Jump to content
North Side Baseball

  • 2026 Chicago Cubs Mock Baseball Draft

    Welcome to the Chicago Cubs Mock Draft Consensus Board. One of our resident MLB Draft experts, Jamie Cameron, takes MLB mock draft rankings from major industry outlets like MLB Pipeline, ESPN, The Athletic (and many others) to form a consensus board, with a working hypothesis that using this approach will eliminate some of the noise and variance in MLB Draft mock rankings.

    For each prospect, you’ll find position, name, age, height, weight, handedness, and school, followed by a detailed player breakdown that digs into strengths, opportunities, and performance.

    Note: You'll notice that there are "UP/DOWN" indicators next to certain player profiles. Any player moving up and down in the top ten has an indicator. Outside the top ten, you'll see indicators next to players if they moved up or down five spots or more.

    You can condense the board to show only the Cubs' picks, and one pick above/below their pick. Just click the toggle button below.

    Or Jump To A Round:

    First Round • Prospect Promotion Incentive Round • Comp Balance A Round • Second Round • Compensation Round • Third Round • Fourth Round

  • Rank Position Name Age Ht Wt B/T School Up/Down Writeup
    1 SS Roch Cholowsky 21 6'2 195 R/R UCLA Cholowsky is one of the best collegiate shortstops in the last two decades and has a chance to be the first wire-to-wire number one draft prospect since Adley Rutschman. Entering his junior year he looks a lock to be the White Sox selection at number one overall. Simply, Cholowsky does everything well. It's a relaxed, slightly open stance at the plate with a barrel tip and earflap high hand set. Cholowsky has a small drifting step into a swing that unleashes serious bat speed and quick rotation. Strong bat-to-ball metrics are supplemented by an excellent approach and mature swing decisions. Cholowsky managed 45 walks versus 30 strikeouts in his sophomore year, in the middle of a serious power breakout in which he clubbed 23 home runs and ran a 90th percentile EV90. Defensively, he's a virtual lock to stick at the position, with a strong arm, excellent internal clock, and soft hands. It's shortstop skill over raw athleticism. His speed is the only tool you could ding him for (he's a 50 runner). He's the clear number one prospect in the class and he'll take some catching.
    2 SS Grady Emerson 18 6'2 180 L/R Fort Worth Christian HS, TX Emerson is a UT commit and the number one prep prospect in the 2026 class. There might be a little prospect fatigue with Emerson by draft day as he's been well known since he was 15 and there's less transparency around both data and benchmarks for the top prep prospects in the country. Make no mistake, though, Emerson is a prize in this draft. He might be the best overall hitter in it. It's a relaxed setup, a direct, short left-handed swing, and some adjustability that allows Emerson to keep his barrel in the zone as long as possible and take what he's given by a pitcher. Everything is good here, offensively. During the 2025 summer showcase circuit Emerson showcased strong bat-to-ball skills, excellent swing decisions, and improved bat speed that indicates above average power may be on the way. Emerson is a plus runner, to boot. Defensively, he has all the ingredients to stick at the position, with a strong glove, excellent throwing arm, and a good level of defensive polish for his age at the position. Emerson should be one of the first names off the board in July.
    3 C Vahn Lackey 21 6'2 200 R/R Georgia Tech Every draft cycle seems to produce 2-3 first round catchers, most of whom have warts offensively, defensively, or both. Georgia Tech's Vahn Lackey may be the most complete college catcher in recent seasons and has been the name with the most helium associated with it in the early going in 2026. Lackey entered 2026 viewed as an excellent defensive catcher, with athleticism uncommon for the position, in addition to having strong bat-to-ball skills. He continues to look excellent behind the plate, with good receiving and blocking skills, an excellent arm and strong pop and transfer times. Offensively, his power has taken a step forward. After hitting 6 home runs in 60 games in 2025, he has 9 in his first 25 in 2026, with more walks than strike outs adding a high on-base floor to his profile. He'll need to continue to prove it in conference play, but a continuation of his early season improvements will push Lackey into T5 consideration due to the completeness of his skillsets on both sides of the ball.
    4 RHP Jackson Flora 21 6'5 205 R/R UC Santa Barbara Flora pitched behind number two overall pick Tyler Bremner in 2025, and returns a year later to headline the Gauchos rotation, himself a contender to be a top three pick. Flora has an ideal frame for a starter, standing at 6'5, 205, with some additional strength still to be added. After pitching primarily as a reliever as a freshman, Flora took on a starting role as a sophomore and thrived, managing a 3.15 FIP in 75 innings, while striking out close to 28% of the hitters he faced. The stuff is loud. Flora primarily relies on a fastball, slider, changeup combination, though he does access a cutter and curveball occasionally, too. It's a high spin fastball (up to 2600 rpms), topping out at 100mph from a lower launch. Flora throws two iterations of his slider, a harder version around 87 mph, and a sweeper that generates 19 inches of horizontal movement. To add to this intriguing arsenal, Flora has been an excellent strike thrower in college, walking just 5.5% of hitters in 2025. Flora has separated himself as SP1 early in the 2026 cycle. There's room for development and refinement of his pitch shapes and arsenal, but this is front of the rotation arm talent and upside.
    5 SS Jacob Lombard 18 6'3 185 R/R Gulliver Prep HS, FL Jacob Lombard is the younger brother of George Lombard, a 2023 Yankees draftee and consensus T100 prospect in his own right. Lombard the younger has some of the loudest tools in the entire draft class, but qualifies as a high-risk, high-reward prep option for teams picking in the first round. Lombard the younger hits from the right hand side of the plate. There's plus bat speed and easy raw power to all fields. The biggest questions in Lombard's offensive profile surround his hit tool, with concerns about the levels of swing and miss in the 2025 summer showcase circuit. Lombard is incredibly athletically gifted, he plays smooth shortstop, has a solid arm and double plus speed. This might be the highest upside play in the entire draft class. He could be a 30-30 type player if he can hit enough after turning pro.
    6 OF EJ Booth 18 6'0 205 L/L Oak Grove HS, MS Booth is rapidly ascending draft boards. Starting from a pre-cycle ranking close of the back end of the first round, he has a chance to jump into the top three prep prospects, and the top ten of the cycle overall. Booth is a compact, twitchy, athletic outfielder committed to Vanderbilt. It's a bit of an unconventional swing from the left side that can look better in batting practice than games, but it's underpinned by serious bat speed and an emerging ability to do damage on contact. All told, Booth has a chance to have above average hit and power tools. Booth is a nightmare on the base paths with 70-grade speed and is one of the fastest runners of the class. As one might imagine, this supports excellent range in the outfield. While his arm is fringe average, he should have little challenge tracking down almost anything and could settle into any outfield spot defensively.
    7 OF Drew Burress 21 5'9 185 R/R Georgia Tech Burress has been one of the most consistently productive college hitters since he set foot on campus at Georgia Tech. There's no arguing the track record, but there's a limited catalogue of impact bats in the big leagues who stood 5'9. Burress has a ton of moving pieces in his swing that can get a little convoluted and may be problematic against better quality pitching in professional baseball. It's good (not outstanding) bat-to-ball skills with tremendous quality of contact that has resulted in 44 home runs in his first two collegiate seasons. Burress rarely expands the zone and has walked significantly more than he struck out in his first two seasons in Atlanta. Burress has strong supplementary tools. A plus arm and above average speed and defense gives him a chance to stick on centerfield, at least in the infancy of his pro career. He'll need to be astoundingly productive in 2026 to allay fear around his size and physicality (and a poor track record with wooden bats, albeit in small samples). However 2026 goes, Burress is a sure fire first rounder.
    8 RHP Cam Flukey 21 6'6 210 R/R Coastal Carolina iconUP Flukey is a lean right-handed starter who led Coastal Carolina to a College World Series appearance in 2025, managing a 2.68 FIP in 101.2 innings pitched in the process. Flukey has a bit of a messy delivery, with a long arm stroke and some head whack from a three quarter slot, but the results are inarguable, as he struck out 28.5% of hitters faced in 2025, while walking just 5.8%. It's a deep, diverse arsenal, too. Flukey's fastball sits at 95 mph with good ride and he can reach back to grab 98 mph. Flukey has two different breaking pitches, a gyro-type slider and a slider, high-70s curveball. He's been effective throwing strikes and generating whiffs with both. Finally, there's a mid-80s changeup he throws sparingly. Flukey was sidelined for 8 weeks with a stress fracture after just one start in 2026. How he looks when he returns from injury will determine if he's still in the mix for SP1 in the class.
    9 SS Justin Lebron 21 6'2 180 R/R Alabama iconDOWN Lebron was not a heralded prep prospect out of Florida but has developed into a 2026 profile with some of the highest upside, particularly on the college side. He's lean, smooth, and explosive in all aspects of the game. Lebron stands 6'2 and operated from a relatively wide base with a slightly open stance at the plate. It's tremendous bat speed from the right side of the plate, and yet his swing, like everything he does, looks simple and relaxed. Lebron added serious impact as a sophomore at Alabama. It's 60 grade power, but there are some warts in the hit tool. In 2026, he'll need to show improved pitch recognition and navigate some of the chase and swing and miss, particularly against offspeed pitches. A 24.2 K% in 2025 was accompanied by notably diminished production in SEC play. Defensively, Lebron has a chance to be a plus shortstop. He has excellent range, a plus arm, and has the athleticism to make outstanding plays defensively, though there's a coat of polish to be applied to his infield defense. He's a plus runner too, with 22 stolen bases (100%) at the end of March. Lebron is one of the few prospects who has the athleticism and tools to challenge Cholowsky for the number one overall pick. Unfortunately, it's looking increasingly like his offense is falling off a cliff in conference play. He's likely a prospect closer to the middle of the first round than the top three when its all said and done.
    10 SS Chris Hacopian 21 6'1 205 R/R Texas A&M Hacopian transferred to Texas A&M from Maryland. The SEC should be the perfect litmus test to establish if the 165 wRC+ he managed in 2025 is legit. The Aggies infielder falls into a specific sub-genre of college bats prevalent in this class 'hit/power threats without a truly valuable defensive home'. While Hacopian has played plenty of shortstop in his college career, he profiles better as a second baseman. Hacopian has a lot going on in his swing, with a big leg kick and some moving pieces, but this is one of the best hit/power combinations on the college side, buoyed by an excellent approach at the plate. Defensively, there's not much range or a great arm in play, so it's likely second base or left field long term. Despite his incredible production, Hacopian's reliance on his offensive skills means he'll likely be out of the race for the top three or four spots in this class. Still, he's close to a no doubt offensive contributor and likely enters consideration from drafting teams early in the first round.
    11 C Ryder Helfrick 21 6'1 200 R/R Arkansas iconUP Entering the season, Helfrick was neck and neck with Vahn Lackey as the possible best college catcher in the class. That Lackey has established himself as a clear number one, says more about his incredible season than any dip in performance from Helfrick. A notable prep prospect, Helfrick got to campus at Arkansas and has featured consistently in the Razorbacks lineup ever since. Helfrick has a solid approach. He doesn't expand the zone too much, and while there's some swing and miss in his profile, it's not a real flaw in his offensive game. His skillset is built around doing damage on contact. He hits the ball hard in the air and has a knack for finding the barrel. Defensively, there's lots to like too. Helfrick isn't the same caliber of defender as Lackey, but neither is he 'a hitter who does some catching'. He calls games effectively, receives and blocks well, and has an easy plus arm. Helfrick looks likely to set a career high in walks and home runs in 2026, in addition to a career low strikeout rate. That's a combination that will put him in T30 consideration when we get to July.
    12 OF AJ Gracia 21 6'3 195 L/L Virginia iconDOWN The 2026 draft class is flush with college outfielders of many different flavors. AJ Gracia has one of the better hit/power combos in the class, buoyed by excellent on-base skills, without some of the loud supplementary tools of other college outfielders. Gracia stands 6'3, 195 and has a picaresque, scooped, left-handed swing. He can be borderline passive at the plate, an approach that's working just fine in D1 baseball to the tune of a walk rate of ~20% in both 2025 and 2026. It's well above average bat-to-ball skills for Gracia, particularly out of the strike zone. It's 60 raw power, too although he hasn't yet tapped into accessing it with as much consistency as he might. There's almost no chase in his profile and Gracia is skilled at maximizing pulled fly balls. In short, there are very few holes in this 'Nick Kurtz light' offensive profile. For supplementary tools, everything is good, not great. Gracia is playing competent centerfield in 2026, though average speed and range likely point towards his being a corner outfield profile, long term. The offense carries the profile, but the balanced skillset should allow him to thrive at the next level.
    13 OF Sawyer Strosnider 21 6'2 200 L/L TCU If you want a prospect who bridges the enormous ceiling of some prep prospects with the current skill and productivity of many first round college players, Strosnider might be the prospect for you. Strosnider was a multi-sport athlete in high school (basketball, track), and the athleticism you'd expect translates beautifully to the diamond. A twitchy, powerful left-handed swing, Strosnider has massive raw power. On his way to winning Big 12 freshman of the year in 2025, he hit 11 home runs, 13 doubles, and 10 triples, an indicator of the power/speed blend on offer. Entering 2026, Strosnider's needs offensively centered on reigning in an overly aggressive approach at the plate, an improvement which would allow him to access his damage on contact skills more consistently. There's plenty of supplementary tools here, Strosnider has plus speed and a good arm, a combination that will give him a chance to stick in centerfield as a pro. If he can develop a more measured approach, he can be one of the most productive hitters in the class.
    14 LHP Gio Rojas 19 6'4 190 R/L Stoneman Douglas HS, FL Rojas is one of a cluster of arms, particularly southpaws, who make up an outstanding top-of-the-class prep pitching demographic in 2026. Rojas, a Miami commit, looks the part, standing at 6'4, 190, with a smooth delivery underpinned by excellent athleticism on the mound. Rojas commands an excellent fastball that sits in the 94-96 mph range but has flirted with triple digits. It's backed up with two slider variants, the better of which is a nightmarish sweeper with a ton of horizontal break. Rojas also leverages a changeup, though that's the least well-developed of his offerings currently. Rojas has a strong track record of strike throwing, a tendency his sound delivery indicates he has every chance to continue. This is a premium prep left-handed arm. The only ding he might get in some draft models is he'll be 19 on draft day.
    15 RHP Logan Reddemann 21 6'2 190 S/R UCLA Reddemann has surged up draft boards after not featuring prominently on pre or early season lists. A transfer from San Diego, the 6'2 righty has turned a developmental corner for an outstanding UCLA team and is putting it all together in his draft eligible junior season. Reddeman has a little bit of a jerky delivery to the plate. Even so, he keeps the baseball well hidden behind his plate until release, creating some deception for hitters and making the ball difficult to track. Reddemann is an excellent strike thrower, which, in concert with an uptick in velocity this year, has left B1G Ten hitters with little chance against his stuff. Reddemann relies on a fastball that sits 94-96 mph but can grab 98 mph. There's a sinker and a cutter too, to round out a trio of fastballs. Reddemann has a slider, which he throws in the low 80s, although it tends to blur with his cutter, and a high-70s curveball to round out a diverse arsenal of pitches. He's striking out over 30% of hitters through mid April, and walking less than 5%. If that trend continues, he has a chance to be a T20 pick.
    16 SS Tyler Bell 21 6'1 190 S/R Kentucky iconUP Bell was a supplemental second rounder in 2024 who was selected by the Rays but found his way to campus in Lexington. Two years later, he's a draft eligible sophomore and T20 caliber draft prospect ahead of the 2026 cycle. Bell is a switch hitter who has solid, clean swings from both sides of the plate. As a freshman, he did a little bit of everything well, capping his first collegiate season with 29 extra base hits and a .907 OPS. If he can elevate the ball with more consistency, it's a 55 hit, 50 power combination potential as a pro. He has all the ingredients to be a solid pro shortstop, with a good first step, an above average arm, and a good glove. If Bell can evolve his approach a little more at the plate in his sophomore year, he could push his way further up draft boards, as he'll be the centerpiece of his Kentucky team.
    17 RHP Cade Townsend 21 6'1 195 R/R Ole Miss iconUP Townsend was a solid prep prospect ahead of the 2024 draft, cracking T200 and T300 lists, but made it to campus at Ole Miss. After splitting time between starting and relieving in his freshman season, he entered 2026 strictly as a starter. It was an explosive start to his season. In his first 35 innings pitched, he managed a 2.32 FIP, striking out over 32% of hitters and walking just 4.8%. Unfortunately, he left his fifth start with shoulder discomfort, missing some time on the shelf. It's an appealing fastball that sits 93-95 mpg but can grab 98 mph. It has good carry and plays best at the top of the strike zone. It's supplemented by a nasty curveball, a hammer with a ton of drop that he imparts upwards of 3,000 rpms of spin onto with consistency. Rounding out Townsend's arsenal is a cutter that sits in the high 80s, a slider and a changeup with good fade. The missed time and smaller frame might give some teams pause, but if he returns strong down the stretch, he's one of the biggest up arrow college arms in the class.
    18 OF Derrick Curiel 21 6'2 185 L/L LSU Curiel was a highly touted prep prospect out of Southern California ahead of the 2024 draft but found his way to campus in Baton Rouge as one of the most anticipated freshmen in the country. Fast forward to 2026, and he's draft eligible as a sophomore with one of the best hit tools in the entire draft class. Curiel has a direct, smooth, left-handed swing. It's elite bat to ball skills, as Curiel ran an 88% overall contact rate (95% in zone) in 2025, while rarely chasing and taking plenty of walks. While he finds the barrel often, the questions around Curiel's profile center around his power projection. He managed 7 home runs as a freshman and his top end EVs are not the portent of significant power as a pro. Curiel is an above average runner with good range who should stick in center field as a pro, with a fringe average arm. If he can develop more power, this becomes a much more interesting profile. Right now, it's a table setting, top of the lineup type with strong on-base skills and an outstanding hit tool.
    19 LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger 17 6'3 190 L/L Huntington Beach HS, CA Grindlinger is a two-way prep standout who reclassified from the 2027 draft class who will be 17 years and 3 months old when the draft rolls around in July. He's currently committed to Tennessee. On the mound, is a smooth, repeatable delivery from the left side. Grindlinger has a fastball that has been as high as 97 mph (though it will set 92-94 mph) in addition to a sharp low-80s slider and a changeup well sold with good arm speed. He's an excellent strike thrower and a classic projection lefty on the mound. It's easy to see a little more velo and an enhanced arsenal making him formidable as he adds strength and experience. As a hitter, Grindlinger might have the best combination of approach and bat-to-ball skills in the class. He rarely swings and misses and rarely expands the strike zone. While it's not huge raw power, you could see Grindlinger getting to average power adding strength and weight. Defensively, it's likely a corner outfield profile, with average-to-above-average supplementary tools.
    20 3B Ace Reese 21 6'4 220 L/R Mississippi State Reese has raked for Mississippi State since transferring from Houston ahead of his sophomore campaign. He's one of the better dual hit/power threats in the class, with any ceiling on his value being placed by an uncertain defensive home and limited supplementary tools. Reese stands 6'4, 220 and has primarily played third base and first base in college. It's a solid arm, but fringe-to-average run and fielding tools. That might mean a long term home at first base, which requires a greater level of offensive production. Offensively, Reese shines. It's good bat speed and excellent raw power. He can homer to any part of the park (21 in 2025). Reese displays good bat-to-ball skills, both in and out of the strike zone, and he takes plenty of walks. A slightly elevated strikeout rate is rooted in his propensity to chase and expand the zone. If he can reign that in, he'll be a nightmarish at-bat. Reese is near the top of D1 baseball in barrel percentage, EV90, and his ability to pull the ball in the air. His approach and defensive home remain the only questions in an excellent offensively driven profile.
    21 RHP Liam Peterson 21 6'5 205 R/R Florida Entering the 2026 season, it was a three horse race between Jackson Flora, Cam Flukey, and Liam Peterson to take the crown of college SP1 for the cycle. While Peterson has incredible stuff, he continued to be troubled by some inconsistencies in his performance in his junior year. Peterson was a legit prep prospect in 2023, but ended up on campus in Gainesville, improving steadily in his first two years as a starter. It's a premium starting pitching frame, Peterson stands 6'5, 205, with the stuff to match. His fastball sits in the mid 90s but Peterson can reach back from 98-99 mph with good ride through the zone. Peterson relies more heavily on a sharp slider and a changeup, both of which generated huge whiff rates in his sophomore year. Peterson also mixes in a curveball, albeit sparingly. Peterson has the size and stuff to be a front of the rotation arm, but strikes haven't been consistent enough. Despite striking out over 33% of hitters in the early going in 2026, he's also walking over 13%. That'll scare some teams off at the very top of the class unless he can iron out his control in conference play.
    22 OF Trevor Condon 18 5'11 180 L/R Etowah HS, GA Condon is a prep outfielder from Georgia with a ton of tools to go with an all-out style of play that teammates love and likely gets under the skin of opposing players. He's undersized at 5'11, 180, but the Tennessee commit has plenty of assets in his profile. It's a strange look in the batter's box. Condon gets back into his load incredibly early, waiting on the pitcher to trigger his swing. It may look unconventional, but it's worked well to date. Condon put up excellent bat to ball metrics on the summer circuit in addition to a good approach that provides a high on-base floor. There's solid bat speed too that indicates there may be more to add to his currently fringy in-game power. Condon is a menace on the bases. He's a 70-grade runner who has a great shot to stick in centerfield thanks to plus range and an easy, efficient first step. If there's a criticism here offensively, it's a need to launch the ball in the air more, but Condon has so much athleticism he'll add a ton of value on the bases and defensively in addition to the strong contact-first profile if the power doesn't come.
    23 LHP Carson Boleman 19 6'4 210 R/L Southside Christian HS, SC Bolemon is part of an exciting crop of prep arms getting first round consideration in the 2026 class. While he'll be 19 on draft day, it's an enticing combination of size, present stuff, and pitchability that makes him one of the more polished high school arms in recent years. Bolemon has a clean delivery and operates from a three-quarters slot. His fastball has been up to 97 mph, but will typically sit in the 92-94 mph range. The standout trait with the pitch is his command of it, as Bolemon can manipulate it throughout the strike zone with ease. Bolemom pairs his fastball with two promising breakers, an upper 70s curve and a slider that sit in the low 80s, with his changeup lagging behind the breaking pitches in both usage and effectiveness. Bolemon was the best arm on the U18 US Collegiate National team last summer (on a team that included Gio Rojas) and has a good chance to be the first prep arm off the board. He's currently committed to Wake Forest.
    24 LHP Brody Bumila 18 6'9 245 L/L Bishop Feehan HS, MA iconUP Draft aficionados will be used to the concept of a cold weather arm rising throughout the cycle. They don't all look like Brody Bumila, though. The 6'9 two sport star committed to Texas has been making waves in recent weeks. As you might expect from such a unique frame, there's unique stuff to match. Bumila relies on a fastball that has been as high as 101 mph. It sits in the high 90s, coming at hitters from a drop and drive delivery and a lower launch, with good ride at the top of the zone making it a nightmare for prep hitters in MA. There's plenty of work to do on the secondary arsenal. Bumila relies most heavily on a changeup, thrown in the low 80s, but he'll mix in a slider and a curveball too. This is a size and stuff over polish prep arm in what could be one of the higher risk, higher reward plays of the entire class.
    25 LHP Cole Carlon 21 6'5 220 L/L Arizona State Carlon is one of the fastest rising college arms in 2026 in a demographic that has suffered from injuries and inconsistent performance. After contributing to the Sun Devils immediately as a freshman bullpen arm, Carlon improved significantly his sophomore season, cutting his ERA in half and flashing far more dominant stuff. It's a good looking delivery from Carlon. While there aren't outlier release traits, he hides the ball well during his delivery and has an ideal pitcher's frame at 6'5, 220 pounds. He's moved from the bullpen to a starting role in 2026. The results have been spectacular, Carlon has a 3.82 FIP through his first 50 innings of the season while striking out over 39% of hitters. The stuff is as explosive as ever, his fastball sits 94-96 mph but he's run it up over 100 mph in recent starts. His slider is one of the best in the class, a mid-80s gyro offering that generates a ton of swing and miss. Carlon mixes in a curveball and a changeup too. There's still some refinement needed to the strike throwing, but Carlon's walk rate has reduced from 11.3% in 2025 to around 9% in 2026. Carlon is looking like a first round prospect with starter traits who should move quickly as a pro.
    26 SS Eric Becker 21 6'3 190 L/R Virginia iconDOWN Becker has been a three year starter at Virginia and won't turn 21 until the end of April. He's been a productive contributor for the Cavaliers, putting up a 143 wRC+ as a freshman, and a 138 wRC+ as a sophomore. Becker has a direct, quick swing from the left side of the plate in what is currently a hit over power approach. There's some impact there, though, as Becker cranked 30 doubles and 17 home runs in his first two seasons in Charlottesville. Becker's profile relies on excellent bat-to-ball skills, sometimes at the expense of a quality approach, because he can get his bat on almost anything and tends to expand the zone at times. Becker displayed some stronger quality of contact metrics than his power output might indicate in 2025, a sign that shoring up his approach might help him unlock power by targeting better pitches to drive, with consistency. My challenge with this profile is that I'd want a hit-tool forward offensive profile to be supplemented by some louder supporting tools. Becker is an average runner and fielder, and plays solid shortstop, but might not have the twitch, range, and athleticism to handle short in the big leagues. Even though he'll be able to stick on the dirt, his future defensive home and lack of power heaps pressure on his hit tool to deliver value.
    27 RHP Coleman Borthwick 18 6'6 255 R/R South Walton HS, FL Borthwick is a physical monster out of South Carolina, built more like an NFL linebacker than a high school baseball player. Standing at 6'6, 255 pounds, he's an exciting two way prospect, but most believe his future is on the mound. It's a slightly crossfire delivery which helps to create a more unusual angle for hitters as he strides down the mound. However it looks, there's a ton of quality in the stuff. Borthwick recently ran his fastball up to 100mph for the first time. It's a pitch that will sit 94-96 mph with plenty of run. It's paired with a quality slider, a pitch that might already be plus. It sits in the mid-80s with some sharp, late tilt. Borthwick has a changeup in the bank too, but it's been used sparingly to date. Borthwick has been a more effective strike thrower to date than you might expect from a frame his size and such an explosive arsenal. He's committed to Auburn but has T30 pick upside.
    28 LHP Logan Schmidt 17 6'4 215 L/L Ganesha HS, CA Schmidt is a classic projection lefty, joining Gio Rojas and Carson Bolemon as a trio of prep southpaws who could be selected in the first round in July. He's currently committed to LSU. Schmidt has great size at 6'4, 215, with projection left and the possibility of adding additional strength and weight. He has a smooth, repeatable delivery from the left side and his stuff took a jump this summer in several high-profile events. His fastball sits 94-96 mph but has been as high as 98 mph. He pairs it with a slider in the low 80s that has a slurvy shape. That will be an area of development, ironing out the shapes of his secondary pitches to maximize his arsenal. Finally, Schmidt also has a changeup, a pitch he sells with great arm speed and generates plenty of fade. It's easy to imagine a future version of Schmidt consistently holding 96-97 mph with his fastball, a tweaked cluster of breaking pitches, with a little additional strength looking like a force in pro baseball.
    29 OF Aiden Robbins 21 6'2 200 R/R Texas Robbins is representative of an emerging class of college prospects; smaller school guys who transfer their draft eligible year with a shot to dramatically increase their stock against more robust competition. Robbins put up insane numbers in 2025 at Seton Hall before transferring to UT ahead of the 2026 season. While the bat-to-ball numbers have taken a bit of a dip in 2026, Robbins has a good approach at the plate, taking plenty of walks. Where he excels is doing damage on contact. Robbins routinely launches baseballs north of 110 mph and has EV90 and barrel% numbers north of the 90th percentile in 2026. There's above average speed and athleticism to boot. Robbins has the legs to be a threat on the basepaths and the range to play all three outfield positions, at least at the onset of his pro career. He's one of the sharpest risers on the college side in 2026, managing 15 home runs and an OPS of 1.204 through his first 26 games. If he keeps it up he's going to be a T20 pick in July.
    30 SS Tyler Spangler 18 6'3 195 L/R De La Salle HS, CA Spangler is a tall, lean prep shortstop out of Northern California, currently committed to Stanford. Despite his long levers, he possesses strong bat to ball skills thanks to a compact, direct swing from the left side. Spangler has present strength and bat speed, with the projection in his frame remaining, indicating he might get to above average power. He'll have a chance to stick at shortstop thanks to an above average arm and glove, while 50-grade speed limits any potential impact in the run game. Before the amateur season got rolling, Spangler was in several industry T10s. Given that his value is grounded in current skill, not outstanding raw tools, he feels more likely to end up in the middle to the back of the first round come July, unless he's otherworldly this spring.
    31 LHP Mason Edwards 21 6'2 195 L/L USC Edwards is a college lefty on the rise. It's a bit of a tweener profile for me. It's not quite stuff driven, but neither is he exclusively a pitchability college arm. What is clear, is how incredibly productive he's been in his draft eligible season for USC. It's a deceptive delivery on the mound. Edwards uses a rocker step to get going into his delivery, with some crossfire in his delivery and hides the ball well before releasing from a high slot. It's a fastball that's a little light on velocity. It sits 91-93 mph with quality carry at the top of the zone, and can grab 95-96 mph at its best. For secondaries, Edwards has a gyro type slider and a sharper curveball, the latter of which he'll throw in the high 70s to low 80s. Finally, there's a changeup which has a chance to be a plus pitch, with good fade and tumble to it. At the time of writing, Edwards has amassed over 60 innings with a FIP under 2.50 and a strikeout rate over 40%. There's some refinement in the consistency of his strike throwing, but the production has him in T30 consideration.
    32 OF Caden Sorrell 21 6'3 200 L/L Texas A&M Sorrell was a good prep prospect in 2023 but opted to attend Texas A&M. Fast forward three years and he's looking increasingly like a first round pick. Sorrell's offensive skillset is geared towards damage and loft, a potent combination. It's excellent bat speed from the left side of the plate and Sorrell was a productive hitter in both of his first two collegiate seasons, despite being derailed by some nagging injuries. There are some weaknesses to exploit, offensively. Sorrell does have some bat-to-ball issues, which, when combined with his propensity to chase, can lead to him wracking up significant strikeout totals. It hasn't impeded his production in 2026, however, as he has 17 home runs (29 extra base hits) through his first 33 games of the season. Sorrell has a plus arm and is an above average runner. It's likely a corner profile long term, but with those additional tools, he has a chance to be a plus right fielder. If he continues to mash in the back end of SEC play, he'll cement his status as a worthy top 30 pick.
    33 LHP Sean Duncan 18 6'3 185 R/L Terry Fox HS, BC Duncan is a Canadian southpaw, committed to Vanderbilt, who will be a young 18-years old on draft day. He's steadily climbing draft boards as one of the more appealing projection lefties in the class. Duncan currently checks in at 6;3, 180 pounds. There's plenty more size and strength to add here, potentially. It's a really easy, rhythmic delivery from the left side, with consistent strike throwing ability and above average extension. The stuff has ticked up in the last year or so, too. Duncan's fastball has popped, it can grab 96-97 mph but will sit in the 93-95 mph range. There's an above average changeup which he sells well with excellent arm speed, at what is at least an average breaking ball. If you squint, it's easy enough to see three 55s or better with his current arsenal when he gets in a pro system.
    34 LHP Hunter Dietz 21 6'6 230 R/L Arkansas Dietz is a 6'6, physical lefty who once pitched in the same high school rotation as Landon Maroudis and Liam Peterson. After being sidelined for the majority of his first two years at Arkansas, he has a chance to solidify himself as one of the top college lefties in the class down the stretch. Working from a higher release, Dietz has added to his arsenal this year. It's a fastball that sits 95-96 mpg but can grab 98 mph (2400 rpms). For secondaries, he'll rely most on a cutter, followed by a curveball with terrific depth (2,800 rpms), and occasionally a changeup, which is more of an emerging pitch but one on which he can really kill spin. Dietz has really ameliorated any concerns about missed time with a terrific 2026 season, managing a 2.80 FIP through his first 52 innings, with a strikeout rate approaching 40% and tolerable walk numbers. This is some of the better lefty arm talent in the class.
    35 RHP Tegan Kuhns 21 6'3 180 R/R Tennesee iconUP While Kuhns performance hasn't clicked all the way into gear throughout his collegiate career, he's an easy arm to project being a force as a pro, with a great combination of easy velocity and a diverse arsenal of pitches to draw on. Originally working out of the bullpen for Tennessee, Kuhns has oscillated between the pen and a starting role in 2026. It's a little bit of an 'efforty' delivery for me, with a long arm stroke, but it doesn't seem to impact Kuhns strike throwing ability. The arsenal is headlined by a heater that sits 94-96 mph and has touched 98 mph, with good ride. It's complimented by his ability to spin the baseball. Kuhns has two distinct breakers, a slider and a curveball, both with the ability to generate swing and miss. His arsenal is rounded out by a cutter and a changeup, the latter grabbing 15 inches of horizontal break, on average. All in all, this is a good frame, velocity, and plenty of starter traits. Kuhns in a good pro system has a chance to be an impact arm (starter) at the next level.
    36 2B Chris Rembert 21 6'0 205 R/R Auburn iconDOWN Rembert got to campus at Auburn in 2025 and had a freshman season for the ages. He managed a 1.022 OPS with 10 home runs and a walk rate north of 14%, making it easy to see why he held space in T30s entering his draft eligible sophomore season. Rembert does plenty well at the plate. Operating from a slightly crouched, open stance, he's added some size and strength this season, putting up excellent EV numbers compared to his peers. He has a knack for pulling the ball in the air, too. The bat to ball skills are solid, not spectacular, and Rembert will chase pitches out of the strike zone a little more than you want to see. Defensively, it's solid tools across the board. Rembert will be able to stay on the dirt, he's a no-doubt second baseman with average speed, an average glove and a good throwing arm. Rembert's productivity has fallen sharply in the early going of the 2026 season. He'll need to finish strong or he'll be a T60 prospect instead of a profile who can sneak into the T30.
    37 3B Bo Lowrance 18 6'5 200 L/R Christ Church Episcopal HS, SC Lowrance has been one of the sharpest risers on the prep side in the 2026 cycle. What stands out most about the Virginia commit is his size; at 6'5, 200 pounds, there's current physicality and projection remaining in the frame. Lowrance hits from the left side of the plate and has a smooth, controlled left-handed stroke, particularly for someone his size. There's a good mix of strong bat-to-ball metrics and extra base impact here, and Lowrance controls both the strike zone and his at-bats effectively. It's a third base profile as a pro. Lowrance has above average arm strength, certainly enough to handle the corner at the next level. He's a good athlete with solid average wheels and a good glove, enough to support a well rounded offensive profile. Lowrance is the type of prospect who could develop into a 30 home run bat in the right system. He's trending towards the top 40.
    38 SS James Clark 18 6'1 200 L/R St. John Bosco HS, CA Clark is a prep shortstop out of California currently committed to Duke (with his twin brother Miles), after flipping his original commitment from Princeton. Clark has an upright stance and starts with a high handset, but none of this seems to impede his ability to be on time at the plate. It's an offensive profile that is headlined by the hit tool. Clark has excellent bat-to-ball skills, and an approach to match. He rarely chases and has posted miniscule strikeout rates as a result. While there's good bat speed, this hasn't necessarily translated to in-game power, with Clark's approach yielding gap power across the diamond. Defensively, his home is less certain. Clark has, at times, looked unsteady and uncertain at shortstop. If he moves off the position, second or third base would suit him well, with a solid arm and good lateral quickness giving him a good chance to stay on the dirt. Clark's ceiling will be determined by how much in-game power he can grow into to supplement an excellent hit tool and on-base skills.
    39 SS Aiden Ruiz 19 5'10 175 S/R The Stony Brook HS, NY Ruiz is a diminutive, switch-hitting shortstop currently committed to Vanderbilt. He'll be a fascinating follow on draft day as he'll be 19, is listed at 5'10, 170, and has very limited power projection, so he'll test some of our assumptions about what prospect profiles and traits organizations will and won't lean into. Ruiz is arguably the best defensive shortstop in the entire class. He has a quick first step, soft hands, and a big arm. He can make any play from any spot in the infield, it's plus defense at one of the most important positions on the field. Offensively, Ruiz is a switch hitter, with a contact-oriented approach. It's exceptional bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate. Ruiz will expand the zone a little, at times, so there's some risk his quality of contact is impacted without tightening his approach. There's never going to be a ton of power, but Ruiz is an above average runner and should be a pesky threat on the basepaths. The defense and contact skills headline this profile, it's a combination that can rack up plenty of value for a drafting organization.
    40 SS/RHP Archer Horn 18 6'2 200 L/R St. Ignatius College Prep, CA Horn is a two-way prospect out of Northern California currently committed to Stanford. He's a talented pitcher, who has been up to 95 mph with his fastball, also mixing in a good changeup and a solid curveball that has strong spin traits. Most evaluators think his future is as a hitter, however. In the box, Horn has good bat speed, barrel feel, and demonstrates the ability to consistently generate loft in his left handed swing. I think he'll eventually be a power over hit profile, but he currently has the potential to be at least solid average in both tools. Defensively, it's likely he moves off shortstop eventually, but he has a future on the first at second or third base. His commitment to Stanford, and his placement on the board in the 40-60 range generate some skepticism around his signability.
    41 OF Logan Hughes 21 5'11 200 L/L Texas Tech Hughes is a compact outfield prospect who transferred from Stetson to Texas Tech after the 2024 season. Now in his second season in Lubbock, he's developed into an offense forward, hit/power combo, one of the better examples among college hitters. Hughes has a good approach at the plate, characterized by him taking plenty of walks and not expanding the zone too much. It's good bat-to-ball skills, both in and out of the strike zone, and Hughes doesn't really struggle against a particular pitch type or seem to have many holes in his swing. Doing damage on contact is where he really excels. It’s some of the best EV numbers and knack for finding the barrel in D1 baseball, and Hughes has 11 home runs at the time of writing (following a 19 home run season in 2025). The supplementary tools are fringy here. Despite that, Hughes can flat out hit. The offensive production and polish has him trending towards a T30 pick.
    42 OF Chase Brunson 21 6'3 195 R/R TCU Brunson is a college outfielder who got to campus at TCU after being drafted in the 18th round out of high school. He has a strong all around profile, with solid tools across the board, while no single tool stands out. An athletic frame at 6'3, 195 pounds, Brunson has been a line drive/gap type hitter throughout his collegiate career to date. He's added more strength recently, enabling batted balls over 110 mph. While Brunson doesn't have elite bat speed, he has a knack for finding the barrel and pulling the ball in the air that maximizes his ability to do damage on contact. There's strong bat-to-ball skills too and a solid, disciplined approach. His supplementary tools are all 50s-55s. He's an above average runner, not a burner, with a good arm, and solid average defense. It might be a corner outfield profile in the long run, but Brunson should start his pro career in centerfield. He's improved steadily throughout his collegiate career and five tools at 50+ give him a good chance of being a T50 pick.
    43 RHP Jensen Hirschkorn 18 6'7 210 L/R Kingsburg HS, CA Hirschkorn was a sharp riser on boards after a loud summer from a profile that combines present stuff, projectability, and a surprising amount of polish. Currently committed to LSU, Hirschkorn is a presence. He's all of 6'7 with a loose, quick arm and a simple, repeatable delivery. He's impressively mechanically sound and the result is consistent strikes and good command, especially for such a long-levered pitcher. The stuff is nothing to sniff at, too. Hirschkorn fires his fastball at 94-95 mph (it's reached 97 mph) from a tough angle, tougher given that he hides the ball well from hitters. For secondaries, there's a slurvy breaker that sits in the low 80s and a firmer changeup that sits 84-86 mph, on which Hirschkorn kills spin effectively. There's some pitch design/arsenal work to do here on secondaries, but this is a great combination of size, stuff, and polish. It's a loaded class of prep arms, depth-wise, and Hirschkorn is another prospect who should be in T30 pick consideration.
    44 INF Cole Prosek 19 6'1 200 L/R Magnolia Heights HS, MS iconUP Prosek is one of the most polished high school hitters in the class, and is currently committed to Ole' Miss. He hits from the left side of the plate, often starting deep in the batter's box, with a shoulder high handset and minimal pre-swing movement. It's a long stride into his swing but it's short, direct and repeatable. This isn't simply a strong hit tool, however. Prosek can pull the ball in the air and may grow into ~20 home run power as a pro. Defensively, he's a bit more of a fringy athlete than some others in the class. He's not the most fleet of foot, but does have an above average arm that should allow him to stick somewhere in the infield (second or third base) where his range limitations won't expose him. Prosek will be a little older than some on draft day (19). He probably has one 60-grade tool, but it's the most important one. He'll be eligible again as a sophomore if he makes it to campus.
    45 RHP Ben Blair 21 6'3 200 R/R Liberty Blair is right handed pitcher out of Liberty who has tacked on twenty pounds since arriving on campus and been a steady starter, and improver for the Flames. Blair works from a low three quarters slot with an arm stroke that helps generate a ton of horizontal action on his pitches. His fastball occupies a fairly wide velocity band, running anywhere from 92-97 mph. He throws a sinker that averages 17 inches of horizontal break that he throws for strikes at a high clip, and a cutter to round out a trio of fastballs. Blair also features a slider that he has less control and command of than his other pitches. Blair's performance has steadily improved in college. He's increased his strikeout rate from 19% as a freshman to over 30% as a junior, in addition to being an outstanding strike thrower with a walk rate under 5% in 2026. There's some pitch design work to do on the secondary arsenal, but Blair has some present stuff and unique release traits to go along with his stellar performance. He's trending towards being a T50 pick.
    46 OF Blake Bowen 18 6'3 215 R/R JSerra Catholic HS, CA Bowen is a strong, athletically imposing prep hitter out of Southern California, hailing from the same high school that produced Royce Lewis. Bowen is a multi-sport athlete (football) whose relative lack of specialization, in addition to his freakish athleticism, points to a ton of remaining projection and upside. Hitting from the right side of the plate, Bowen operates from a slightly open stance and a shoulder high handset. This all gives way to some of the best age adjusted bat and hand speed in the class. Bowen has pumped 108 mph home runs early this prep season in an offensive profile that power over hit for now. Bowen has shown improved swing decisions and bat-to-ball skills since last summer that indicate he may just be scratching the surface offensively. There's big supplementary tools here too. Bowen is a plus runner, speed that will play on the base paths or in the outfield, where he has a good shot to stick in center. There's a plus arm too, so right field would be a good fit, too. This is a tools-oriented profile where the ceiling depends on just how much he hits as a pro.
    47 C Will Brick 18 6'2 195 R/R Christian Brothers HS, TN Brick is another reclass originally part of the 2027 draft class who is currently committed to Mississippi State. Prep catching (and catching in general) are notoriously difficult to prognosticate, but Brick has well-rounded skills and tools that give me a greater level of optimism than most prospects in this demographic. Hitting from the right side of the plate, Brick has a clean swing and put up some of the best bat speed numbers on the 2025 summer showcase circuit. While he hasn't accessed more than average in-game power, yet, Brick's swing and frame have the ingredients to get there. This is supplemented by good bat-to-ball skills and a solid approach, a combination of offensive skills that may eventually get Brick to above average hit and power tools. Defensively, he's a strong prospect. It's a massive arm, with additional skill (sub 1.9 pop times) in controlling the running game. His receiving game (and defense in general) is as praised as his leadership capabilities and other intangibles. Prep catching is not a demographic that inspires confidence, but Brick is one of the few I'd bet on to make an impact as a pro.
    48 OF Zion Rose 21 6'1 210 R/R Louisville Rose was a highly regarded catching prospect out of IMG Academy as a high school player. Since arriving on campus at Louisville, he's transitioned to a full time role in the outfield. Rose slid a little early in the season due to missed time with injuries, but has since returned to his typical, productive self. At the plate, Rose has a direct right-handed swing with strong bat-to-ball skills. He is particularly adept at making out of zone contact, possibly a dangerous combination for him as it's paired with a higher chase rate than you'd like to see. Rose has above average power too, backed by good bat speed. There's an opportunity to get into this more in game as he doesn't yet pull the ball much in the air. Defensively, it's likely a corner outfield spot. Rose has above average speed and a solid glove. It's a well balanced offensive profile which should continue to rise towards the end of the cycle if he continues to produce at the plate.
    49 RHP Kaden Waechter 18 6'3 185 R/R Tampa Jesuit HS, FL Kaden Waechter (son of Doug) is a projection prep righty out of Tampa, currently committed to Florida State. It's a good frame, Waechter stands 6'3 with some projection remaining and the ability to add more strengths as he matures. It's a good delivery with strong pitchability. Waechter throws strikes at a high clip and commands the majority of his arsenal well around the strike zone. His fastball sits in the 93-94 mph range, but Waechter can reach back for 95-96 mph. It plays well up in the zone thanks to good riding life. His best secondary is currently his slider, which he's added firmness to this year, now sitting in the mid-80s. It's an above average pitch and already generating plenty of miss. There's an average cutter and fringy changeup in the mix too. This is another intriguing member of an incredibly deep prep pitching class. Any team that can continue to round out his arsenal and squeeze a little more from his frame will add an excellent young arm to their system. Waechter looks like a Comp round option.
    50 RHP Joseph Contreras 18 6'4 200 R/R Blessed Trinity Catholic HS, GA Joseph Contreras, son of Jose Contreras, is a tall, lean, prep pitcher currently committed to Vanderbilt who took center stage for a brief moment in the WBC as a 17-year old, competing for Brazil against a stacked Team USA lineup. Contreras' fastball sits 94-97 mph and has been up to 100 mph. It's a quick arm and one can see him sustaining his velocity more consistently with a bit of added weight and strength. For secondaries, there's a mid-80s slider that holds good spin rates and flashes above average to plus, a changeup in the low-80s with good fade, and a split-change/forkball he throws in the high 70s-low 80s that dies at the plate and flashes plus. That's a ton of weapons and velo for a frame still growing and adding strengths who will turn 18 just before the draft. The sky is the limit for Contreras, assuming health and enough strikes with consistency.
    51 RHP Jack Radel 21 6'5 250 R/R Notre Dame Radel had been a solid, if unspectacular contributor to Notre Dame's rotation through his first two years of college ball. It's an ideal starting pitcher's frame at 6'5, 250 pounds. His production has taken a huge jump forward in 2026, such that he's knocking on the door of a T50 overall pick. He's added velocity throughout his time at Notre Dame. It's a relatively high release with good extension. His fastball sits 93-95 mph and has been as high as 98 mph. His best secondary pitch is a slider which generates plenty of swing and miss. There's an above average cutter, in addition to a curveball and changeup which lag behind the rest of the arsenal. Through his first 64 innings of 2026, Radel has a 3.29 FIP, has managed a 30.4% strikeout rate, and a stingy 5.7% walk rate. Radel is a good mover on the mound and the combination of stuff, strikes, and athleticism bodes well for him when he gets into a pro system.
    52 OF Jake Brown 21 6'2 205 L/L LSU Jake Brown was originally a pitching prospect as a prep player. A few years later, he's been one of LSU's best hitters and possesses a well rounded profile that should see him picked somewhere in the T50. Brown hits from the left-side, with a simple, smooth swing. Entering 2026, you might have described his profile as hit over power. In 2026 however, he doubled his home run total from 2025, setting a new career high of 16 in around two thirds of the game time. Brown has good bat to ball skills and a relatively patient approach. While there's not a single, outstanding offensive trait, he does a little bit of everything well. He's got decent speed, a solid glove, and above average arm, too. While it's likely a corner outfield profile long term, he has the skill set to accrue value in all aspects of his game. Unfortunately, Brown had a procedure to tend to a broken hamate bone that cut short his season. He hit .309/.404/.642 with 16 home runs (23 XBH), an 11.9 BB%, 16.5 K%, 9 SB and a 125 wRC+ in an excellent draft eligible season.
    53 OF Connor Comeau 17 6'4 190 L/R Anderson HS, TX Comeau is a Texas A&M recruit and one of the most projectable players in the draft. On draft day, he'll be just 17, and at 6'4, 180 pounds, there's plenty of projection in a strong yet wiry frame. Comeau has a pretty left handed swing. It's simple and fluid. There are good bat to ball skills and he sprays the ball to all fields. There's not a ton of in-game home run power yet, but it's easy to see this being added as Comeau grows into his frame a bit more. There are some questions on the other side of the ball. Comeau currently plays shortstop but won't stick there, even at the college level. He's slow footed, limiting his range. There's an above average arm, though. He will likely settle into a corner somewhere, likely third base of a corner outfield spot. Comeau is a projectable college hitter with a potential above average hit/power combo.
    54 3B Gavin Grahovac 21 6'2 200 R/R Texas A&M Grahovac (cousin of Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell), had an incandescent freshman year at Texas A&M, slugging 23 home runs before managing only six games as a sophomore due to a torn labrum when a head-first slide went wrong. It's a compact stroke from the right side of the plate designed to launch the ball in the air. Grahovac does have a tendency to chase out of the strike zone, even though he's improved his strikeout rate significantly (29% down to ~14%) as a junior. It's in the quality of contact where Grahovac shines. He has outstanding bat speed and consistently produces some of the better EV numbers in college baseball. While there are some swing and miss concerns, making the hit tool fringy, the bat-to-ball numbers have improved significantly since his freshman year. Grahovac has already amassed over 30 extra base hits in 2026 through early May. He's a solid runner with an above average arm, but fringy glove work may limit him to first base long term, which gives him a narrower path to success in a power reliant profile.
    55 2B/3B Landon Thome 18 6'0 185 L/R Nazareth Academy HS, IL Landon Thome is the son of MLB Hall of Famer Jim Thome, who is currently an assistant coach with his son's Illinois high school team. Thome the younger is committed to Florida State. Landon sets up in the box in a relaxed, open stance. A shoulder high hand set gives way to a smooth, loose swing. Thome has a chance to have above average hit and power tools when it's all said and done. Right now, it's a hit over power profile, with strong bat-to-ball metrics, even as he has tapped into more pull side power in the last 12 months. Thome's eventual defensive home is unclear. He has good defensive actions, but a fringy arm and lack of lateral quickness mean he will likely move off shortstop. Second base seems a likely long term home. While the secondary tools aren't the loudest, Thome has a great feel to hit with the promise of additional power on the way. That's what I'd always prioritize in a prep hitter. He'll likely go in the first two rounds.
    56 SS Taj Marchand 18 6'2 200 R/R James Island HS, SC Marchand is one of the premier prep prospects in South Carolina in the 2026 class and has a blend of tools and skills that are pushing him towards the top two rounds in various industry rankings. Hitting from the right side of the plate, Marchand has a relaxed, upright stance in the batter's box. He gets into an extremely deep hand load prior to swinging which can cause a lunging visual at times, but its plus bat speed and any unconventionality hasn't impeded his production. Marchand has excellent bat-to-ball skills and rarely strikes out. The bugaboo in his offensive profile currently is he chases a ton. If he can dial this tendency back, he has a chance to have a strong hit/power combo. Marchand has strong secondary tools, too. It's a plus arm, with solid infield actions and speed. He should stick somewhere on the dirt as a pro.
    57 C Daniel Jackson 21 6'2 200 R/R Georgia Jackson is one of the breakout stars of the college baseball season, transitioning from solid contributor for the Bulldogs to offensive monster his draft eligible junior year. He's rocketed up draft boards as a result and is now approaching a consensus top 50 ranking. Taller for a catcher, and a freaky athlete, Jackson has big bat speed from the right side of the plate. Both his EV90 and Barrel% rank better than the 90th percentile in college baseball. While there's some swing and miss in the hit tool, Jackson is selective at the plate, a trait that has helped his walk rate increase to over 13% in 2026. Jackson is a plus runner and has an above average arm, to boot. He's stolen 23/24 bases to date in 2026. The defense at catcher is fringy though. It remains to be seen if Jackson has a long term home behind the dish. If he doesn't, the offensive skill set is enough to play in a corner outfield spot. He's put up a season for the ages at just the right time.
    58 OF Ty Head 21 6'3 190 L/L NC State Head was a notable prep prospect in 2023 and is now eligible as a sophomore after impressing in two years on campus at NC State. An excellent athlete at 6'3, 190 pounds, Head sets up towards the back of the batter's box in an open stance, with his rear toe pointed into the ground. He's developed more of a feel for launch in 2026, his home run total jumping from a previous career high of 4, to 12 and counting. Head's production is a bit puzzling, overall. His outstanding bat-to-ball skills (95th percentile plus) in addition to a walk rate over 20% and a strikeout rate of just 9%, give him an excellent on-base floor. In spite of this, he's hitting just .285 at the time of writing, a number we might expect to be higher given the outstanding contact skills and approach. There's good supplemental skills here too. Head is a plus runner and has snagged 30 bags and counting (caught 3 times) in his two seasons at NC State. Despite a fringy arm, his speed and athletic fluidity give him a great chance to stick in centerfield at the next level.
    59 LHP Wes Mendes 21 6'1 200 R/L Florida State Mendes pitched out of the bullpen in his freshman season at Ole' Miss, before transferring to Florida State to be closer to home. He's continued to develop and improve throughout his three collegiate seasons, including as the Seminoles Friday night starter in 2026. Mendes typically works from the third base side of the rubber with a loose, efficient delivery from the left side. He doesn't have overpowering velocity, but he has a well developed arsenal of pitches to deploy in starts. His fastball sits 92-94 mph, and has grabbed 97 mph. It plays well up in the zone thanks to solid carry. Mendez backs this up with a gyro slider with some depth and lateral tilt, in addition to a curveball with greater depth. His best secondary pitch is his changeup, which sits in the low 80s with a ton of horizontal movement. Mendes sells it well with good arm speed. It's already a plus pitch. In working as a starter, Mendes has steadily improved his repertoire, strikeout rate, and lowered his walk rate. He's trending towards a T75 pick.
    60 RHP Joey Volchko 21 6'4 210 R/R Georgia Volchko ended his senior year in high school as the 52nd overall prospect on the MLB Consensus Board, but couldn't be lured away from a commitment to Stanford. Fast forward three years, he's transferred to Georgia under the watchful eye of Wes Johnson and may end up a little higher on this years' board. Volchko has some of the best arm talent in the class but as yet, ingredients and production haven't quite matched up. It's an excellent frame at 6'4, 225, with explosive stuff to match. Volchko has grabbed 101 mph with his fastball. It'll sit 95-98 mph with cutting action and hasn't generated the type of swing and miss you'd like to see on a pitch with that type of velocity. There's a hellacious slider in the mix, which may be double plus (~90 mph), a curveball, cutter and a changeup. Strike throwing consistency has also been an issue for Volchko, who is carrying a walk rate over 11% at the time of writing. His might be a profile where you need the right pro fit. With tighter control and some pitch design work as a pro, the floor is a high leverage bullpen arm with plenty of starter traits.
    61 RHP Blake Bryant 18 6'5 190 R/R Citizens Christian Academy, GA Bryant is a projectable prep righty standing 6'5, 180 pounds, currently committed to Clemson. He's jumped up boards throughout the cycle thanks to consistently outstanding performances on the summer circuit. Bryant's velocity has ticked up in the last 12 months. His fastball is up to 96 mph with run and ride. He pairs it with a sweeper in the low 80s, a curveball that sits in the high 70s, and a split change that's a bit firm currently. The command can come and go a bit with Bryant which is typical for a lanky prep arm. It's a strong arsenal on which to build. It's easy to envision him being a problem when he fills out a bit more and polishes his repertoire.
    62 2B Jarren Advincula 21 6'0 180 L/R Georgia Tech Advincula transferred from Cal to Georgia Tech and is one of the better contact hitters in the entire class. It's a short, left handed swing that he uses to find gaps in opposing defenses backed up by elite bat-to-ball skills. Advincula almost never strikes out (~7% through early May). There are some warts in his approach that jeopardize his quality of contact. He expands the zone and chases too much, resulting in poor quality of contact. Advincula has some bat speed and present strength, but it's likely 10-12 home run power at the next level. He's a good athlete with plus speed who hasn't necessarily leveraged it to its full advantage in his stolen base count (31 and counting over three seasons). The infield actions are strong, despite a fringy arm. Advincula can definitely stick on the dirt, most likely as a second baseman. If the swing decisions can take a step forward, he'll be a pain to face in pro ball.
    63 RHP Kaiden McCarthy 17 6'0 190 R/R Vermont Academy, VA Kaiden McCarthy is one of my favorite prep arms in the class. He's on the younger side (he'll be 17 on draft day) and has been seen less than many of his peers as he's from Vermont. It's a bit of an undersized frame at 6'0, 190 pounds, but McCarthy is a dynamic mover and athlete. His fastball is already an above average to plus pitch, hitting 99 mph, but typically sitting in the 94-96 mph range. There's a knuckle curve and slider in the mix for breakers, with an above average changeup with good fade to round out a solidly constructed arsenal. There's plenty of strikes with McCarthy in a delivery I like for its simplicity. He's a hidden gem in this class, for me.
    64 3B Beau Peterson 18 6'3 200 L/R Mill Valley HS, KS Peterson is one of the more physically imposing frames on the prep side in 2026. The Kansas prepster is committed to Texas and has played third base, corner outfield, caught, and pitched in recent years. Peterson has a left handed swing with good bat speed. He has easy raw power while currently getting into more line drive power in games. When he learns to add loft with more consistency he'll be a 25 home run threat as a pro hitter. Peterson has good bat to ball skills too and controls the strike zone well, giving him a well rounded offensive profile. Peterson projects to be an average runner, at best as he continues to fill out. Despite the lack of foot speed, the glove will play just fine at third base. He's been up to 95 mph on the mound, so there's plenty of arm for the hot corner or a corner outfield spot.
    65 RHP Ruger Riojas 23 6'1 180 R/R Texas Riojas pitched for two seasons at UTSA prior to transferring to Texas. He's continued to take steps forward in his two seasons with the Longhorns, capped by an excellent 2026 season. Riojas is undersized for a starter at 6'0, 195 pounds. He'll also be 23 on draft day, one of the older prospects selected in the entire class. His fastball sits 94-96 mph with good carry and will peak at 97-98 mph. It's backed up by a splitter that sits in the mid 80s, a cutter, a sweeper and a curveball to round out a well developed arsenal. Riojas has a strikeout rate north of 35% heading into the end of the regular season, combined with an impressive 5.2% walk rate. He'll be drafted in the first 3 rounds as a priority senior sign that will allow an organization some financial flexibility with other early picks.
    66 SS Rocco Maniscalco 17 6'2 190 S/R Oxford HS, AL Maniscalco is a switch-hitting shortstop who has drawn Eli Willits comparisons. He attends the same Alabama high school as recent Marlins second rounder Carter Johnson, and is currently committed to Mississippi State. Maniscalco will be one of the youngest prep players in the class. He's a reclass from 2027 and will be 17 years and 2 months on draft day. It's a good overall offensive profile with solid bat speed and good bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate. Given Maniscalco's age, it's not hard to envision him adding strength and additional impact at the plate. In the field is where he truly shines. Maniscalco has a good chance to stick at shortstop long term, with smooth actions, a quick first step, an excellent internal clock and a plus arm. He's one of the better defensive prep shortstops in this class behind Aiden Ruiz. There's both tools and skills in a strong all around profile.
    67 C Carson Tinney 21 6'4 240 R/R Texas It's tough to be a college catcher in a class with Vahn Lackey and Ryder Helfrick. Notre Dame transfer Carson Tinney is a different profile of player, with more whiff in his offensive profile, and more defensive uncertainty. Despite this, it's incredibly impressive production after transferring to Texas and facing SEC competition his junior season. Tinney has significant swing and miss issues with his hit tool, but it's legitimate 70 grade raw power. He's posted exit velocities north of 115 mph in 2026, in addition to 20 home runs in his first 51 games. While he strikes out a lot, his hit tool concerns are somewhat mitigated by a walk rate north of 17%. Defensively, it's huge arm strength. Like many other large framed catchers, Tinney struggles with some of the nimbleness and adaptability of movement behind the plate. Outside of controlling the running game, the whole defensive package needs work. Even so, it's 30 home run potential that could find a home at first base if the catching doesn't stick.
    68 OF Andrew Williamson 21 6'0 200 L/L Central Florida Williamson is a three year college starter at Central Florida who has put up significant production in his sophomore and junior campaigns. It's a power driven offensive profile with sound supplementary tools. Williamson has quite a noisy operation in the box. There's a significant bat tip and it's quite a long swing, factors that may contribute to some timing issues with the hit tool. While Williamson has average contact metrics in D1 baseball, his quality of contact is exceptional. Williamson had 36 extra base hits as a sophomore (13 home runs) and has followed up with 28 and counting (12 home runs) as a junior as the season enters its final stretch. There's a strong on base floor, too, as Williamson walks over 15% of the time. It's solid average speed, an average glove and arm that, combined with his power driven profile, lend themselves to a corner outfield spot when he turns pro.
    69 SS/RHP Cole Koeninger 18 6'3 210 R/R Keller HS, TX Cole Koeninger is a Tennessee commit on the older side for the prep class; he's also one of the most legitimate two-way prospects on the high school side of the class. A terrific athlete with plus speed at 6'3, 210 pounds, Koeninger has typically played shortstop, with a plus arm and above average actions in the infield that could lend themselves to any position on the dirt. Offensively, at his best, it's a clean, short right handed stroke. He provides plenty of impact and extra base power. Occasionally, his swing can look off balance, leading to some questions about the hit tool, especially given a poor summer showcase in 2025. On the bump, Koeninger relies on a fastball that has taken a velo jump in the past year. It's been up to 97 mph but sits 93-94 mph. It's complimented by a big downer curveball and an emerging changeup. It remains to be seen which side of the ball Koeninger will focus on long term. As soon as he settles into one, the skills will likely jump forward with additional attention and focus.
    70 LHP Ethan Kleinschmidt 21 6'3 190 L/L Oregon State Kleinschmidt was a JUCO lefty who transferred to Oregon State after his freshman year. Since then, he's been a mainstay in the Beavers rotation, posting with consistency as a supplement to otherworldly righty Dax Whitney. Kleinschmidt has a long arm stroke from the left side of the plate. His fastball has been up to 95 mph with good tail, but typically sits in the 90-93 mph range. There's an above average slider and changeup in the mix too, along with the ability to throw strikes with consistency. Kleinschmidt has produced consistently strong results in two seasons for the Beavers. If he's able to add some more strength and get an uptick in velocity as a pro, he has starter traits.
    71 RHP Cooper Harris 18 6'3 200 R/R Flower Mound HS, TX Harris is one of my favorite prep pitching prospects in the class. He's on the younger side, and will have just turned 18 by the time day one rolls around. It's a good frame at 6'3, 200 pounds, with plenty more room to add size and strength. It's a clean, rhythmic delivery from Harris, who throws from a higher three quarter slot that generates some steepness and angle to his arm stroke. His fastball has been as high as 96 mph, but will sit in the 93-94 mph range currently, with more in the tank. Harris has two distinct breaking balls, a two plane slider he throws in the low 80s, and a depthier curveball in the high 70s. There's also a burgeoning changeup in the mix with good fade. Harris is how you draw up a prep pitching prospect. Young and projectable, with good stuff and the ability to throw plenty of strikes. In a year where the prep pitching talent wasn't so abundant, he'd be ranked quite a bit higher.
    72 RHP Gabe Gaeckle 21 6'0 190 R/R Arkansas Gaeckle is a smaller right-handed pitcher out of Arkansas for whom stuff and production haven't quite met. The junior has pitched primarily as a starter in 2026, although he has made some appearances out of the bullpen for the Razorbacks. Gaeckle has good velo and an enticing arsenal for a pro team. His fastball is tough. It sits in the mid-90s with good ride thrown from a lower release height, making it tough on college hitters. Gaeckle has a hard slider that generates 2,800 rpms of spin, in addition to a low-80s curveball with a ton of depth that generates plenty of chase below the zone. Gaeckle has worked hard on his changeup this year, a high-80s offering with a ton of depth and fade. Consistent strike throwing has been a challenge for Gaeckle throughout his college career. At the time of writing, he's carrying a too high 11.5 BB% in 2026. Combine this with his smaller frame, and there's more relief risk here than you'd like to see. He has the arm talent and stuff to start, if a pro organization can get him executing with more consistency.
    73 OF Noah Wilson 19 6'2 195 L/R McCallie HS, TN Wilson is a prep outfielder out of Tennessee currently committed to Vanderbilt. His profile is built on athleticism and raw tools over polish at this stage, but there's plenty of time to balance that. Wilson sets up on the left side of the plate in a slightly open stance. There's plenty of bat speed, but an awkward looking load in his swing creates a steep attack angle and has given some pause around his hit tool. There's no doubting the above average raw power and 70-grade wheels, though. Wilson can fly around the bases and the excellent foot speed gives him great range in centerfield, even with a fringe average arm. This profile hinges on how the hit tool develops under pro instruction. Wilson will be 19 on draft day.
    74 OF Will Gasparino 21 6'6 205 R/R UCLA If you want to lean into raw tools on the college side of the 2026 draft, there's no better place to look than Will Gasparino, who is finishing his collegiate career at UCLA (close to home) after a mixed two years at Texas. This is double plus raw power from the right side from a 6'6 frame. The problem for Gasparino, is there wasn't enough of a hit tool to go with it in his first two collegiate seasons. It's a longer swing, but the staff at UCLA have him on plane earlier and have quieted down his lower half, work that has unlocked a much better version of Gasparino in 2026. He's hitting over .300 through conference tournament play (a 40-50 point increase from his first two seasons), with 19 home runs and a reduced strikeout rate. There's strong supplementary tools here, too. Gasparino has an above average arm and once he gets going, has above average speed too. It's a power-reliant corner outfield profile who could be a monster if he hits enough at the next level.
    75 OF Carter Beck 21 6'0 195 L/R Indiana State Beck started his collegiate career playing division II baseball, after being a decorated, versatile high school athlete in Canada. Prior to the 2025 season he transferred to Indiana State, and he put up two seasons of excellent production in response, elevating himself to day one consideration. Beck has a quick swing and lightning fast hands from the left side. Although there's some work to do around swing decisions, the bat-to-ball skills are excellent. He walks a decent amount and rarely strikes out, pointing towards a hit tool that could be plus when it's all said and done. There's plenty of impact, too. Beck has 13 home runs (32 extra base hits) in 2026. He's rocking a 160 wRC+ as of mid May. There's above average speed and range in the field for Beck. While he will likely move to a corner spot long term, he'll have a good chance to start his pro career in center field. He has a chance to have an above average hit/power combo, an unusual one for the 2026 class.
    76 OF Kevin Roberts 17 6'5 220 R/R Jackson Prep HS, MS iconDOWN Roberts is a prep outfielder out of Mississippi who played on the same team as Konnor Griffin, currently committed to Florida. This is some of the best tools in the draft. Roberts has next level athleticism. If he can harness it, his profile has some of the highest upside in the entire class. Roberts has massive power potential, getting to easy plus juice in the box. This is some of the best rotational acceleration and torque in the class, with quick hands and a lightning fast bat. The core bat-to-ball and approach skills are solid too, but they haven't translated to outstanding offensive numbers just yet. There are a ton of strong supplementary tools here. Roberts is a plus runner, with long, smooth strides and an athletic gait. It's a plus arm (he's been up to 95 mph on the mound). All told, he has a chance to stick in centerfield as a pro. He's a three sport athlete (basketball and track) oosing projection with superstar potential.
    77 RHP Savion Sims 19 6'8 205 R/R Prestonwood Christian Academy HS, TX Sims is some of the best raw pitching clay in the class. He's a 6'8 right-handed pitcher out of Texas, committed to Oklahoma who will be 19 on draft day. The lanky frame and long limbs produce ridiculous velocity with ease. Sims has been over 100 mph with his fastball and it'll comfortably sit 96-97 mph. HIs secondary arsenal requires work, there's a two plane slider he throws in the mid 80s and a high 80s changeup. Both of his secondary pitches have somewhat inconsistent shapes. There's delivery traits to like too, as Sims can get to 7 plus feet of extension down the mound and creates a steepness in his delivery after raising his arm slot. Sims will be a slow burn, and there's a ton of work to do on the arsenal, but this is uncommon arm talent,
    78 RHP Jacob Dudan 21 6'2 195 L/R NC State Dudan was one of the biggest improvers on the college side in 2026 until a torn UCL ended his season in April. He missed the rest of the collegiate season, although he is expected to be ready for spring training in 2027. Dudan operated primarily as a reliever in his first two seasons with the Wolfpack, benefiting from a huge velocity bump, but suffering from struggling to throw enough strikes. It's a fastball that can grab 99 mph but settles around 96 mph with some carry and sink, a hard, upper 80s slider that was a whiff machine, and a sparsely used changeup. It's a longer arm action from a lower slot for Dudan, and the stuff and production were excellent in 2026. He finished the season with a 3.60 ERA, 3.00 FIP, 30.4 K% and 5.9 BB% in 50 IP. He'll be out of sight, out of mind for a while, but it's an electric arm.
    79 OF Brady Harris 18 6'2 185 R/R Trinity Christian Academy HS, FL Harris is a tooled up prep outfielder out of Florida currently committed to the University of Florida. Despite the loud physicality in his profile, he's slipped a bit since the beginning of the cycle in public facing rankings. Harris has a great frame at 6'2, 185 pounds. Setting up in a relatively upright, back-weighted stance, it's some of the better rotation and bat speed on the prep side this cycle. It's easy plus raw power, and Harris can get to it in games, with some strength projection remaining. There's loud supplemental tools too. Harris is an easy plus runner with above average arm strength who should figure to stick in center field as a pro hitter. The routes are solid and he has a good shot to accrue positive value on the base paths and in the field. Right-handed power reliant outfield profiles can be dinged as the draft cycle gets late. In Harris' case, it's due to swing and miss concerns. He had a poor summer circuit in 2025, exhibiting quite a bit of in-zone swing and miss. If he can sure that up and get the strikeouts in check, he can be a force.
    80 SS/OF Luke Williams 18 6'0 190 R/R Franklin Regional HS, PA In recent weeks there has been discussion around teams valuing loud tools over skills in draft eligible prospects. PA prepster Luke Williams will be a useful test case for this theory in 2026, with a ton of loud tools, and some rawness to counter balance it. Williams missed all of the summer showcase circuit due to ankle surgery, but he's surged back up boards this spring with some loud performances. It's a bit raw offensively, but there's plus bat speed and over the fence power in the profile. Add double plus speed and a huge arm, and you have a player who can add value in a number of different ways. Some teams might like to see what Williams can do on the mound, while it's unclear if his tools lend themselves better to SS or the outfield. If he can continue to refine the hit tool and barrel consistency, he's going to be exciting to watch.
    81 RHP Ryan Lynch 21 6'3 235 R/R North Carolina Lynch is a young for the class college pitcher who will turn 21 a month before the draft. He's occupied a number of roles in his two years for the Tar Heels, beginning as a reliever, before transitioning into a starting role in 2026. It's a frame with ingredients for starting. Lynch stands 6'3, 235 pounds and can maintain his velocity into his outings. There's some interesting release traits too, as Lynch gets good extension and throws from a low release height. There's interesting stuff, too. His best pitch is a power sinker with a ton of run. It typically sits 94 mph but has been up to 97 mph. Lynch frequently mixes in a slider with some depth and sweep, a curveball, and a changeup, although he relies on his sinker/slider combo. Results have been mixed as a full time starter in 2026 and there's some reliever risk here until Lynch can more consistently tap into a more diverse arsenal with regularity and effectiveness.
    82 RHP Brett Renfrow 21 6'2 230 R/R Virginia Tech Renfrow was previously a two way player who began to focus solely on pitching when he got to campus at Virginia Tech. This is a class draft 'type', a college starter where stuff and ingredients don't line up neatly with outcomes. I'd classify Renfrow as someone with a significant 'up arrow' this spring, though. It's a good frame and he's about to surpass 70 innings for the third consecutive season. Renfrow has slowly ticked up his strikeout rate while reducing his walk rate, exactly what you want to see. In terms of stuff, the fastball is good. It sits 94 mph and has been up to 97 mph, playing well at the top of the zone. There's a slider/cutter hybrid he throws in the upper 80s, a curveball with plenty of depth that sits in the low 80s, and a changeup with good horizontal action. Renfrow is a pitcher you can see making significant strides in a pro organization. There are plenty of starter traits here; he's pushed himself up from T100 consideration to the 50-75 range as it stands in late May.
×
×
  • Create New...