall - Milwaukee Brewers
Selection: Trey Ebel
Position/School: SS, Corona HS (CA)
Analysis:
Ebel is a offensively polished prep shortstop from Southern California-powerhouse Corona HS who has polished tools and comes from a well-known baseball lineage. His right-handed swing is direct with a precise barrel that give him an average-or-better hit tool that gains a half grade through his approach. He makes advanced swing decisions and can be nearly passive waiting out his hot zones, rarely expanding the zone making him a consistently tough out. His swing comes from a naturally lower launch, paired with his quick hands and solid bat speed giving him modest power projection -- 15-20 bombs annually -- which he has steadily tapped into to his pull side. His frame isn't maxed out but his broad shoulders and strong lower half does strike the balance of adding power or retaining athleticism which will be an interesting development follow. He is an average runner who is an aggressively, instinctual baserunner and will snag bases at a fair clip despite not being a burner. Defensively, he is a natural shortstop who has played all over the dirt in lieu of previous first-rounders ahead of his class bracket (Billy Carlson, Brady Ebel) but mans the premium position well as an instinctual defender who has good pacing and cadence for the spot. He isn't as twitchy as most shortstops and has about average arm strength and flatline speed, making him a candidate to swing to second or third where his defensive grade should take a step up. He is regularly praised for his work ethic and dedication, which comes with the coaching assistance of Mike Trout and other big leaguers from his youth to near adulthood as part of his family connections; his father Dino is third base coach for the Dodgers, his brother Brady was a first-round pick by Milwaukee last year. There is polish paired with every day upside as a multi-purpose infielder who should have average production offensively. He is committed to Texas A&M.
Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks
No. 26 Overall - Atlanta Braves
Selection: Carter Beck
Position/School: OF, Indiana State
Analysis:
Beck was a four-sport star as a Saskatchewan prep who landed at Indiana State after one year with D2 Mary (N.D.), and has been one of the biggest risers in the class this spring thanks to his athletic tools. A lefthanded hitter, he is a violent swinger with solid bat-to-ball skills creating some substantial batted ball data. The swing intent, bat speed and natural strength allow him to jump balls pull side and tap into his above-average raw power which should translate to average in-game. An aggressive hitter, he will expand and chase but has limited his swing-and-miss as an amateur giving some faith to an average hit tool paired with his average power projection. A plus runner, he is a quick-to-the-ball defender in center field who also has some base stealing value. An aggressive defender, he may have to clean up some rawer aspects to his glovework but could be a solid defender up-the-middle who has some dirt experience in the bag; though his arm is fringy and may limit his ability to hold the running game. There are enticing tools here from a strong side of a platoon that give him some notable everyday upside. If, or when, he makes the big leagues he would become the 10th Saskatchewan-born player in big league history and only the third in the 21st century.
No. 27 Overall - New York Mets
Selection: Carson Wiggins
Position/School: RHP, Arkansas
Analysis: TBD
No. 28 Overall - Houston Astros
Selection: Jack Radel
Position/School: RHP, Notre Dame
Analysis: TBD
Competitive Balance Round A
No. 29 Overall - San Francisco Giants
Selection: Carson Bolemon
Position/School: LHP, Southside Christian HS (SC)
Analysis:
Boleman is a polished prep southpaw with mass rotation upside paired with a long pedigree of big game outings and performance, including front manning Team USA's national 18U club that won gold and pitching his prep club to state titles all four years with the program. His fastball sits 90-94 and touches 97, but his plus command to all quadrants and the angle he creates from a high 3/4 release give it notable carry and allow it to play up from its modest velocity. His power curve has become his best swing-and-miss weapon as a plus breaker in the upper 70's with outstanding spin traits and hard vertical break; while countering his low 80's slider with two-plane, sweeping action as a potential second above-average or better breaking ball. He will sparsely utilize at low-to-mid 80's kick change, though he sells it well when using it giving him a potential quarternary weapon, and an out pitch north-south-east-west. He has a simple delivery with a high 3/4 release that he repeats well thanks to his advanced strength and physical maturity, helping him throw strikes at a high-clip and some advanced in-zone command. He is slightly older than his class counterparts as a 19-year-old and is fairly physically advanced, with most strength gains being sustainability gains to improve holding velocity and delivery through a workload. Scouts rave about the immeasurables here, with high-end aptitude and composure in big moments. He is also a subtly good hitter, but his future is solely on the mound. Boleman has the ability to locate to all zones with a four-pitch mix that all grade out above-average or better, making him an easy projected starter who should throw valuable innings in the middle of a rotation, and potentially front man as a solid No. 2 during his peak years. He is committed to Wake Forest.
No. 30 Overall - Kansas City Royals
Selection: Taylor Rabe
Position/School: Mississippi
Analysis: TBD
No. 31 Overall - Arizona Diamondbacks
Selection: Blake Bryant
Position/School: RHP, Citizens Christian HS (GA)
Analysis: TBD
No. 32 Overall - St. Louis Cardinals
Selection: Tegan Kuhns
Position/School: RHP, Tennessee
Analysis: TBD
No. 33 Overall - Tampa Bay Rays
Selection: Taj Marchand
Position/School: SS, James Island HS (SC)
Analysis:
Marchand is an unorthodox hitter who shined on the summer circuit and has had a substantial stock climb over the spring. His right-handed swing is unorthodox with a noticeable lunge that puts him over his front side at contact with a line drive finish, a swing not too dissimilar to a younger Kristian Campbell or Hunter Pence. Despite the irregular look, he does a solid job of staying back and rubber-banding through the zone with some explosiveness and quality bat speed, and making frequent hard contact. He has added some muscle over the winter/spring and hits enough to get to his average-or-better raw power. He has a hyper aggressive approach and will expand the zone, though is an uncommon swing-and-miss. The approach and swing are likely to get an overhaul in pro development, but neither has created an issue with his hit tool to date. Defensively, he has fair actions at shortstop with the glove work and hands to see a lengthy development, though his fringe-average quick burst and twitch will likely push him off short in the long haul; while his above-average arm should keep him on the left side of the dirt at minimum. Though the bat is what makes him a prospect, there is some mound ability as a strike-thrower who is into the low 90's with a decent slider. He is on the younger side of the class turning 18 on July 27. There is going to be some tinkering, or at least mention of tinkering with the swing and approach, but this is a well-rounded offensive profile who should stay on the left side dirt who has everyday, or maybe higher upside. He is committed to Ole Miss.
No. 34 Overall - Chicago White Sox
Selection: Landon Thome
Position/School: SS, Nazareth Academy (IL)
Analysis:
Thome is a bat-first prep infielder with notable offensive upside and a Hall of Fame lineage. There is pure hitting ability from the left side with a loose swing with impressive bat speed that creates frequent hard contact. It's an aggressive swing with an uphill path and impressive rotational force, and while his 6-foot frame may not turn him into a 600-home run club member, there is present above-average raw power and an ability to get to it with ease, along with plenty of frame projection remaining, making him a contact-power threat at the plate. He has solid pitch recognition and leans to an aggressive pull nature to put the game in motion. It's an advanced pro-ready swing and operation that should translate into an above-average offensive profile. A shortstop by nature, his fringy foot speed and arm will likely push him to second base quickly where his actions and hands should keep him in the middle dirt. He is the son of MLB Hall-of-Famer Jim, who is an assistant coach for his prep club. Teams are buying in on the bat here with potential for a long-term impact hitter who should garner some midsummer classic votes at his peak. He is committed to Florida State.
No. 35 Overall - New York Yankees
Selection: Hunter Dietz
Position/School: LHP, Arkansas
Analysis:
Dietz was a touted prep and one head of the Cerberus at Calvary Christian HS (Fla.) in 2023 that included Blue Jays prospect Landen Maroudis and fellow first-round candidate Liam Peterson; however, he had a stress fracture early in his time with Arkansas that limited him to four brief outings an 14 batters faced combined over his first two years with the program. He returned to the mound with some vengeance in his draft-eligible season leading to being argued as one of the top arms off the board in July. His fastball sits 95-96 and touches 98 with special traits due to his ability to create carry from an extremely high arm slot, with upwards of 23" IVB. He pairs his heater with a breaking ball variance that he'll manipulate the shape and speed on, with a depthy mid 80's slide piece with high spin rates or shorten into a 87-91 mph cutter, while flipping over a power curve in the low 80's; all solid swing-and-miss options that will flash plus. He has a fringy changeup in the bag that he rarely uses, though he will need something glove side to complete an all directions arsenal. Notably tall and physical, he attacks the zone with his full arsenal, consistently challenging hitters. He projects to throw strikes with a fluid delivery, though may have to tighten some rush quirks that will come with reps. So long as his short health track record doesn't follow him into pro ball, this is a high-end prospect with arm talent who has some variance in the projection, but has the upside to float some years as rotation front man and should fill into a solid No. 3 role.
No. 36 Overall - Philadelphia Phillies
Selection: Tyler Spangler
Position/School: SS, De La Salle HS (CA)
Analysis:
Spangler entered the spring as a candidate to go top-five and potentially be the top prep bat in the class thanks to his offensive upside and proven hitting track record, but a short suspension and back injury held him from regular season play with Northern California-prep powerhouse De La Salle. A left-handed hitter, he has a simple, compact swing with an advanced ability to manipulate the barrel. It's high end zone coverage and ability to stay inside the ball that helps him make frequent hard contact to all fields. There is intent in the swing with good bat speed and a frame that projects plenty of power to come as he continues to learn to catch the ball out front and pull the ball more frequently. Listed at 6-foot-3, he may be taller than his listing and has already added quality muscle to his athletic frame, with current strength and raw power balancing out his hit-power tools to both above-average or better projection. He has a lengthy track record of staying in zone with his swing decisions and limiting his swing-and-miss, though he may have to re-earn his reputation after lost reps over the spring. Every other year, a left-handed hitting prep shortstop draws a comparison to Corey Seager, and whether fair or not, Spangler fits the mold this year with quite similar mechanics and tools to Seager at the same timing of baseball experience. An above-average runner who may have lost a step during physical maturity, he isn't as twitchy as most shortstop prospects but has an innate ability to keep the game simple and slow the pacing giving him a fair chance to stick long term. The general needed tools of range, arm and hands are present for a shortstop future though a move to the hot corner may add value to his glove. There are impact tools and a track record of getting to them naturally giving him above-average everyday upside; and his post-prep season private workouts and ability to catch up from lost reps will likely dictate his prospect stock early in his pro career. He is committed to Stanford.
No. 37 Overall - Colorado Rockies
Selection: Daniel Jackson
Position/School: C, Georgia
Analysis:
Jackson became the sixth player (and first catcher) in Division-1 history to post a 25/25 season after hitting 32 home runs and stealing 26 bases enroute to earning SEC Player of the Year honors and becoming a Golden Spikes finalists. The Wofford transfer earned full-time catching duties in his second year with the Bulldogs where (he fell on-base percentage shy of both the natural SEC Triple Crown and SEC slash line triple crown). A right-handed hitter, he gets torqued out in his actions and creates an explosive swing that produces all fields power. He has progressively improved his ability to catch the ball out front and get it airborne, leading to more over-the-fence production aided by his high-end bat speed and notable strength throughout his frame. The power plays to all fields, though it comes with a fair amount of swing-and-miss and a variable hit tool. As is the case with most Georgia hitters of late, clubs will look at home-road splits for sluggers from the program, with this case seeing isolated power and strikeout rate splits that are notable (.497 ISO, 15.6 K% at home; .398 ISO, 24.4 K% on road), creating concerns about the approach adjustments and ability to spit on waste pitches; though his power output comes with little questioning. A solid athlete, his average speed gets a grade uptick on the run tool due to his ability to use it. Spending most of the year at backstop, there is a ways to go to keep him behind the plate with raw, athletic tools that are quite unpolished; particularly his receiving, blocking and throwing mechanics. The foundation is solid and he should see a lengthy catching development so long as teams don't want to rush the bat. He has played in the outfield where he is a serviceable corner defender with above-average arm strength. The power and ability to tap into it is the drawing trait here, giving him notable upside as a middle-of-the-order producer from a premium defensive position if he reaches his ceiling, though the swing-and-miss will have to come down and he will have to comfortably find a real defensive home. From this analyst, you have a believer in the tools translating into big league production at an everyday clip -- whilst playing the corner outfield.
Second Round
No. 38 Overall - Colorado Rockies
Selection: Logan Reddemann
Position/School: RHP, UCLA
Analysis:
Reddemann was one of the biggest rising arms this spring after seeing an uptick in velocity in his first year with the Bruins after a pair with San Diego, despite seeing his springend early with arm fatigue. His fastball sits firmly around 95 and peaks at 99 with flatter approach, playing up with his ability to locate at will. He'll flip a trio of breakers with an upper 80s slide/cutter assistant primary, a short and snappy breaker that works in all quadrants; while a newer low 80s sweeper and long used low 80s curve both serve as setup offerings. His mid 80s changeup is a weapon to keep things honest arm side where he likes to bust in on righties. An easy mover on the mound, he has an abbreviated overhead motion into a quick fire with a flatter approach. He is a plus strike thrower with solid command that should stay plus or so as he grows. With his five pitch mix and ability to spot it, he projects easily as a rotation man who should see many years in the middle of a rotation.
No. 39 Overall - Toronto Blue Jays
Selection: Cole Carlon
Position/School: LHP, Arizona State
Analysis:
Carlon is a power armed southpaw who has been one of the best bat-missing arms in the nation for consecutive years with Arizona State. His fastball sits 93-97 and can grab triple digits deep in the pocket with modest armside life, making him a heater pitch-design candidate who has already shown feel to hold and alter velocity despite lackluster shaping. His mid-to-upper 80's cutter-slider variance is a lethal plus out pitch, darting under the zone late in its trajectory and playing well off the heat, and he likes to use it. There is a newer-ish power curve with some 12-6 shape in the bag that has shown solid initial returns and could be an alternate secondary to miss bats with at the next level, mixing shape off his slider. A supinator, he has worked a mid 80's kick change into the mix and while it is fringy, it has enough there to keep right handers alert to an arm side option. A strong athlete who is also a sneaky good hitter in the box, he has a fluid, low-effort delivery that he repeats well with a higher release point; though his approach is to miss bats and he can be prone to fringy command and leaving heat over the plate making him home run prone. There are enough markers to project some near-average control and command. He has a real argument as LHP1 from the collegiate side, but comes with relief risk without sharpening a more true tertiary and arm side offering, but has the baseline of a glove-side dominant starter who handles shorter stints twice through an order near the front of a rotation at his peaks, not overtly dissimilar to early-stage Blake Snell though without the Cy Young certificates.
No. 40 Overall - Los Angeles Dodgers
Selection: Bo Lowrance
Position/School: SS, Christ Church Episcopal HS (SC)
Analysis:
Lowrance is among the top power upside prep bats in the class thanks to his projectable frame and swing foundation. A long-limbed left-handed hitter, his swing can look overtly easy through the zone finishing with natural extension. Hitters with limbs like this have an uncommon ability to get to balls out of the zone more easily than balls on the inner half, leaving any mistake punishable by long launch and hard contact to any part of the field. It also leaves holes created by the long levers, making Lowrance a power/whiff prototype until he fully learns to harness his frame and body control, which could come with strength gains as he fills out his lean 6-foot-5 frame. He has shown high contact marks against top arms and does well staying inside the zone with swing decisions, which could flip him as a 40/45 hit tool and 55/60 power at his peak as he learns to turn on the ball more regularly (impactful) though it may take time and reps in development to reach his full upside. While he can run and is a fair athlete, his defensive future in on a corner. A shortstop with a strong, accurate arm; his size and limited first step should push him to third base where he should be serviceable if not good defensively, though he'll have to fine tune how well he keeps the glove down and may shift to first base or the corner outfield where he can utilize his average-or-better speed more fully. With the frame and current power, this is a dream project who could turn into a powerful run producer, though it should take time to put all the ingredients together. He is committed to Virginia.
No. 41 Overall - Chicago White Sox
Selection: Cole Prosek
Position/School: 2B, Magnolia Heights HS (MS)
Analysis:
Prosek is arguably the most advanced prep bat in the class with a lengthy hitting track record both on the summer circuit and with Mississippi-prep powerhouse Magnolia Heights (national HR leader). A left-handed hitter, he has a compact swing with well-controlled levers that help him barrel up pitches in all quadrants. He's an efficient mover in the box and creates quality bat speed, which in turn, allows him to get to his strength and power through natural contact. Physically advanced, the current power is likely near his projection where he gets to 20-25 annual home runs by natural contact order as opposed to pure slugging ability. There are some aggressive tendencies in his approach, though nowhere near a concern to push him off a future above-average or plus hit tool and notable offensive upside. Originally a shortstop, he has been moved around the field this spring in lieu of better defenders at an upper-tier prep program, including fellow prep shortstop prospect Christian Doty. Even without superior defenders, he lacks the mobility for shortstop at higher levels and would be pushed to a corner dirt spot, with third base being the most likely outcome where his above-average arm strength would play with his instinctual defensive chops. He has played some first base and caught a fair amount this spring, with enough positive initial returns to believe it could be a long-term position for him. He is also a solid pitcher but is a bat-value prospect. Buying entirely on the bat here, there is everyday upside and potentially more if the power grade ticks up, with a reasonably high floor from the hit tool from the strong side of a platoon. He is committed to Ole Miss.
No. 42 Overall - Washington Nationals
Selection: Chase Brunson
Position/School: OF, TCU
Analysis:
Brunson turned down a pro career with Toronto out of high school, albeit in the 18th as an attaboy pick, and landed as a full-time run producer the minute he landed in Fort Worth. A righthanded hitter, he has a simple coil and spring operation and takes loud line drive rips with solid barrel adjustability and plate coverage. His strength mixed with his plane allow him to really drive the ball with authority and tap into his solid raw power which should translate into natural order average power, sitting around 20 home runs annually. He will get aggressive on heat and doesn't miss much, while showing some passivity on spin which keeps his whiffs low. There is some well-rounded offensive feel and he should be a place-and-plug throughout any lineup. Defensively, he shifted around the outfield with fellow top draft prospect Sawyer Strosnider, but when he got reps in center field he proved his defensive chops and should be given a chance to develop in center, while his solid arm would fit well in right field. It's a well-rounded toolset that should create a solid everyday player.
No. 43 Overall - Minnesota Twins
Selection: Carson Tinney
Position/School: C, Texas
Analysis:
Tinney is a pure-power backstop who shook off a poor Cape Cod performance into an impressive showing with Texas in his draft-eligible season. A right-handed hitter, he is a composed loader who explodes once reaching his rubber band from a lower launch with a pull-heavy mindset. His power is among tops in the class, both by eye test and data, with 70-raw in the bag that helped him smoke baseballs upwards of 480 feet over the spring. He is tall and physical and always puts a hard rip into his swings, though his contact skills are sub par and limit how much he can get to his plus-plus raw creating some variance in output projections with most seeing 25+ with ease and some peaks north of 30-40 in the years where he hits and gets frequent playing time. It's rare power that creates serious value, though it comes with swing-and-miss (particularly in his wood bat track record) that needs to come down to retain the value. He sees a lot of pitches and will draw his fair share of walks, so if he can sneak a low average and middling on-base with a substantial ISO and SLG, this is an impact bat. Defensively, he is a fundamental backstop whose size limits his mobility but is countered by plus arm strength. There is work to be done to keep him behind the plate, with no real answer to where to place him if he can't catch -- he's a below-average athlete -- adding more variance to the profile. Banking everything on power and a potential impact bat if everything comes around, though swing-and-miss will have to be an acceptance.
No. 44 Overall - Pittsburgh Pirates
Selection: Aiden Ruiz
Position/School: SS, The Stony Brook HS
Analysis:
Ruiz is the best defensive shortstop in the class who served as Team USA's 18U gold-medal winning shortstop and has a budding offensive profile giving him a notable stock rise over the spring. A switch-hitter, he stays low in his stance and deep into his lower half with a bat wrap to create whip; it's an athletic operation where he lets his twitchiness do most of the work with quick hands to shoot the ball line-to-line and make plenty of contact -- quite reminiscent to Orlando Cabrera. While he has an up-the-middle approach, he has fair bat speed and can drive the ball to the gaps and keep pitchers honest with some sneaky pull side pop. Smaller in stature, he has an athletic frame with strength gains ahead but will likely never grow into more than fringe or below-average over-the-fence power. It's not a prototypical slash-and-dash style, though he limits his swing-and-miss and is an above-average runner out of the box with aggression on the base paths. There may be some finish quirks to complete his swing to become more impactful, but there is enough contact to keep the bat in the lineup every day. As is common with New York-based preps will receive unfair comparisons to All-Star caliber New York-based big leaguers with remotely similar traits (Anthony Volpe to Derek Jeter, Lenny Torres Jr. to Marcus Stroman, Sammy Stafura in turn to Anthony Volpe...); which in this case will be Francisco Lindor because of his size, switch-hitting and defensive capabilities, and while these comparisons to potential Hall-of-Famers are stupid and nonsensical, the defensive comparison is actually fair and on par. This is an award-winning level defender at shortstop who has instincts, cadence, athleticism; the whole blend. He's smooth, ranges well to both sides, plays with a high-energy but can also slow the pacing, lets his athleticism permit him into highlight reel plays; in short, he's going to be special at short. The glove will bring positive metric value that will keep him in the lineup everyday while growth to the bat will progressively move him up from the nine-hole. He is committed to Vanderbilt.
No. 45 Overall - Los Angeles Angels
Selection: Jarren Advincula
Position/School: 2B, Georgia Tech
Analysis:
Advincula spent two years at Berkeley before torching the Cape Cod League for a second consecutive summer and transferred to Georgia Tech and became a key part to their prolific offense as contact-specialist. A left-handed hitter, he is among the best slap-and-dash artists in the class with elite bat-to-ball skills and his back foot reared to get out of the box in a hurry. It is a contact focus and ability that breeds impressive batting averages and puts the game in motion. While he can sit back and try to drive the ball on occasion, his slugging will come from dead quails in the right places and his plus speed garnering the extra base. It is fringe raw power and his game is settled into hit over power, with maybe high single digits or low teen annual production at his peaks as his plus bat speed flairs hard contact over-the-fence in sneaky fashion. He can get aggressive and expand the zone as a placement hitter, and as he is tested more frequently against higher-level professional arms, he may have to improve some of his decision making in the box. A plus runner, he is squirrely out of the box, but has yet to use that speed as often on the bases as most would like. It is quick foot speed that helps him range at second base with ease, while his soft hands make him a very good defender in the middle infield that should at least get an outside shot at shortstop development; though his fringy arm strength will keep him at second base. The bat impact and position may dog his overall prospect status but he should be able to hit his way to the big leagues in a backend table-setting role as an everyday second baseman.
No. 46 Overall - Baltimore Orioles
Selection: Ty Head
Position/School: OF, North Carolina State
Analysis: TBD
No. 47 Overall - Athletics
Selection: Mason Edwards
Position/School: LHP, USC
Analysis:
Edwards is a bat-missing southpaw who was one of the best on-mound performers this spring, carrying his name towards LHP1 on the college side. His fastball sits 90-93 and can grab 96 with notable carry and zip through the zone. His breaking ball has some special traits, with an ability to shape it in different ways by manipulation; going from a loopier slurvy curve in the upper 70's that he likes to backfoot on righthanders, to a low 80's slider with more prototypical shape to snap away on lefties. It has become his primary out pitch and is a good one that will play at the next level. His changeup is an active cambio in the low 80's, with solid separation from the heat and good tumbling action. A solid mover, he repeats his delivery well with compact, pump, drop-and-drive mechanics with a higher release point creating deception. While his arsenal was relatively untouchable this spring, he'll have to tighten everything a bit closer to the zone with more feel to land than real ability, but it should in turn become average control and command. There is a fair balance between floor and upside here, with a rotation projection that floats from mid-to-back end pending opinion on fastball and strike quality; with the overall package quite similar to that of Kyle Harrison.
No. 48 Overall - Atlanta Braves
Selection: Kaiden McCarthy
Position/School: RHP, Vermont Academy
Analysis: TBD
No. 49 Overall - Tampa Bay Rays
Selection: Ben Blair
Position/School: Liberty
Analysis: TBD
No. 50 Overall - St. Louis Cardinals
Selection: Rocco Maniscalco
Position/School: SS, Oxford HS (AL)
Analysis:
Maniscalco is a switch-hitting, glove-first prep shortstop who reclassed from 2027 and is on the verge of becoming the youngest player ever drafted at 17 years and 71-72 days, potentially only usurped by Jared Grindlinger who is two weeks younger in this class. A switch-hitter, he is a short loader with a relatively simple line drive swing from both sides, though does look more picturesque from the left side, as per usual. He keeps the barrel in the zone for a good amount of time and has high-end bat speed with a projectable frame that should give him average or better power projection from both sides of the plate. There is some length in the swing, but most believe this will iron out as he matures physically. He scuffled a bit over the spring which some believe was partial pressing and brought some questions about the hit tool, but not enough to deter the belief he can hit for average and power in the long run. There are no questions about his defensive prowess where he is a smooth and easy mover at shortstop with the ability to throw from multiple angles with plus arm strength. He has the advanced instincts and cadence with all the athletic tools to be a positive value defender at a premium defensive home. Teams do want to balance how he develops physically so as to not lose a step from his average-ish run tool, but even a step loss would keep him at shortstop long term. This is a substantial upside play who will pop on models thanks to his age (he turns 18 in May 2027) with power potential at a premium defensive position. He is committed to Mississippi State.
No. 51 Overall - Pittsburgh Pirates
Selection: Chris Rembert
Position/School: 2B, Auburn
Analysis:
Rembert had a massive freshman season that led to a big summer with Team USA's collegiate club, but recovery from an ankle injury pushed him a step back from his mid first-round chances as a draft-eligible sophomore; however, not enough for teams to not believe in the bat. A right-handed hitter, he has a quick and whippy swing and makes consistent hard contact despite some bat wrap and rigid planting tendencies. The swing is conducive for explosiveness, with some of the best bat speed in the class and a strong frame behind it, though he doesn't pull the ball as often as most would like which limits his over-the-fence prowess. He is compactly-strong and has all the tools to be a power hitter and may have plus raw that lands him into average power production if he alters some plane and approach quirks. Much more aggressive this spring than the one prior, there's some perplexity on what the patience and decision making really is as he chased breakers a bit more often this spring and saw a swing-and-miss rise. The ingredients are ripe for an impact bat who hits for average and power with on-base abilities, but they haven't been mixed together just yet. A shortstop in high school, he is an athletic fielder with shortstop actions (sounds hands and range) at second base where he is a quality defender where his middling foot speed and average arm strength likely keeps him as opposed to anytime spent at shortstop in development. There is a baseline for a productive everyday second baseman who hits anywhere in the lineup, though the variance questions arose this spring as the performance took a step down; and in short, things will have to be pieced together in development to reach the previous polished offense and notable upside.
No. 52 Overall - Miami Marlins
Selection: Ethan Kleinschmit
Position/School: LHP, Oregon State (OR)
Analysis:
Kleinschmit jumped into the Oregon State rotation after one year at Linn-Benton JC (Ore.) and immediately produced with his unique pitch shapes. His fastball sits 90-92 and touches 95 but plays up with plus carry, flirting with 20"+ IVB. He pairs it with a duo of secondaries led by a flatter plane sweeper in the upper 70's that slings across the zone with late and active life. His mid 80's changeup took steps forward over the spring, with an odder shape from how he turns it over and now looks like an out pitch to righties. His delivery is fluid and athletic though comes with an unorthodox inverted arm action with a higher release point. He has no problem filling the zone and throwing competitive strikes. He can create outs to all parts of the zone and throws plenty of strikes which give him some intriguing 4/5 rotation upside that may fit a more modern starter who flips through the order twice in shorter stints.
No. 53 Overall - Arizona Diamondbacks
Selection: Carson Kerce
Position/School: SS, Georgia Tech
Analysis:
Kerce was seen frequently as a three-year starter and the current leadoff man for Georgia Tech, taking the shortstop reins from Kyle Lodise and Payton Green ahead of him, while hitting in front of premier draft prospects this spring. A right-handed hitter, he has a simple setup and swing where he fires with a flatter line drive cut that produces hard and frequent contact to all fields. His batted ball metrics rival the best in the country, though his bat path and modest bat speed limit his power with not much expected to come following with only fringe raw and below-average projection. The data may force some swing tweaks in development to get into some power, though the contact rates, minimal swing-and-miss and feel to drive the ball to the gaps with regularity are enough to let the bat play. He is disciplined and stays inside the zone with his swing decisions adding to the offensive profile. An average runner with middling foot speed, he is a serviceable shortstop who should see development time at the position, though third or second base is likely his destination with the hot corner likelihood thanks to above-average arm strength. The hit tool and glove versatility give him utility projection, while power gains could jump the profile to an everyday role at a non-premium dirt home.
No. 54 Overall - Texas Rangers
Selection: Connor Comeau
Position/School: SS, Anderson HS (TX)
Analysis:
Comeau is a model-darling who has frame projection, showcase performance, carrying offensive tools and youth to his (and selecting team's) advantage. His left-handed swing is a compact, low-effort cut with plenty of zone coverage where he makes consistent hard contact to all fields. His lean 6-foot-4 frame has significant physical gains ahead and with his present bat speed and wiry strength that gives him average-or-better raw power, above-average in-game power is an easy projection given his natural ability to make contact. He has made solid swing decisions as an amateur and should have a well-rounded offensive profile hitting for average and power at at least an average clip. A natural shortstop, he will be moving to a corner quickly, if not immediately, into his development. He is a below-average runner and can get heavy footed, though his actions on the dirt are good enough to try him at the hot corner where his above-average arm strength could fit, as could a move to right field if he can quicken his first step. He is also a fair prospect on the mound that can touch 94 and throw a decent slider for strikes. He does not turn 18 until mid-August adding to his overall profile. While the future defensive home is in question and his physical maturation may take patience, there is impact upside at the plate which should make him an everyday player. He is committed to Texas A&M.
No. 55 Overall - San Francisco Giants
Selection: Kaden Waechter
Position/School: RHP, Jesuit HS (FL)
Analysis: TBD
No. 56 Overall - Kansas City Royals
Selection: Jack Slightom
Position/School: RHP, Lyons Township HS (IL)
Analysis: TBD
No. 57 Overall - Houston Astros
Selection: Wes Mendes
Position/School: LHP, Florida State
Analysis:
Mendes is a pitchability southpaw with quality stuff who became a two-year starter for Florida State after one year of relief at Ole Miss, with his final year with the Seminoles showing him as one of the best arms in the nation. His fastball sits 91-93 and touches 96 with modest carry, and is more suited as a setup heater that putaway pitch. His changeup is a plus out pitch, with incredible actions and 12-14 mph velo separation from his heater, tumbling under bats and creating plenty of empty swings. He can vary breaking shapes with a tight slider in the low 80's that he'll shorten into a mid 80's cutter, while his curveball gives him a softer change-of-pace option. An impressive on-mound athlete, he has a well-paced and easy delivery that help get down the mound immensely well and lets him throw strikes at a high clip. There is pitchability with an out pitch that give notable rotation upside towards the middle of a 3/4 split where he'll provide value innings.
No. 58 Overall - Cincinnati Reds
Selection: Eric Becker
Position/School: SS, Virginia
Analysis:
Becker is one of the more decorated hitters in the class with three-years of ACC performance under his belt. A left-handed hitter, he has a short and quiet load that puts him in a quality hitting position and he fires with a smooth, efficient line drive swing that produces plenty of contact. It's a direct rip with a natural plane that allows him to hit the ball to all fields. While presently strong, there are some strength gains ahead, which paired with his strong hands and quality bat speed should allow him to tap into his average or better raw power. He may need to catch the ball out front more often and get some path tweaks to become a slugger, but it is more likely he'll have peaks and valleys in terms of home run counts anywhere from 15-30 just through natural contact and hitability. He is a bit aggressive in the box, but the hit tool carries here to a relatively safe floor. Like most of his game, there is subtlety in his defensive prowess at shortstop where he's fine, not great, and gets the job done. He seems to want to play shortstop and puts in the work to stay which should lead to a lengthy development at the position, but he's a solid defender at third base which will likely be his listed position at peak. His younger brother, Nick, was the 57th overall pick in 2025. There is a notable floor here, with power additions maybe giving him some Midsummer Classic votes at his peak; it is subtly a very good prospect and player.
No. 59 Overall - Cleveland Guardians
Selection: Logan Schmidt
Position/School: LHP, Ganesha HS (CA)
Analysis:
Schmidt is a rotation upside prep southpaw who showed advanced pitchability of the summer showcase circuit and will be among the youngest arms in the draft class after reclassifying from 2027. His fastball made jumps over the calendar year and now sits 93-95 with his four-seamer, frequently hitting 96-97 even late into outings for good measure; and while his heater is on the flatter end it gets on hitters quick and has a higher perceived velocity due to solid extension. He has tinkered with a cutter and two-seam, both of which fall into the 90-92 bucket, to create better fastball shapes. He'll split a pair of breaking balls, with his upper 70's curve with top-down action being the primary swing-and-miss breaker, and a more horizontal slider to change pacing and given a glove side look. His changeup may be his best pitch, with excellent fading action while selling it well off the heater with arm speed feel and double-digit velocity separation. He has shown an aptitude for pitching off his off-speed if the heater is getting cheated; an advanced feel for his age bracket. He has strength throughout his 6-foot-4 frame which helps him repeat his simple delivery and fill the zone with advanced command of his arsenal and already present above-average strike-throwing ability. He is also a subtly good hitter. While he is younger than most of the class helping his model, he is physically advanced with a strong workhorse frame; which paired with his advanced pitchability and feel to locate, it is easy to project a long-term mid-rotation future. He is committed to LSU.
No. 60 Overall - San Diego Padres
Selection: Elliot Lascelles
Position/School: SS, Upper Canada College HS (ON)
Analysis:
Lascelles is the top Canadian position player in the class who has put together a solid hitting track record, including hitting against pro arms this spring while playing for Canada's junior national club. A left-handed hitter, he is one of the top contact hitters in the class with a short, barrel-driven cut. He can get upper-half dominant and his load can create a high back elbow in turn creating a downhill bat path and heavy worm killing, but his feel for contact makes him a tough out and gives him a carrying tool. He has below-average bat speed and his contact focus can take away from intent in his swing, though his physical gains over the last calendar year paired with some balance in the swing could get him to low double-digit home run totals by natural contact order. He is a rare whiff, particularly in-zone. He is capable of posting plus run times, which paired with his contact skills could make him a table-setting candidate. He has solid footwork on the dirt and some quick burst to match his natural speed making him fairly rangy, while his arm grades around average giving him an early development look at shortstop and eventual push to second base. With his contact skills and speed, there is some table-setting upside, though he will have to gain a half grade power and/or glove to profile as an everyday man as opposed to a strong platoon, versatile middle infielder. He is committed to Yale.
No. 61 Overall - Detroit Tigers
Selection: Tyson LeBlanc
Position/School: SS, Kansas
Analysis:
LeBlanc carried a strong Northwoods League performance to his only year at Kansas where he was the Jayhawks primary contributor, tied some program records and became one of the top performing shortstops in the nation. He has an accurate and quick barrel from the right side, where he can extend his arms and cover the outer half with some strength. Physically advanced but not peaked, he can put some force behind the ball and leave the park and should be able to produce over-the-fence at a modest clip, around 15-20 every year. He will expand on occasion and has a bat wrap that can cause some timing swing-and-miss at the rail, but the swing decisions are fine and should allow him to tap into a near-average offensive profile. Manning shortstop, he is a good athlete with a strong arm that should keep him at short through mid-development, though the general footspeed and eventual physical peaks may push him to third base. The big conference performance from a shortstop carries a lot of weight into prospect clout, while raw 50's across the board usually turn into solid big-leaguers who land everyday jobs; there is upside here.
No. 62 Overall - Chicago Cubs
Selection: Caden Sorrell
Position/School: OF, Texas A&M
Analysis:
Sorrell was a touted prep who landed in College Station and stuck around post-Schlossnagle while being the Aggies primary run producer for the better part of three years, showcasing some of the best power-speed tools in the class. A lefthanded hitter, he has a notable barrel tip and an aggressive approach that take away some his hitability and accurate barrel. He has a steeper swing plane that paired with his barrel accuracy and notable strength, allow him to drive the ball with authority and tap into his plus raw power more frequently than not and should hit 25-30 home runs at his hitting peaks. He is an aggressive hitter who will ambush heaters, but has shown struggles with spin that has led to plenty of swing-and-miss and hit tool variance. He will need to fine tune his swing decisions and improve his pitch recognition to tap into what is a substantial offensive upside. Defensively, he shifted to center field this spring after the departure of Jace Laviolette and proved he has solid feel for the position where he tracks well and shows aggression with athleticism; aided by plus pure speed. His plus arm strength would fit in right field where if he can't handle center, he may be a plus or better defender in the corner. He has a scattering of plus tools in his power, speed and glove, that if it all clicks, creates a star-powered player; but it all comes with some notable variance. He is the grandson of both former 14-year big league pitcher Tom Griffin and 3-year utility big leaguer Billy Sorrell; while his father Greg was drafted but not signed by the Red Sox.
No. 63 Overall - New York Yankees
Selection: Sean Duncan
Position/School: LHP, Terry Fox Secondary HS (BC)
Analysis:
Duncan is an advanced pitchability prep southpaw with rotation upside; and is the top prospect in the class from Canada who shined on the summer showcase circuit. His fastball has jumped buckets over the calendar year, going from the upper 80's to sitting 92-95 and touching 97. He has excellent feel for his mid 80's changeup, tunneling it well with his heater and holding arm speed, making it a potential plus weapon with notable fade. He can spin a breaking ball with solid spin rates and shape, giving him a fair, if not modest, tertiary option that has shown constant progression. His whole arsenal plays up with his ability to locate and change speeds, while more power (or sustained power) should come as he continues filling out his 6-foot-3 frame. He has a loose, easy delivery that he repeats, getting down the mound well and firing from a slightly higher 3/4 release. With his projectable frame, advanced pitchability and feel for three pitches, he has all the markers of a long-term starter who should throw valuable innings in the middle-to-back of a rotation. He is committed to Vanderbilt.
No. 64 Overall - Philadelphia Phillies
Selection: Caden Bogenpohl
Position/School: OF, Missouri State
Analysis:
Bogenpohl is the same size as Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham which gives him some of the best raw power in the class, countered by solid walk rates which saw him have the most combined walks (160) across all college ball over his three years in Division-1. A lefthanded hitter, the swing is built for damage with a high back elbow and super steep cut with aggression when he pulls the trigger. The bat speed, physicality behind it and plane he gets to allow him to tap into his 70 raw; and he could project to be a 25+ home run slugger if he can sync up his swing and rein in some version of a hit tool. Swing-and-miss is a big part of his game, as is walking at a high clip; and while he stays inside the zone with most of his decisions, he can get beat in the zone. The walks and patience will counter balance some of the whiffs, though the pure hit tool and swing mechanics will have to improve to be a pure power-patience producer. Defensively, he has good feel in center field and has a chance to stick though his profile is much better suited for right field where his above-average athletic tools could make him a plus defender in the corner. The power and patience give him substantial upside but the hit tool has to come around to get there, simple as that.
No. 65 Overall - Seattle Mariners
Selection: Jake Brown
Position/School: OF, LSU
Analysis:
Brown was a touted two-way prep who got an attaboy pick (as a pitcher) by the Rangers in the 16th in 2023, but instead of pro ball landed as a day-one starter at LSU and was tracking towards a top-50 selection this spring before breaking his hamate and seeing his season end prematurely. A lefthanded hitter, he is simple in the box and fires with an accurate barrel with incredible adjustability and zone coverage proving some plus contact skills. His ability to find the barrel with frequency paired with his natural athletic strength allow him to tap into his above-average raw power, mostly pull side, and he should produce power at an average clip at his peak. He has a balanced approach and limits his swing-and-miss against heat but can struggle against spin and doesn't have much success against lefties, leading to some platoon projections. Defensively, he played right field in deference of Jay Johnson's rotating athletic rotation in center field, but proved enough defensive prowess to land in center field in development where he might stick and be a value defender letting his feel for the grass, athleticism and plus flatline speed play well. While he doesn't currently hold a plus tool, his performance and flurry of above-average tools lean to a strong side platoon projection; and if he can handle lefties better, some above-average regular grades.
No. 66 Overall - Milwaukee Brewers
Selection: Sawyer Strosnider
Position/School: OF, TCU
Analysis:
Strosnider is a bag of impact tools waiting to explode similar to how it did as a freshman at TCU who posted a semi-historic statistical season that he didn't necessarily backup as a draft-eligible sophomore. A lefthanded hitter, he has a clean and fluid operation with an efficiently aligned, picturesque line drive swing. He creates solid bat speed and has impressive wiry strength paired with explosive athleticism in the swing that helps smother the ball and tap into his plus raw. His aggressive tendencies dissipated as a sophomore where he was near passive, though he would still expand on swing decisions creating some concerns about the generalized hit tool. If there is a balance to be had and the swing decisions improve, he could be a 30 home run producer who sees just below-average BA/OBP on the slash lines, which is still an impactful bat. A plus runner who split center field duties with fellow top draft prospect Chase Brunson, he proved his defensive chops in center this year and should be able to stick due to his raw athleticism and feel. He has played right field at a fair clip and has a plus arm to back him which may make him a special defender in the corner. It is still more of tools-over-polish creating some variance but staring down the barrel of potentially four plus tools is exhilarating and tapping into those tools to a full degree would make him a star player.
Competitive Balance Round B
No. 67 Overall — Boston Red Sox
Selection: Owen Hull
Position/School: OF, North Carolina
Analysis:
Hull was a massive producer for George Mason as a draft-eligible sophomore but landed in Chapel Hill via the portal and saw his performance take another massive step in conference play into some postseason heroics for the CWS runner-up Tarheels. A lefthanded hitter, he is a short loader and makes loads of contact with near deliberate bat-to-ball skills. While he has fair bat speed and can impact the ball pull side, he drives balls into the ground more often than not with a tougher plane and lessened leverage, and hasn't been able to tap into his above-average raw power with any frequency. He is a patient hitter who limits his swing-and-miss, which leads to some thinking a swing shift under professional development hands could give him an extra offensive gear where he simmers around 5's down the board. A plus runner, he is aggressive with his speed on the basepaths and is a constant stolen base threat. That same speed has helped him transition from right field to center field where he is still a bit raw but has the initial tools to stick long term. The tools and frame combination give him everyday upside, but it may take some tweaks to his swing making him a very enticing development project.
No. 68 Overall — St. Louis Cardinals
Selection: Andrew Williamson
Position/School: OF, Central Florida
Analysis:
Williamson is an undersized outfielder who provides serious thump backed by a loud wood bat track record. A lefthanded hitter, his swing is quite polarizing as an overtly whippy cut that comes with a busy load and ever-moving pieces into explosivity creating mixed opinions on his actual hit tool and next level timing against heaters. The whip and his strength create explosivity through the zone and at contact which allows him to hit for power to all fields and project for 20-25 home runs at his peaks. He has shown good selectivity in the box but can get trigger happy against spin and see whiffs climb if his swing isn't in a simpler mode. It's potentially impact offensive tools if the hit tool is legitimate. Defensively, he has played all over the outfield and should continue to get reps at all spots with a fair chance to land in center or right where his above-average speed and arm would play well. There is some variance in the swing but if all tools hit projection there is an above-average regular ceiling without squinting. He is the nephew of former 13-year big leaguer Sean Rodriguez.
No. 69 Overall — Detroit Tigers
Selection: Evan Dempsey
Position/School: RHP, Florida Gulf Coast
Analysis:
Dempsey is among the top two-way players in the class who front lined Gulf Coast's offense each of his three years but rotation duties the last two seasons led to more fans of his mound talents. His fastball sits 92-93 and grabs 94-95 early with solid carry but plays up more from his lower slot and ability (and desire) to pin it on the upper rail. His low 80's curveball has special spin traits with regular 3000+ rpm spin rates with plenty of depth and plus potential as he toys it with a more linear approach slider in a similar velocity bucket but separate shape making his breaking duo more presently above-average. He has a mid 80's changeup in the bag that he has not gone to with much regularity. He is an impressive and athletic mover on the mound who finishes up front helping him fill the zone with strikes. He will have to improve how often he repeats his arm slot and sustains his stuff throughout workloads, which should make massive jumps as he scraps hitting and defense. At the plate, he is a comfortable contact hitter from the left side and athletically gifted outfielder, and would be considered a later-round prospect as a position player. There are tools here to see a rotation future as he places focus on pitching, and notable on-mound upside.
No. 70 Overall - Cincinnati Reds
Selection: Mulivai Levu
Position/School: 1B, UCLA
Analysis:
Levu has been a three-year starter for UCLA and spent his draft-eligible season hitting behind Roch Cholowsky, becoming one of the best run producers for the nation's top ranked team and across the country. A left-handed hitter, he has a unique setup in the visual-only aspect of a reverse Paul Goldschmidt with his hands above his head and barrel pointed towards the stairs of the first base dugout. As he loads and coils, the bat stays wrapped which creates impressive whip and bat speed, and he swings with so much rotational force he regularly has recoil at the swings completion. It's an aggressive swing that produces notable power to all fields and above-average power projection, though it doesn't diminish from his solid bat-to-ball skills and ability to adjust and cover the zone. While his whiffs are down, he is an aggressive hitter who will expand the zone, though the overall offensive skillset has the makings of an above-average run producer who hits for average and power. Primarily a first baseman only with the Bruins, he takes pregame infield at third base and has pinched at the hot corner a handful of times with decent enough returns to expect him to get a chance at third in early development. He is fine, if not good, defender at first base who can pick well and get throws to second with relative ease. The bat is the carrying trait here with power and hitability to see a middle-of-the-order, run-producing future.
No. 71 Overall — Miami Marlins
Selection: Ryan Peterson
Position/School: RHP, Sam Houston
Analysis: TBD
No. 72 Overall - St. Louis Cardinals
Selection: Dawson Montesa
Position/School: RHP, West Virginia
Analysis: TBD
No. 73 Overall - Athletics
Selection: Gabe Gaeckle
Position/School: RHP, Arkansas
Analysis: TBD
No. 74 Overall — Minnesota Twins
Selection: Brett Renfrow
Position/School: RHP, Virginia Tech
Analysis: TBD
Compensation Pick
No. 75 Overall - Chicago Cubs
Selection: Myles Bailey
Position/School: 1B, Florida State
Analysis:
Bailey was a touted Florida prep thanks to his prodigious power, but landed in Tallahassee where that power landed with him, hitting 19 home runs with a .337 ISO as a freshman, followed by 13 home runs and nation-leading .913 slugging percentage and .550 ISO as a draft-eligible sophomore before a severe ankle injury that required surgery ended his season at 26 games. Everything about the profile begins and ends with the raw power, which is arguably the top of the class. He swings for damage and doesn't take a swing off, with an uphill attack with outstanding bat speed and physicality behind each rip. It is borderline 80-raw and when he connects it comes with elite exits and distance, with even mishit balls going 400 feet. The hit tool is a serious question though, and how often he can get to the power will dictate his stock and profile. Despite improvements as a sophomore, he strikes out at a 1/4 clip and will likely see that turn into a 1/3 clip at the talent scale shifts. He walks at a solid clip and his swing decisions in general are fine, but the aggressive hacks create some unsustainable whiffs that need to come down to get to his enormous offensive upside. Physically advanced at 6-foot-4 and 230+, he is a fair athlete for his size and teams could try him out at third base where his arm might play, but his limited footspeed will land him at first base in the long haul. The ankle injury dampened his stock which was skyrocketing, and scouts weren't able to see the full extent of his approach adjustments which could mean a return to college for a junior season may be in line, but power of this kind is hard to find on any open baseball market and the upside is substantial; he'd be hard for clubs to let return to school and may see a high selection regardless of limited views and an extreme variance hit tool.
Third Round
No. 76 Overall - Colorado Rockies
Selection: Jack Natili
Position/School: C, Cincinnati
Analysis:
Natili is a power-hitting backstop with three years of starting experience behind the plate. A right-handed hitter, he is torqued out from the outset and unleashes a swing with fury to do damage pull side, though that comes with plenty of length in the swing and contact concerns. He has impressive bat speed and swings with a steep plane allowing him to tap into his notable, plus raw power and hit the ball over-the-fence to all parts of the park, including while doing so with a wood bat. He makes consistently sound swing decisions but has alarming whiffs on all types of pitches and will may have to find a balance while toning down his swing. Pure raw power is the carrying trait here. Behind the plate, he is fine with some instinctual assets and a strong arm that keeps him sub 2.0 on a good chunk of his pops. He isn't as explosive and mobile as you'd like to see out of an everyday backstop, but there's catch-and-throw foundation here to believe he can stick. Everything revolves around the power that could lead to an archetype that usually grows into an everyday big league spot at catcher; while the hit tool will dictate how much upside he gets to.
No. 77 Overall - Chicago White Sox
Selection: Joey Volchko
Position/School: RHP, Georgia
Analysis: TBD
No. 78 Overall - Washington Nationals
Selection: Luke Williams
Position/School: SS, Franklin Regional HS
Analysis:
Williams is one of the best athletes in the class who has game-changing tools with little polish. He has an explosive line drive swing from the right side with high-end bat speed and natural loft that gives him present and projectable raw power. There are some trigger inconstancies that need to be refined to get the hit tool right, but with his constant pull-heavy attack mode, swing-and-miss may be a natural part of his game. He is a borderline 80 runner who will run at free will causing havoc when putting the ball in play. An ankle injury held him out of summer play, but there have been no regression markers during or after his recovery; it's still plus-plus speed. That same speed helps him defensively as he is a twitchy, high-energy defender who borders errant; though it is high-end athleticism and high-level compete who will see time at shortstop and/or center field with long term projection. His arm is near top of the class, maybe a hair step down from the Masyn Winn's of the world and more generalized in the Jorge Mateo category, but nonetheless an easy plus-plus arm and enough to dream on pitching as a fallback if the hit tool doesn't come around. There are impact tools with plenty of his upside hinging on a variable hit tool; mass upside play here. He is committed to Vanderbilt.
No. 79 Overall - Minnesota Twins
Selection: Ethan Wachsmann
Position/School: RHP, Grandview HS
Analysis: TBD
No. 80 Overall - Pittsburgh Pirates
Selection: Jason DeCaro
Position/School: RHP, North Carolina
Analysis: TBD
No. 81 Overall - Los Angeles Angels
Selection: Gavin Grahovac
Position/School: 3B, Texas A&M
Analysis:
Grahovac was a prep prospect from Southern California but saw an up-and-down senior season and landed on campus at College Station where he has been one of the nation's top bats since landing -- minus a shortened 2025 season that ended with left shoulder surgery -- and jumped up boards this spring while showcasing his power upside and cutting down on his whiffs. A right-handed hitter, he has an eccentrically quick swing that covers a lot of the plate. He rivals anyone in the class in terms of pure bat speed and raw power, with an ability to get to it in games with some ease. While he can get aggressive and struggles against breaking stuff, he has little excess movement in his operation and has a swing foundation for enough contact and hitability to get to his power. He is strong and physical, and should see 30+ home runs at his peak with potential frequency as the hit tool progresses. He has moved around the corner infield in college and should get a chance to play third base in pro ball where his above-average arm strength could carry the defensive skillset, though his footwork and errancy likely lands him at first base with an outside chance at left field. He comes from an impressive baseball lineage with a father who played three years in the minors and is a touted coach in Southern California, and is cousins with Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell. There is plenty of upside in the bat with power being the carrying tool, while a move to first base may place more emphasis on the hit tool, he projects as an everyday run producing corner bat.
No. 82 Overall - Baltimore Orioles
Selection: Dominic Voegele
Position/School: RHP, Kansas
Analysis: TBD
No. 83 Overall - Athletics
Selection: Jacob Dudan
Position/School: RHP, North Carolina State
Analysis: TBD
No. 84 Overall - Atlanta Braves
Selection: Jensen Hirschkorn
Position/School: RHP, Kingsburg HS (CA)
Analysis: TBD
No. 85 Overall - Tampa Bay Rays
Selection: Gavin Giese
Position/School: RHP, Dana Hills HS (CA)
Analysis: TBD
No. 86 Overall - St. Louis Cardinals
Selection: Caden Ferraro
Position/School: OF, Texas Tech
Analysis: TBD
No. 87 Overall - Miami Marlins
Selection: Cam Kozeal
Position/School: SS, Arkansas
Analysis: TBD
No. 88 Overall - Arizona Diamondbacks
Selection: Brayden Dowd
Position/School: OF, Florida State
Analysis:
Dowd was a two-year starter and table-setting performer for USC before transferring to Florida State for his draft-eligible season where he continued to produce at a high clip. A lefthanded hitter, he has progressively made his coil and spring load more fluid and natural, while his compact swing helps him make loads of contact to all fields. His size and middling bat speed limit his power output, and while he can sneak a handful or so home runs pull side, his raw power is mostly fringy and he shouldn't see more than 10-15 home runs at his ultimate peaks. He makes his money in the box with his swing decisions and patience where he is geared to simply reach base under any circumstance, which includes limiting his outs at the plate making him a prime candidate for a strong side leadoff platoon. Defensively, he has and can play the entire outfield with direct routes and fair closing speed. Mostly an average runner with a lesser arm, he'll likely see a lean to left field at his peaks and limited time in right field, though his naturalness in the field could keep him in center field long term. How much he impacts the ball will dictate how much upside he really has, but there is a high-floor with his contact and on-base skills matched the side he swings from and his positional value.
No. 89 Overall - Texas Rangers
Selection: Brody Bumila
Position/School: LHP, Bishop Feehan HS (MA)
Analysis:
Bumila is a mass-sized prep southpaw who's 6-foot-9, 250-pound listing is an identical listing to LeBron James. While he does not have a future Hall-of-Fame hardwood career ahead of him, he is a decorated two-sport athlete with basketball on the pedigree, including a senior season where he averaged 30+ points and 15+ boards (40+ pts, 20+ rebounds avg in playoffs) as the leading man of the Massachusetts state championship team. Despite his basketball success, his future is on the mound which he returned to following the hardwood season after missing his junior campaign after having internal brace surgery on his throwing elbow. His return quickly made him one of the highest cold-weather risers in draft class, coming out of the gate hitting triple digits with improved body control and general command. His fastball sits 95-97 and hit 100 early this spring, coming with high spins from a low 3/4 release that give it elite carry and run to his arm side as a lively plus-plus heater. He pairs it well with a low 80's changeup that has similar arm side action with good fade, though needs consistency. His slider has taken strides this spring, though it still acts as a short glove side break cutter that varies in velocity from the mid 80's into the low 90's; while his loopier curveball remains a show-me, change-of-pace offering. While he has arm side weapons, finding a true glove side breaking ball will be a development focus. Mechanically, he has an easy drop-and-drive delivery while his natural size create a perceived low-effort operation, hiding the ball well until his low 3/4 release. The ball comes out of his hand well and despite some needed release point tweaks he has improved his strike-throwing and should have average control in the long haul. While his command and secondaries need attention, pitchers with his size, power and athleticism are rare, and he has immense rotation upside. He is committed to Texas.
No. 90 Overall - San Francisco Giants
Selection: Peyton Bonds
Position/School: OF, Rutgers
Analysis:
Bonds has a historic surname and lineage but his physical tools and actual skill will be the carrying traits to a promising career. A righthanded hitter, he has a relatively simple operation and fires quickly through the zone with a linear swing. His raw power supersedes his in-game for the time being with 120+ EV's with a metal bat in the bag and plus raw power displayed in batting practice backed by his substantial frame, but his ability to get on plane and not kill worms will be a development focus. An aggressive hitter, he will put the game in motion but isn't overly susceptible to swing-and-miss out of the zone with solid plate coverage and good feel for contact. It's a mostly polarizing offensive package, potentially because of expectancy by name, with differing opinions on whether to toy with the swing mechanics to get to his plus raw or to just simply let his pure hitability carry the profile. His physical tools standout on defense where he is an above-average runner help him in center field where he has some ease and solid actions that should keep him there long term. His run tool gains a half grade with his ability to use it on the basepaths, making him a likely plus runner. From a raw tools perspective, he is littered with 6's in a more raw upside setting, but most likely teams will toy with his swing to get to the upside. From this chair, there is a potential leadoff man, but there's room for argument in multiple directions with little argument that the name is not the reason he will have serious prospect clout and become a big leaguer. He is the son of former 11-year professional Bobby Jr., the grandson of former 14-year big leaguer Bobby Sr., and the nephew of the all-time home run leader Barry.
No. 91 Overall - Kansas City Royals
Selection: Maxx Yehl
Position/School: LHP, West Virginia
Analysis:
Yehl is a tall, physical southpaw who is one of the best bounce back arms in the class after missing 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. His fastball sits 90-93 and peaks at 95 with solid sink. His heater sets up his mid 80's sweeper with impressive two-plane break, darting below the zone and backfooting on right handers, a true plus breaker. He has a low 80's curveball with more top-down break in the bag, but relies heavily on his fastball-slider combo. He is tall with fair limb control through his crossfire delivery, creating plenty of deception, and saw dramatic improvements on finding a consistent release point this past spring. Well filled and into his 22nd year, there is some sustainable strength gains ahead that could also enhance his fastball velocity. While there are some sinker-slider traits, his future is likely destined for the bullpen where he could be a high-leverage arm that misses bats at a high clip.
No. 92 Overall - New York Mets
Selection: Aiden Robbins
Position/School: OF, Texas
Analysis:
Robbins has one of the better hitting track records that moved him from Seton Hall to Texas for his draft-eligible season, and moved the needle on his draft stock towards the first round. A righthanded hitter, his load and swing all start and end with a steepness that has helped him be airborne with frequency as he has a countering forward-backward shift at the point of contact, limiting some groundball issues for players of similar swing paths. He is strong and has athletic explosion in the swing, paired with his uphill path, allow him to tap into his above-average raw power and should leave the yard at an average clip as his swing decisions improve. An aggressive ambusher, he can get himself into trouble and will swing-and-miss at higher rates than desired when not missiling early-count heat. An aggressive runner who earns a half grade to the run tool on his average or better actual speed, he is a stolen base threat by savviness as opposed to outright speed. The entire offensive operation is not very dissimilar to that of Zach Neto. Defensively, he played center field this spring and showed solid athleticism but his actions are more suited for a corner with right field being the likely destination. There are impact tools here, and some proof of ability to use them, which should average out into an everyday hitter.
No. 93 Overall - Houston Astros
Selection: Keon Johnson
Position/School: SS, First Presbyterian Day HS (GA)
Analysis:
Johnson has been a long-time follow as an underclass standout on the showcase circuit and has progressed well into a rounded toolset. A right-handed hitter, he coils and springs with a focus on pulling the ball in the air and letting his strong hands make adjustments to make hard and frequent contact. He has solid bat speed and has filled out his 6-foot-2 frame well which has created some budding power that should in-time be average or better. He has an advanced approach, staying in zone with swing decisions and waiting out pitches to attack pull side, wasting few swings and taking his walks when given. The overall offensive tools create a well-rounded and polished profile while the patience on power and frame could give some full slash line upside. With the physical gains, he has slowed down substantially from being an above-average runner to fringe runner and may continue losing a step as he adds to the frame. Despite the step back on the run tool, he is still a fine athlete who can handle shortstop. While it is more instinctual than skill, he has smooth hands and above-average arm strength that will keep him on the left side of the infield and give him a fair chance at sticking at short. While it isn't flashy, there is a well-rounded offensive and defensive toolset here that should project to an everyday future. He is committed to Vanderbilt.
No. 94 Overall - Cincinnati Reds
Selection: Ty Horn
Position/School: RHP, Nebraska
Analysis: TBD
No. 95 Overall - Cleveland Guardians
Selection: Tre Broussard
Position/School: OF, Houston
Analysis:
Broussard is a true burner with impact speed and defense that saw the bat make jumps the last few years including a standout performance in the Cape Cod last summer. A lefthanded hitter, he has a quick flat plane swing that is paired with excellent bat-to-ball skills. He got stronger over the last year and saw his bat speed uptick, but his swing plane and pure strength limit his power to below-average or fringy at best, sneaking some out and keeping pitchers honest. He has a balanced approach knowing that his speed will carry the weight of his offense, so he will lean to aggression when given a pitch to shoot to the gap and his contact focus minimizes his swing-and-miss. A true burner, he has plus-plus flatline and quick burst speed and is a hyper aggressive baserunner giving him base stealing value. That same speed carries into center field where he has a natural feel for the position and looks every bit the part of a future center fielder who tracks and closes with ease; and allows his solid athleticism help him make acrobatic highlight reel plays. Add in a strong and accurate arm and he brings real defensive value as a premium position. The speed and defense create some high-floor bench projection aided by his contact skills, but physical gains and more impact at the plate could flip some projection scripts into an everyday future.
No. 96 Overall - Boston Red Sox
Selection: Jace Mataczynski
Position/School: SS
Analysis:
Mataczynski is multi-sport talent who is an upside project prep with high-end athleticism. A right-handed hitter, he is a short loader who is geared up pre-pitch and lets his long levers do the work which has created some mechanical inconsistencies, leaking to his front side. He has progressively opened up some athleticism in his load which has helped him create a steeper bat path (it was quite flat) and tap into his strength more fluidly and get to his power potential. There is plenty of room to fill into his 6-foot-3 frame and he has current wiry strength which should improve, making him a potential average-or-better power producer. It is a raw offensive package overall, but enough ingredients to tap into some upside. The athletic tools are where he shines as a plus runner with a plus arm. A gifted basketball player, and particularly defender, he moves laterally on the dirt like a hardwood player with easy side-to-side mobility. He also has a plus arm that will keep him on the left side of the infield. He will get errant at times, but the athletic gifts and tools are hard to ignore and will give him a lengthy stay at shortstop. This is purely an upside play with potential for a special outcome if the bat and swing can come around, but will take considerable patience. He is committed to Auburn.
No. 97 Overall - San Diego Padres
Selection: Ryan Lynch
Position/School: RHP, North Carolina
Analysis: TBD
No. 98 Overall - Chicago Cubs
Selection: Carson Jasa
Position/School: RHP, Nebraska
Analysis: TBD
No. 99 Overall - New York Yankees
Selection: Brendan Brock
Position/School: C, Oklahoma
Analysis:
Brock is a tooled-up athlete who was an incredible performing backstop for Southwestern Illinois CC that led to a 14th round selection by Milwaukee, but he turned down pro ball in lieu of a stock climb with Oklahoma. A right-handed hitter, he has a quick and compact swing though can be upper-half dominant that can add length and limits his pure hitting chops. He'll showcase plus raw power in batting practice and has shown some ability to tap into it with a swing plane and wiry strength that aids to a 20+ annual projection. He has alarming swing-and-miss, particularly against secondaries, that will have to be reined in to tap into some impactful offensive tools. A 60/70 runner who likes to run, he has value on the base paths and in the field. Primarily a catcher in junior college, he has an athletic foundation to stick behind the plate backed by plus arm strength; though, he has moved around the outfield and would be a serviceable, if not solid, in the grass corners. If he sticks at catcher, he is somewhat of an anomaly in terms of baserunning value and athleticism, and it may take some pressure off the bat where he can focus solely on driving the ball with force. There is some high-variance here, but it is a fun versatile prospect with notable big-league upside.
No. 100 Overall - Philadelphia Phillies
Selection: Ruger Riojas
Position/School: RHP, Texas
Analysis: TBD
No. 101 Overall - Seattle Mariners
Selection: Nathan Taylor
Position/School: RHP, Cincinnati
Analysis: TBD
No. 102 Overall - Milwaukee Brewers
Selection: Kyle Jones
Position/School: OF, Florida
Analysis:
Jones missed most of his second season of college ball and first with Florida after suffering a season-ending and surgery-needing labrum injury while diving for a ball early in the campaign; but got to show his projectable hit, speed and glove tools as a redshirt sophomore this past spring. A righthanded hitter, he is simple in the box and lands early into his hitting position and fires with a direct and accurate barrel showing some near-elite bat-to-ball skills. While he has plenty of strength gains ahead, his power projection remains limited to fringy or so with a more deliberate swing and bat speed. He has a balanced approach towards putting the game in motion and lets his natural contact skills do most of the work, limiting his outs at the plate and letting his wheels do some damage; giving him some leadoff upside. A plus runner, he is quick out of the box, quick on the basepaths and quick in center field. An aggressive runner, he is a stolen base threat and uses that aggression in the field which paired with his incredible athleticism give him a shot to be an impact defender in center field. His arm will let him play anywhere on the grass, but his natural ease and feel for center field will keep him there long term and as he gains reps, could be a plus or better defender. His ability to impact the ball may be the needle mover to get him as a net-value everyday player, but with his defense and contact he has a relatively high floor as a bench piece.
No. 103 Overall - Toronto Blue Jays
Selection: Ryan Cooney
Position/School: SS, Oregon
Analysis:
Cooney is an impressive contact hitter who has bounced around roles with Oregon each of the last two years as a run producing sophomore and table-setting junior. His right-handed swing is simple with a short load and deliberate cut, throwing a direct barrel to drive the ball the other way. It is impressive bat-to-ball skills where he has run contact rates north of 90% each of the last two seasons. It's an approach that leans to aggression and putting the game in motion, though he rarely expands the zone and will take his walks when warranted. His power is mostly contact driven, with middling bat speed and strength, though he will put some oomph behind swings on middle-cut pitches and should get into the low teens on annual over-the-fence totals. He is an above-average runner who will flash some plus home-to-first times, and use that speed to be aggressive on the base paths. He has played mostly second base at Oregon in lieu of Maddox Molony but has enough supporters to believe he could have a lengthy development at shortstop as a professional. He moves well and has solid lateral range with a strong and accurate arm to back him. He has all the makings of a table-setter who fits a two-or-nine hole in the lineup to reset the offense with the defensive chops to swing around the infield; versatility and contact, makings for a high-floor big-league future.
Fourth Round
No. 104 Overall - Colorado Rockies
Selection: Ben Davis
Position/School: RHP, Mississippi State
Analysis: TBD
No. 105 Overall - Chicago White Sox
Selection: Eric Segura
Position/School: RHP, Oregon State
Analysis: TBD
No. 106 Overall - Washington Nationals
Selection: Cooper Harris
Position/School: RHP, Flower Mound HS (TX)
Analysis: TBD
No. 107 Overall - Minnesota Twins
Selection: Tommy LaPour
Position/School: RHP, TCU
Analysis: TBD
No. 108 Overall - Pittsburgh Pirates
Selection: Andruw Giles
Position/School: OF, Basic HS (NV)
Analysis:
Giles has been a long-time follow from the Las Vegas metro who was a staple for a touted Basic program. A lefthanded hitter, he has a polished feel to hitting with some in box tinkering over the last year to get his swing plane more level which has taken some adjustment time to get synced properly; but he will show a quick and direct swing that helps him produce consistently hard contact. He has solid bat speed and will flash all fields power, though likely plateaus due to the frame and how his swing generates power, leading to a more consistent 15-20 outcome with some peaks and valleys above and below as the hit tool fluctuates with natural power. He had less consistency in the box over the last year with a bit more swing-and-miss and is susceptible to chasing high heat, but he is mostly a polished hitter who should average out on all tools and maybe flirt with some above-average slash lines. An above-average runner who is quicker underway than in short bursts, he should be able to get development time in center field and progressively move to the corners for versatility sake more than lack of skill in center. While it isn't flashy, there is plenty of everyday big league upside here that should have a more linear and progressive development, moving year-to-year into a potential first-time 40-man protection from Rule-5 eligibility and relative low-floor; it's a good player with feel to play at present. He is committed to Oregon.
No. 109 Overall - Los Angeles Angels
Selection: Rylan Lujo
Position/School: OF, Georgia
Analysis:
Lujo is a hitterish sophomore who torched the A10 with Dayton before transferring to Georgia where he was a table-setter. A righthanded hitter, he has shown some adjustability in the box aiding to his solid bat-to-ball skills. His power is more derived from how he has started to manipulate the barrel and catch the ball out front, though it is fringy raw and fringy projection that may see some peaks and valleys due to his hitting approach. An aggressive hitter, he will chase but makes up for it with his contact skills and is both a rare strikeout or walk candidate who puts the game in motion early and often. Defensively, he shifted from third base to center field this spring with solid initial returns where his above-average speed and actions allowed him to show some real prowess at a premium home. On the dirt, he has sound glovework but his arm limits his ability to stick at shortstop or the left side dirt where he has spent most of his amateur time. There are some table-setting tools here and fair upside with the bat and athleticism. He is the grandson of Rennie Stennett who was a big league infielder for 11 seasons with Pittsburgh and San Francisco throughout the 1970's.
No. 110 Overall - Baltimore Orioles
Selection: Kevin Roberts Jr.
Position/School: OF, Jackson Prep HS (MS)
Analysis: TBD
No. 111 Overall - Athletics
Selection: Roman Martin
Position/School: SS, UCLA
Analysis:
Martin was a touted Southern Califonia prep who had some first-round clout, but instead pulled his name from the draft and landed in Westwood where he pieced together three impressive seasons. A right-handed hitter, he is short in his load and tightly-wound, if not near-rigid, at trigger point creating some force behind his line drive swing. He has solid bat speed and is quite strong which helps him tap into his average or better raw power, giving him some sneaky fringe or better in-game pop, with more to come as he continues filling out. There are arguments to his approach either being the most selective with the best zone recognition in the class, or overly passive which could create problems against superior corner painters; and while that debate over how much it dictates his overall hit tool will carry deep into development, he tends to make solid decisions in the box and drive the ball with force when doing so, while also limiting his whiffs. His hit tool and approach may have to prove true early in development, but there is a scattering of 5's projected across the offensive tool box. Defensively, he has played third base at UCLA in deference to Roch Cholowsky (which, just a note, I really wish John Savage would have done some shifting late in games so Martin could play short and Mulivai Levu could play third... sorry, John) but most believe he can play shortstop deep into development where his actions, range and potentially plus-plus arm strength could keep him there with value and return him to his natural position. There are multiple development avenues here that lead to multiple outcomes, whether he is an on-base and contact driven shortstop or on-base and powerful third baseman, but both routes lead to a big league future with everyday upside.
No. 112 Overall - Atlanta Braves
Selection: Cole Dennis
Position/School: RHP, Bishop Snyder HS (FL)
Analysis: TBD
No. 113 Overall - Tampa Bay Rays
Selection: Collin Bland
Position/School: OF, Houston HS (TN)
Analysis:
Bland is a super physical prep hitter who could top the raw power charts on the prep side for the class. A lefthanded hitter, he has an open stance and as he loads he drifts back into an upwards hitting position which helps him launch the ball but also has some unorthodox looks. His natural strength and ability to get behind the ball give him already present above-average raw power that could be top-of-the-scale at his peaks. The power comes with aggressive tendencies and plenty of swing-and-miss that will need to be fine tuned; but there is enough juice to anticipate and accept 30's, both in terms of home run totals and strikeout rates. Defensively, he is limited to first base. Power like this doesn't come around often and he will be a hot commodity for clubs who think they can refine some of the swing-and-miss. He is committed to Vanderbilt.
No. 114 Overall — St. Louis Cardinals
Selection: Dee Kennedy
Position/School: SS, Kansas State
Analysis:
Kennedy is an entirely transformed player from the year prior after having off-season LASIK surgery which has turned him into one of the most productive shortstops in the nation and altered his projection ten-fold. A right-handed hitter, he has always had a solid swing foundation with rhythm, balance and quick hands; though the eye surgery took his contact rates from unsustainable to average. He has present bat speed and will attack pullside, tapping into his plus raw power and should see average in-game power. His reshaped cornea may be a large part of his improved and impressive decision making in the box, which has brought his hit tool to average and overhauled his swing-and-miss, chopping his strikeout rates nearly in half, which is a big deal when you're north of 30%. The approach is above the actual hit tool, but the overall package brings excitement for a rounded offensive profile. A plus runner once underway, he is an aggressive baserunner who will be a stolen base threat. Swinging around the infield in college, he is a strong athlete who has the actions and chops to play anywhere on the dirt with a newfound focus at shortstop where he may stick. His above-average arm strength could play at the hot corner, and he has outfield experience as well, making him quite versatile, though development will likely try him at short long term and see if he holds. There is plenty of upside here that is relatively new, but comes with a polished approach giving some credence to a future everyday player with defensive versatility.
No. 115 Overall - Miami Marlins
Selection: Wessley Roberson
Position/School: OF, Glynn Academy HS (GA)
Analysis:
Roberson is a speedy, athletic prep outfielder with a variable offensive outcome and ceiling. He has a sharp swing from the left side and innate feel for the barrel, staying compact throughout his mechanics and letting his quick hands help find the barrel, finishing with a strong and balanced lower half. While there is a partial slap-and-dash prototype to this kind of operation, his bat speed and strength at impact give him a chance of tapping into his sneaky pop and near-average raw power that he'll display in BP. He sees the ball well throughout and rarely expands the zone adding to his overall hit tool which could be above-average or plus at peak, though he will need to blend some of his power to succeed at the highest levels, even if it is 30 grade and gap peppering. A plus runner, he is quick out of the box adding to his offensive upside. Defensively, he has a quick first step paired with his plus speed that cover plenty of ground on the grass. A plus athlete with above-average arm strength, he should see most of his development in center field with impact upside. Pending development of the bat, there is variance in his offensive outcome(s) whether a blend of high-contact and table-setting upside, or a blend that can place-and-plug with speed throughout the order. He is committed to LSU.
No. 116 Overall - Arizona Diamondbacks
Selection: Josh McDevitt
Position/School: RHP, Missouri
Analysis: TBD
No. 117 Overall - Texas Rangers
Selection: Hudson Calhoun
Position/School: RHP, Mississippi
Analysis: TBD
No. 118 Overall - San Francisco Giants
Selection: Carlos Martinez
Position/School: RHP, Hofstra
Analysis: TBD
No. 119 Overall - Kansas City Royals
Selection: Dominic Battista
Position/School: OF, Oswego East HS (IL)
Analysis: TBD
No. 120 Overall - New York Mets
Selection: Shane Sdao
Position/School: LHP, Texas A&M
Analysis: TBD
No. 121 Overall - Houston Astros
Selection: Kam Durnin
Position/School: SS, Missouri
Analysis: TBD
No. 122 Overall - Cincinnati Reds
Selection: Ethan Norby
Position/School: LHP, East Carolina
Analysis:
Norby is an undersized southpaw with one of the better out pitches in the class that helped him to three impressive years with East Carolina. His arsenal is highlighted by a plus, maybe plus-plus, low 80's sweeper that creates some ugly swings with it's horizontal plane that snaps off late in impressive two-plane shape. It is a high-spin offerings with spin rates north of 3000, and he shows some ability to manipulate shape and location adding to its value. He has improved ability to setup the pitch with his fastball that sits 90-92 and touches 95, though there is work ahead here as a flatter plane heater. He'll lob in a fringy mid 80's changeup and tight cutter in a similar velo bucket but with lesser feel and projection. He works from a lower, horizontal approach with a slinging 3/4 slot that creates some flat plane tendencies, but his athleticism and fluidity help him to fill the zone with consistency with competitive strikes. Pitchers of his size rarely ever break into the rotation mold and while he has the strikes and some track record of extended workloads, he falls into the smaller reliever bucket without enhancements to the fastball and tertiary offering, while the slider and strikes will carry him to a low relief floor and notable leverage upside. His brother Connor is an infielder for the Miami Marlins.
No. 123 Overall - Cleveland Guardians
Selection: Kade Lewis
Position/School: 3B, Wake Forrest
Analysis:
Lewis is a well-decorated hitter who had a loud freshman year with Butler that was followed by two loud years with Wake Forest. A left-handed hitter, he has a simple setup and direct low-effort swing that leads to loads of hard contact all over the field. He is consistent with the barrel and has plenty of strength packed into his frame leading to natural power, though he isn't an overtly intentful swinger with modest bat speed and slightly above-average raw power; which is more problematic due to his future defensive projection than his offensive work. He is a selective hitter who is usually on the right side of decision-making and has cut down what was once alerting (not alarming) whiffs. Defensively, he has spent time on the dirt corners and all indicators point to a first base future and maybe pinch at the hot corner. His arm, footwork and actions may work at third in early development, but not enough to believe he could play there frequently with the pacing of the higher levels of pro ball. Underlying numbers beat up his draft stock a tad, as does his lack of positional value if teams aren't sold on sending him out at third base, but the bat will get him to the big leagues in some capacity, while power gains could turn him into an everyday first baseman.
No. 124 Overall - San Diego Padres
Selection: Robbie Lavey
Position/School: C, George Washington
Analysis:
Lavey has been a three-year performer for George Washington while he saw his stock climb drastically last summer while being named an All-Star in the Cape Cod. A left-handed hitter, he has a simple swing with solid bat-to-ball skills and a contact focus. His swing lacks consistent intent and takes away from his power projection where some see his current and projected physicality that give influence to projecting fringe-to-average power once he gets to the next level; and he will show short glimpses of rotational force that produce hard line drives to the gaps. He makes fair swing decisions though can be tested and chase higher-end breaking stuff. It is a contact-driven profile. Defensively, he has swung around the field while spending most of his time behind the plate where he has a foundation to stick, though will need some development attention to keep him there. He has plus arm strength that can control the running game, while he is a fine but not great receiver; and just isn't as explosive an athlete some would like to see. He has played and could swing to a non-premium corner, though that would add some pressure to how much impact the bat brings. There are interesting tools here, with some approach polish, to carry some upside as a strong-side platoon at backstop or left field.
No. 125 Overall - Detroit Tigers
Selection: Dominic Pellegrin
Position/School: SS, Holy Cross HS (LA)
Analysis: TBD
No. 126 Overall - Chicago Cubs
Selection: Dylan Marionneaux
Position/School: RHP, Northwestern State (LA)
Analysis: TBD
No. 127 Overall - New York Yankees
Selection: Paul Gutierrez-Contreras
Position/School: OF, Cal State Fullerton (CA)
Analysis:
Contreras spent the past two years in Fullerton and saw a notable rise this spring as the bat turned a corner. A righthanded hitter, he has a bit of an unorthodox look in the box with a compact, short armed rip with some whip and long linear finish. That whippy bat speed paired with his thicker upper half let him get to some of his raw power though it is average raw with limited physical gains ahead and a more deliberate swing plane. He has a balanced approach with a view to getting on base no matter the means, and does a good job of limiting his outs at the plate. Of note, he opts to not wear batting gloves. Defensively, he is a right fielder through-and-through where his above-average arm strength plays and his fielding actions are fine, if not solid. It's not flashy, but there is hitability that should carry into a big league role in the long run.
No. 128 Overall - Philadelphia Phillies
Selection: Deven Sheerin
Position/School: RHP, LSU
Analysis: TBD
No. 129 Overall - Seattle Mariners
Selection: Trevor Lucas
Position/School: 3B, UNC Wilmington
Analysis: TBD
No. 130 Overall - Milwaukee Brewers
Selection: Julian Garcia
Position/School: RHP, St. John Bosco HS (CA)
Analysis: TBD
No. 131 Overall - Toronto Blue Jays
Selection: Will Brick
Position/School: C, Christian Brothers HS (TN)
Analysis:
Brick is the top prep catcher in the draft class after reclassifying from 2027 in October. He showed two-way upside with Team USA's U18 club in the fall as one of the offensive leaders while also managing some of the top prep arms from behind the plate. He has offensive upside with a quick right-handed swing that comes from a lower handset and is efficient through the zone aided by staying in the zone with his swing decisions. He has solid bat speed and will showcase plus raw power, but his approach leans to a contact focus to keep the game in motion. While he is hit-over-power, many believe once he begins catching the ball out front more consistently and physically maturing he will tap into more pull side ability and be a 15-20 annual home run hitter. Defensively, he has all the ingredients to be a average-or-better defender behind the plate. He is already an advanced catch-and-throw backstop who has quiet hands, a quick exchange and above-average arm strength to post sub 1.9 pops. He is a solid athlete who moves well behind the plate with natural side-to-side blocking ability that should improve with reps. Despite his relative youth, his experience in international play has tested him with high-end prep arms where he proved to be a leader who sees the entirety of the game ahead of him and controls the game in a natural way that is expected from most backstops. If his catching plateaus, which is unexpected, he has the arm and athleticism to fallback to the hot corner. Brick has all the tools of a future everyday backstop that becomes a staple to any organization. He is committed to Mississippi State.
No. 132 Overall - Los Angeles Dodgers
Selection: Russell Sandefer
Position/School: RHP, Florida
Analysis: TBD
Compensation Picks
No. 133 Overall - Houston Astros
Selection: Beau Peterson
Position/School: IF, Mill Valley HS (KS)
Analysis:
Peterson is one of the more polished power-hitting preps in the class with offensive impact projection and solid pedigree with summer circuit performance and a High School Home Run Derby title from last year's All-Star week, beating out Grady Emerson. His swing from the left side is simple and controlled, allowing him to use the whole field and let his natural strength create hard contact. His over-the-fence production comes very natural from just making contact and finishing with some lift, while letting his physically mature frame and strength do the work. He has shown the ability to stay inside and mash to his pull side, but again, most of that comes naturally and he should above-average in-game power production at his peak. He will have to clean up some minor mechanical items, such as a hand drift on off-speed pitches, but even with this he has kept his swing-and-miss down even against more premium arms and has shown a selective, near-passive approach. The overall offensive package give him middle-of-the-order impact potential. Defensively, his future home is in question, as he has above-average arm strength and a quick release giving him a plus arm from the hot corner but his footwork may lead to a first base or corner outfield spot. He is a fair athlete for his size, though is a fringe runner at best and may land in left field. He has caught in the past, with some believing he has a non-zero chance of returning behind the plate. If not for his hitting prowess and upside, he would make for an interesting pitching project with a fastball that has touched 94 that he lands for strikes and a slider with quality traits, though his future is at the plate. Peterson has all the tools of a future impact bat and run producer in the middle-of-the-order. He is committed to Texas.
No. 134 Overall - San Diego Padres
Selection: Alex Conover
Position/School: OF, Oklahoma State
Analysis:
Conover had one of most improved springs across the nation and was a premier performer showcasing a blend of tools. A lefthanded hitter, he has a cleaner mechanical operation and compact swing. He is explosive through the zone with an accurate barrel that helps him to hit for power to all fields and could see above-average power output at his peaks as he continues learning to pull the ball more frequently; flirting with 20+ home runs annually. He overhauled his decision making in the box this past spring which led to impressive progression across the offensive board, chopping his once alarming chase and swing-and-miss in half and putting comfort in the future offensive profile being balanced around average. An average runner with average actions, he fits the corner outfield more than center but can likely pinch across the entire grass. Buying on the bat and the adjustments to the approach to see a projected slugger who may slip into a strong side platoon.
No. 135 Overall - Philadelphia Phillies
Selection: Jaxon Jelkin
Position/School: RHP, Kentucky
Analysis: TBD
End of Day 1 Draft Tracker
The 2026 MLB Draft's opening day concludes after 135 selections, including the first four rounds, Competitive Balance rounds, Prospect Promotion Incentive picks, and compensation selections.
Rounds 5-20 will continue on Day 2.