2026 MLB Draft – Top 100 College Prospects

HT/WT: 6’2/202 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: UCLA | Hometown: Chandler, AZ | Projected Age: 21.3

Once a more lithe, slender athlete as a prepster at Hamilton High in Arizona, Cholowsky has transformed his body into a more physical one without reducing the bounce and athleticism that scouts adored.

The strength gains are visible throughout his entire body, and it has allowed his tools to blossom while at UCLA. A Freshman All-American in 2024, Cholowsky took his game to another level as a sophomore, becoming the biggest catalyst on a young Bruins team that found itself in Omaha. It’s a complete offensive package.

Cholowsky’s swing is picturesque, boasting a compact stroke to the baseball with legitimate bat speed, barrel lag with consistent feel, and adjustability. He posted an 81% contact rate in 2025 (90% in-zone) with slight aggression in his approach, though there are very few holes in the swing.

With the added weight, Cholowsky’s power has come to life. His feel to lift to the pull side, paired with robust exit velocities up to 114 MPH, means he’s capable of above-average to plus power production at the next level. You’d be hard-pressed to find better offensive projection up the middle like this.

That’s not all, though. His defensive prowess has not wavered at the slightest at the “six.” He’s an agile athlete with bounce, great range, and impressive actions at the position. He makes the hard play look routine, boasting an exceptional internal clock with great arm strength across the diamond. It’s plus defense at the next level.

The overall package is loud, and he’s the most complete prospect we’ve seen at the amateur level in some time. He’s got the best case to be 1.1 in this class.

Video: https://x.com/OnTheClock_1/status/1940904350337179780

On The Clock Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W27g99S5_RM

HT/WT: 6’3/195 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Virginia | Hometown: Monroe, NJ | Projected Age: 21.8

This quote encapsulated Gracia’s 2025 season: “It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish.”

After scuffling through the first month and a half of the campaign, Gracia flipped a switch and found his timing, becoming the hottest hitter in the ACC during the second half of the season. Now at Virginia, Gracia is looking to put the cherry on top of an exceptional collegiate career. It’s as gorgeous a left-handed swing as you can find.

It’s short, compact, and quick to the baseball with a long follow-through and one-handed finish. There’s easy bat speed with feel to lift the baseball repeatedly, and flashes big bat speed, though it’s slightly down from what it was a year ago.

While he is passive, which has given pitchers an early advantage, his bat-to-ball skills are sublime. Gracia seldom whiffs on offerings, running an 88% contact rate and an in-zone rate of 92%, plus his chase rates are very respectable. He’ll need to attack pitches early in counts more, though that’s the biggest blemish in his offensive toolset.

His power was slightly down in 2025, with more average exit velocities, but a return to 2024 form is in the cards. It could be above-average power paired with an above-average or better hit tool. It’s a tantalizing offensive package.

Defensively, he’s relegated to a corner outfield spot with average speed and fringy arm strength, though he gets good reads off the bat and can be a serviceable defender.

Teams will be buying the offensive upside here, and it has a chance to be particularly special.

Video: https://youtu.be/QqdW6mW6kRg

On The Clock Interview: https://youtu.be/Jv-w9joA1Fc?si=GXtTRg7TNodc_xZW

HT/WT: 6’1/190 | Bat/Throw: S/R | School: Kentucky | Hometown: Frankfort, IL | Projected Age: 21

Arguably the brightest talent to reach campus from the 2024 draft, Bell opted not to sign with the Rays and made an immediate impact at Kentucky. For the first time in the Nick Mingione era, Bell hit the double-digit home run barrier in his rookie collegiate campaign, clobbering ten home runs and adding seventeen doubles to his baseball card.

A true switch-hitter, Bell is more power-over-hit presently, though there’s enough to project more polish coming for the hit tool. Bell seldom whiffs against heaters (14% swing-and-miss, 8% in-zone), flashes solid bat paths from both sides, and has shown a tendency to pummel the baseball to his pull-side. He can find himself swinging too uphill, likely as a result of his back shoulder collapsing, which has led to more grounders than you’d like and some whiffs against off-speed offerings.

With that said, Bell generates really good bat speed and leverage for his size and has the makings of an extra-base machine at the next level. It’s robust power with exit velocities clearing 110 MPH at times. He displayed solid bat-to-ball skills for his first taste of college baseball and possesses good swing decisions.

Defensively, he’s a shoe-in to stick at the “six” long-term. He’s fluid, athletic, and nimble on his feet at the position, covering plenty of ground and displaying good bend in his actions. It’s adequate arm strength across the diamond, as well.

Bell is in line to make a significant jump in production during his draft-eligible season in 2026, where he’ll be one of the key pieces returning to Lexington.

Video: https://youtu.be/OOE0aXCCufY?si=PEAXXgN2aECVJ6vk

HT/WT: 6’1/205 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Texas A&M | Hometown: Potomac, MD | Projected Age: 21.10

After spending his first two years at the University of Maryland, Hacopian will be the prized prospect in a loaded Texas A&M lineup for his draft-eligible season. The Aggies will be hoping that he continues to mash the baseball like he did during his time in College Park.

There’s no mincing words here, Hacopian is about as complete a hitter as you’ll find in the amateur landscape.

There’s a big leg kick and a noisy load to his swing, but he finds a way to stay on time and adjusts his swing plane to the pitches thrown his way. It’s loud bat speed with elite bat-to-ball skills and an excellent approach.

Pitchers can’t sneak a fastball by Hacopian, as he posted a 95% contact rate against heaters across the entirety of the 2025 season. That’s not a typo. He can get tricked by change-ups, but his overall whiff rates are promising. He’s consistently on the barrel, he’ll find ways to muscle the ball with his B-Swings, and he flashes plus raw power to every part of the field.

There’s not much to nitpick at the plate. It’s full of upside.

While he’s been a reliable shortstop option for the Terrapins to date, he’s not the rangiest athlete in the dirt, and the physical nature of his body fits best at the hot corner. He seldom rushes himself in the dirt, possessing a great internal clock and average defensive chops.

This is a bat that could rush through the minor leagues in little time after he’s drafted, and he looks every bit of a future first-round pick.

HT/WT: 5’9/182 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Georgia Tech | Hometown: Perry, GA | Projected Age: 21.7

What Burress lacks in size, he makes up for with impact on both sides of the ball.

The top prep recruit to hit campus from a highly-touted 2023 crop, Burress has performed at a high level across two campaigns at Georgia Tech. It’s explosive bat speed from the right side of the plate with an affinity for hammering fastballs routinely. He posted a 92% contact rate on heaters alone during the 2025 campaign.

There’s a lot ongoing with his mechanics, namely a big leg kick and some drift in the load, but his quick hands and twitch allow him to be on time. He can find himself guessing at times, especially with cambios, but the overall package is hard to ignore.

It’s a polished hit tool with feel to lift to the pull side with authority. While he’s smaller and less projectable, it may wind up being above-average or better pop.

Defensively, he’s handled the “eight” well to this point, flashing good range with a strong arm at the position. He may wind up in right field once he runs into a better defender, but it may be a while before he hits that point.

Even with his size and stature, he’s shown standout traits and tools to date. He looks like a top-15 pick from this chair right now.

Video: https://youtu.be/j7gXAMbhJx0?si=mID-yVt5gsT6ekHP

On The Clock Interview: https://youtu.be/ArHZ_ACA5vg?si=dbG5LfBpIpLtT1j-

HT/WT: 6’6/210 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Coastal Carolina | Hometown: Egg Harbor Township, NJ | Projected Age: 21.2

Under the tutelage of Matt Williams, Flukey became an integral piece to Coastal Carolina’s Omaha run, serving as one of their top arms. As a result, the transformation that he made before 2025 has put him into SP1 territory for the 2026 draft.

Flukey is throwing harder than ever before, as he’s moving down the mound with much more intent. It’s an athletic delivery with a longer arm action, displaying significant scap loading, that leads to a high three-quarters slot with loud arm speed.

The fastball has a steeper plane due to his high release, and he tends to locate it lower in the zone, which has neutralized its success to an extent. He’s been able to command the offering very well and expand the zone with solid chase rates, though he’ll need to squeeze more value out of the offering. For now, it’s a mid-90s rocket with significant carry and backspin, reaching 98-99 MPH at his peak.

His best secondary is a mid-70s curveball with noteworthy depth, possessing over ten inches of depth on average. It’s a bit soft at times, though he’ll drop it in for strikes and bury it in the dirt for whiffs. It missed bats at a clip just shy of 50% in 2025.

He’ll round out his arsenal with a firmer mid-80s slider with some tilt and depth, plus there’s feel for a mid-80s cambio with some tumble, albeit inconsistent.

Given the projection, command, and overall arsenal, Flukey has put himself on top of the college pitching demographic and should blossom into more upside in 2026.

On The Clock Interview: https://youtu.be/raGZMFThR3M?si=kV5bi9OElaeG2oX7

HT/WT: 6’2/180 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Alabama | Hometown: Miramar, FL | Projected Age: 21.8

A lean and green athlete at a keystone position, Lebron is one of the most tantalizing prospects in the entire class. It’s immense projection to a profile that has added plenty of impact over the past calendar year.

For starters, Lebron’s power uptick was a welcome sight in 2025. It’s loud bat and hand speed from the right side of the dish, and his exit velocities surpassed the 110 MPH barrier in 2025. After flashing primarily pull side juice in 2024, Lebron found himself thumping the baseball to both sides of the park with more ease.

That’s a stark uptick in power from his freshman campaign, and there’s still more growth to come.

His ability to pummel the high fastball is remarkable, as well. He will need to find a bit more of a happy medium, though. His hit tool has some warts, especially against secondary offerings low in the zone. His chase rates are rather bloated, as well. It may be nothing more than a fringe-average hit tool, though his power and defense keep the profile afloat.

Speaking of defense, his actions and instincts are really, really advanced. It’s a fluid defender at shortstop with significant bounce, lateral mobility, and impressive arm strength. It’s very impressive to watch on film, and he’ll generate plenty of value in the dirt.

If Lebron irons out the hit tool, there’s a good chance that he can challenge Roch Cholowsky for the first overall pick next July.

HT/WT: 6’5/220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Florida | Hometown: Palm Harbor, FL | Projected Age: 21.1

Once a highly-touted arm out of high school, Peterson has blossomed into a powerful arm at the University of Florida, where he projects to be the Friday guy once again in 2026.

Peterson’s delivery has had its warts, but he toned down the effort and wildness in 2025, reining in his limbs and finding a more compact nature to his operation. His size, athleticism, and arm speed stand out on film, as he pitches downhill with power and has whip to his arm from an over-the-top slot.

Peterson likes to work north-south with his arsenal, which is led by a big mid-90s fastball with excellent extension. It’s a cut/ride behemoth upstairs with upwards of twenty inches of carry at times, while flashing some running life down in the zone. He’s already been up to 99 MPH this past spring, and it’s not impossible to see triple digits in short order.

His primary secondary is a mid-80s slider with teeth, showcasing the ability to manipulate the pitch shape. Sometimes he’ll throw it with more tilt, but more often than not, you’ll see Peterson keep it short to the plate with depth.

His mid-80s change-up tunnels off the heater well and dives to the dirt in a hurry. He’ll tinker with a bigger bender in the upper-70s that he used a lot in 2024, though Peterson has kept the pitch in his back pocket in 2025 and uses it to steal strikes.

He’s grown into more command this spring, though scouts want to see a bit more show up in 2026. There’s considerable upside here with a deep arsenal, size, and more strikes on the way.

Film: https://youtu.be/4NO1KpMT5V8

HT/WT: 6’3/205 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Mississippi State | Hometown: Canton, TX | Projected Age: 21.2

Once a Houston Cougar, Reese changed zip codes and found a new home in Starkville, where he put together an incredible sophomore season for the Bulldogs: twenty-one home runs, eighteen doubles, and an OPS of 1.140. Pretty darn good.

He’s a menacing figure in the box, a physical player with length to his limbs and easy juice from the left side. Reese generates loud bat speed with legitimate feel to lift the baseball regularly, hammering pitches to either side of the park with ease. It’s above-average thump with a sneaky good ability to minimize whiffs.

Reese can adjust his swing routinely and finds a way to take tight turns to the baseball, especially when he’s hammering them to right field. He demolishes fastballs, especially those in the zone, as he posted a 91% contact rate on those heaters alone. He does chase out of the zone more than you’d like, but his pure contact skills are good enough to curtail those woes. In short, it’s an excellent bat.

In Houston, Reese spent the majority of his time in the outfield, though he moved to third base in Starkville. His defensive skills need some polish at the hot corner, as his footwork can get clunky and his lateral mobility can be tested at times, but he’s far from a non-serviceable defender there. If he moves off the position, he can find a home in a corner outfield spot.

A slugging profile through and through, he’s done enough to warrant a first-round grade at this stage in the cycle.

Video: https://youtu.be/1BKfg5o7LjM?si=f6wIcbnA4MedFuS4

HT/WT: 6’2/200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Georgia Tech | Hometown: Suwanee, GA | Projected Age: 21

Backstops with the athletic ability that Lackey possesses do not grow on trees. It’s an incredibly unique profile to dive into.

After spending time splitting catching duties with Matthew Ellis in 2024, Lackey broke out in a massive way for the Yellow Jackets this past spring. Lackey has long been renowned for his defensive prowess behind the dish, which is potentially plus at the next level.

Lackey is very explosive out of the crouch, displays a quick exchange from mitt to hand, and has a very strong arm with accuracy. His lateral mobility is exceptional, and so is his ability to block balls in the dirt. It’s a very advanced defensive package at a key position on the field. It’s akin to what Kyle Teel showcased in his draft-eligible year, but maybe a tick better.

Offensively, Lackey is no slouch, as his offensive tools are beginning to blossom. It’s hit-over-power at the present, though he’s put up some quality exit velocities. His swing can get steep, which has led to a heightened groundball rate, but his bat-to-ball skills are immaculate. Lackey posted a contact rate of 85% in 2025, including an in-zone rate of 90%, and he rarely let a fastball by him.

He does chase a tad more than you’d like, but he makes up for it with his pull side impact. Lackey’s power is sneaky good, as his highest exit velocities eclipsed 110 MPH last season, and he’ll continue to grow into more power as he physically matures and fills out. The potential for an above-average to plus hitter with average or better power is in play here.

To add the cherry on top, Lackey has the speed to be an asset on the basepaths, as he stole eighteen bags in 2025.

There’s significant upside in Lackey’s profile, and he’s in line for a big junior campaign for a Georgia Tech squad with Omaha ambitions.

Video: https://youtu.be/tNZANuc9K34?si=lpzyew1lNBTXbtgc

Interview: https://youtu.be/GKI-3s_s7ZM?si=NRjFJeHzC4MXlXEQ

HT/WT: 6’2/200 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Texas Christian | Hometown: Brock, TX | Projected Age: 21

After enduring a sluggish start to his collegiate career, Strosnider became one of, if not the best, freshmen in the entire country, cruising to thirty-four extra-base hits with an OPS of 1.070 in fifty-six games.

Strosnider has added ~20 pounds of muscle to his frame since making it to Texas Christian, but he has not lost an ounce of athleticism on the field. He’s a dynamic athlete with noteworthy twitch and loud tools across his card.

It’s a loud left-handed swing with tons of bat speed, leverage, and barrel feel that leads to potential plus power in the future. He’s already surpassed the 110 MPH barrier with ease, reaching a maximum of 112.3 MPH this past spring, and his athletic testing suggests more is in the tank. His best contact quality comes to the pull-side, though he’s shown the ability to pummel the baseball to the opposite field.

The hit tool itself is not too shabby, either. His approach needs tweaking, as it’s aggressive and he’ll chase pitches often, but he can obliterate offerings in the zone like few others can. If he can find ways to limit chases and stay within the zone more often, the sky is the limit offensively.

In the field, he’s got the athleticism and speed to handle center, but with Chase Brunson in the fray, he’ll be handling right field for the Horned Frogs. He makes great reads in the outfield and has solid closing speed, and someone should give him a shot in center as a professional. If he adds more muscle to his frame and loses athleticism, he’ll be a great fit in right field.

Strosnider’s exciting profile will generate a ton of attention this spring, and he may end up being the highest Texas Christian player drafted in the 2026 class.

HT/WT: 6’5/205 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: UC Santa Barbara | Hometown: Pleasanton, CA | Projected Age: 21.2

Another year, another UCSB arm that jumps onto center stage.

Flora possesses some of the best projection, athleticism, and pure stuff in the entire country. Flora’s delivery has a lot of moving parts, as his limbs can fly around at times when he’s out of sync and moving too quickly, but his flexibility is astounding on the bump.

It’s an uptempo look with a seriously loose and whip arm action, flashing significant arm speed to a lower release height. It’s certainly unique, albeit slightly rough around the edges.

Flora has already been into the triple digits with his heater, primarily sitting in the 95-98 MPH range throughout his starts and holding his velocity well. The pitch possesses quality carry, a flat approach angle, and slight tail at the end of its life. He will miss bats on the top rail of the strike zone and the pitch could easily be double-plus in due time.

There’s two very good breaking balls in his arsenal, both of which have obscene shapes in terms of sweeping action. There’s a mid-80s sweeper with fifteen inches of horizontal movement on average, while the low-80s bender has more tilt, with sweeping life encroaching upon the twenty-inch barrier. It’s absurdly good, as both pitches have plus potential.

He has tried to incorporate a change-up into his arsenal, as he’s yet to find a true out pitch to lefties, but he’s toyed with a kick-change this summer.

His biggest command wart is missing armside when he rushes his delivery, but other than that, he throws strikes at an excellent clip.

There’s a chance that Flora is the first pitcher off the board next July.

Video: https://youtu.be/ZIciBE3L_PQ?si=_LnbdM_13pRRbBmF

HT/WT: 6’3/190 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Virginia | Hometown: Thiells, NY | Projected Age: 21.2

The older brother of 2025 Mariners second-rounder Nicky, there’s a non-zero chance that Eric could be drafted earlier in 2026.

After spending some time in the transfer portal, he will return to Charlottesville in 2026, where he has been a centerpiece for the Cavaliers over the past two years. He’s a big-bodied left-handed hitter with significant bat speed and thump.

The current projection labels him as a power-over-hit guy, though Becker’s hit tool has evolved since getting to campus. Becker began to employ more of a gap-to-gap approach in 2025 with heavy emphasis to the opposite field. Becker’s in-zone rates are promising, but there has been an inability to adjust to pitches out of the zone, especially off-speed, due to stiffness in his lower half. He’ll need to loosen up moving forward, as well as pull the baseball in the air more consistently.

With that said, there’s leverage present in his swing that has generated solid power numbers thus far, and his barrel feel and hard hit rates are promising. There should be more power on the way, as well. Above-average power potential is likely, as well as boasting an average hit tool.

He’s a good athlete in the dirt and has manned shortstop to date, though his footwork can get clunky and he’ll rush himself at times. He does have good enough arm strength and can transition over to third base in the future.

Overall, Becker is projected to be one of the more impactful bats in the ACC in 2026.

Video: https://x.com/TylerJennings24/status/1908323419063767518

HT/WT: 6’0/180 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Louisville | Hometown: Cincinnati, OH | Projected Age: 21.2

Moore broke out in a huge way for Louisville in 2025, becoming a valuable table-setter for a team that ultimately made its way to Omaha for the first time since 2019.

That table-setting prowess will translate to the professional level, but he’s more than just that: he’s a chaos-starter. He’s every bit of a pest.

It all starts with the hit tool, and it’s an excellent one, indeed. Moore posted a contact rate of 88% and an in-zone rate of 93%, including a 7% whiff on fastballs altogether. He doesn’t whiff, he doesn’t chase, and he uses the whole field to his advantage.

It’s a compact left-handed stroke with a slappy nature to it, and while power will never be a part of his game, he’ll turn on the jets and burn down the line with double-plus speed. He’s an aggressive baserunner who knows how and when to utilize his speed, stealing fifty-three bases on fifty-four chances in 2025. You don’t find too many guys like this often.

Moore’s extra-base numbers will be led primarily by his legs, but he’s shown the ability to drive the ball pull-side.

Defensively, he’s a near-lock to stay in center long-term. His speed allows him to cover plenty of ground, plus he gets great jumps and runs routes well. It’s high-level instincts with a glove that has the chance to be above-average or plus in the future.

There’s a lot of Sal Frelick in this profile, and he could move quickly through an organization like Frelick did.

Video: https://youtu.be/9FiraHrcdiw?si=vpCi9dUyTkaHrCId

HT/WT: 6’2/182 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Louisiana State | Hometown: West Covina, CA | Projected Age: 21.1

A long-heralded prep bat for years, Curiel elected to go to campus and made an immediate statement for the Tigers, becoming the table-setter for a National Championship squad.

Curiel has always prioritized contact over power with his game, but even with that approach, Curiel’s pure contact skills and approach are really, really good. It’s a tranquil and rhythmic operation from the left side of the plate, staying in control throughout his load and consistently getting the bat to the baseball.

Curiel rarely whiffs, draws walks at a high clip, and utilizes the gaps to generate his extra bases. There is some passivity, which has allowed opposing pitchers to get ahead and use their best stuff against Curiel, but it’s nothing overly egregious.

While he does have projection left to his frame, Curiel won’t be a slugger. He doesn’t have the bat speed and torque of his peers, which limits his overall ceiling. He’s shown over-the-fence production down each foul line, sending it the opposite way more often than not. That said, Curiel has added weight to his frame and hit the ball harder in the fall, which is a welcome sight. If it translates to the spring and creeps towards fringe-average, Curiel’s outlook becomes much clearer.

Defensively, Curiel has manned left field primarily for the Tigers, though Jay Johnson will put him in center field this spring. He has strong instincts and good route-running, though as he climbs the ladder, a better defender will move him to a corner. With his fringy arm strength, he would fit best in left field.

We’ll see how the overall profile evolves over the next year, but it’s hard to find a better hit tool in the country.

HT/WT: 6’2/210 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Oregon | Hometown: Springfield, OR | Projected Age: 21.9

Oregon baseball has been one of the most consistent teams in the country over the past five years, achieving 35 wins in each of the last three seasons and 40 wins in the previous three seasons. In that timespan, they’ve had two Day 1 draft picks in Aaron Zavala and Josh Kasevich, but Maddox Molony has a chance to be Oregon’s first position player drafted in the first round since 1980.

Molony’s first two seasons on campus have been extremely promising, as he’s been a consistent force in the middle of their lineup. He doesn’t hit the ball nearly as hard as some of his peers, as his maximum EV in 2025 was 107.7 MPH, but his ability to lift the ball to the pull-side aids his case.

It’s a quiet right-handed swing with quick hands, albeit his swing is more rotational than anything else. His bat speed and ability to generate higher-end impact do leave a bit to be desired, but his ability to put the bat on the ball is up there with the rest of them. He excelled against pitches inside the zone, posting a contact rate of 91% in 2025, and there’s an affinity for the heater, where he whiffed just 12% of the time on velocity.

He can struggle a bit with chasing and adjusting, but it’s a high-floor projection outcome. If he can show more hard-hit events and adapt to pitches out of the zone better in 2026, he’ll add upside to his profile.

Defensively, it’s a fantastic first step at shortstop with the ability to make a plethora of plays. He’s under control, he’s got a great internal clock, and it’s above-average arm strength across the diamond. It’s not often that you’ll see Molony fooled in the dirt.

He’ll make the tougher plays look simple without the range that his peers possess. It’s hard to envision moving to second or third base in the future.

Again, it’s a high-floor profile, but there are adjustments he can make to tap into more upside. If so, he’s a no-doubt first-rounder in 2026.

HT/WT: 6’0/190 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Arkansas | Hometown: Aptos, CA | Projected Age: 21.9

Gaeckle burst onto the scene at the 2022 PG National showcase with a loud one-two punch, but elected to enroll at Arkansas after being picked in the twentieth round by the Cincinnati Reds in 2023.

He was an excellent reliever in 2024 and 2025, but endured some hardships in a starting capacity early in 2025. With that said, Gaeckle’s pure stuff is amongst the best in the country. Gaeckle powers his way down the mound with explosivity, utilizing his lower half very well with his drop-and-drive mechanics and flashing loud arm speed.

The fastball has already tickled triple-digits, getting up to 99 MPH at his peak and routinely sitting in the mid-90s, though he’ll lose some velocity across lengthier outings. The pitch explodes out of his hand, and he’ll create flat approach angles on offerings on the top rail or above it, but he’ll find himself leaving too much over the plate.

At its best, it’s a cut/ride monster with huge spin rates that guys struggle to touch. If he can consistently find more value in 2026, the heater will find another gear.

His best offering is an upper-80s slider with two-plane tilt and nasty bite, commanding it away from righties with some depth and sweep. It’s his best chase pitch, and guys flail at it routinely. His low-80s curveball can jump out of his hand slightly, but there’s significant depth at its best, displaying true hammer qualities.

His upper-80s power change has found life in college, featuring a big tumble and fade, although it has been reserved for left-handed hitters to date.

Given his size, physicality, and past medicals, Gaeckle does have some obstacles ahead of him. However, the upside is too loud to ignore, and gaining more starting experience and success will be key in 2026. If it doesn’t work out as a starter, he’ll be a dynamic late-inning reliever, but he’s an arm that you let start until he proves he can’t.

Video: https://youtu.be/bPqUycalKeI

HT/WT: 6’3/205 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Texas A&M | Hometown: Highland Village, TX | Projected Age: 21.4

Sorrell had significant helium to his name during his senior year at Marcus High School in Texas, where his athleticism and tools shone. After showing out in a successful freshman campaign for the Aggies, Sorrell was hampered significantly by the injury bug as a sophomore, missing the start of the season with a hamstring injury and ending his year early with a hand injury.

However, Sorrell is a toolshed athlete with significant upside if he can stay on the field in 2026. It’s a potentially fun power/speed combination with solid defense in a corner outfield spot.

He’s filled out his frame with more muscle, and he loves to lift the baseball in the air. Sorrell has effortless juice from the left side, flashing significant bat speed and a heavy barrel through the zone. Sorrell’s best contact quality comes to the pull-side, and he posts one of the best AirPull% in the country, though he’s shown the ability to drive pitches to the opposite field. It’s potentially plus power at the next level.

With that said, the evolution of the hit tool is something to watch. He can hammer pitches left inside the zone, though there’s some length to his swing, and he struggles to adjust to pitches out of the zone. He loves to swing, and he’ll get particularly jumpy against spin. Shortening the swing, showing adjustments, and limiting chases will be paramount.

After spending two years in a corner outfield spot, Sorrell should get chances in center this spring. He’s a valuable defender with agility, range, and the ability to make highlight reel plays. As he fills out his frame more, he may lose some speed and be relegated to right field, where he has solid arm strength.

If Sorrell can stay fully healthy in 2026 and clean up some rough edges, he has the tools to be a high-end player in this class.

HT/WT: 6’3/200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Texas Christian | Hometown: San Clemente, CA | Projected Age: 21

Brunson was taken with Toronto’s 18th-round selection in 2023, but Toronto’s inability to secure his services turned into TCU’s gain. After earning Big 12 All-Freshman honors in 2024, Brunson had a breakout sophomore campaign, slashing .317/.395/.554 with 27 XBHs.

He’s grown into more physicality while on campus and hasn’t seen a dip in his athleticism, flashing good twitch on both sides of the ball. Brunson has seen his power tick up over the past calendar year, delivering a heavy barrel through the zone with an affinity for utilizing the gaps often. It’s a swing that’s built more for stinging line drives presently, though he’s shown the ability to hammer the baseball over the fence to both sides of the field.

His pure contact skills outweigh the power, though.

Brunson rarely misses the fastball and smothers pitches inside the zone, posting a contact rate of 92% in both statistical categories. He rarely strikes out, but he’s in no rush to draw walks. Brunson can struggle with pitches on the inner third, as his swing can get long, and it’s hampered his ability to pull the baseball consistently to date. With that said, it’s a solid hit tool with budding power and speed that he can utilize on balls in the gaps.

Brunson transitioned from catcher to outfielder once on campus, and he’s been a mainstay in center for the Horned Frogs. He’s been a reliable defender to date with good range and actions, though his speed and arm strength may play better in right field.

He’s not quite as flashy/athletic as his teammate, Sawyer Strosnider, but Brunson has the tools to be a Top 50 pick at this point in the cycle.

On The Clock Interview: https://youtu.be/fvIp_-O-Tm8?si=fHS2_mWVks1EqUjU

HT/WT: 6’1/210 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Louisville | Hometown: Chicago, IL | Projected Age: 21.1

Once a highly-touted backstop at IMG Academy, Rose has transitioned into an outfielder at Louisville, where he’s been a consistent force for the Cardinals the past two seasons and a key piece to their Omaha run in 2025.

He’s a powderkeg of athleticism and twitch on the diamond, plus he’s a physical player with strength, especially in his lower half. The bat carries a lot of weight in the profile currently, but it’s a darn good one.

Rose is notoriously difficult to strike out, as he’s run a strikeout rate of just 10.7% throughout his collegiate career. Rose found the ability to lift the baseball more in 2025, which allowed his XBH total to jump to thirty-two and his overall HR output to jump to thirteen. He did this while not sacrificing a ton of contact and finding more walks.

There are a lot of moving parts to his swing, but Rose’s athleticism and bat speed allow him to make late swings and adjust his swing plane accordingly. He does run a high chase rate as a result, but the advanced bat-to-ball skills help make up for it. He’ll need to pull the baseball more, as most of his contact is up the middle, but his hit/power combination is great at this stage. He knows how to utilize his plus speed on the bases, too, stealing thirty-one bags in 2025.

Louisville did put Rose in the outfield to give him playing time, and he’s been able to hold down a corner outfield role since. He projects more as a left-fielder, and will need to mash in the future, but he’s more than capable of holding down the fort there.

It’s not out of the question to see a return behind the plate, which would boost his stock if he shows the ability to stay, but his tools/speed work better in the grass. He’ll be a really fun follow to watch in the ACC next spring.

Video: https://youtu.be/BlH8B8Ueev0

HT/WT: 6’1/205 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Arkansas | Hometown: Discovery Bay, CA | Projected Age: 21.4

Helfrick’s emergence for the Razorbacks has long been in the making.

After his freshman campaign, he powered his way through the Cape, hammering eleven home runs and earning an All-Star appearance. That momentum carried over to the spring, posting an OPS of 1.036 and a career-high fifteen home runs. Turns out, his fall performance was even better, and he’s made a significant jump up draft boards.

Helfrick shortened the width of his swing base, becoming more upright with a moderate leg kick, which has helped him handle high velocity much better. On fastballs in the upper third of the zone alone, Helfrick crushed seven home runs. It’s a heavy barrel with massive hip/shoulder separation, featuring huge bat speed and loft through the zone. Helfrick’s ability to pull fly balls and plus power upside allows him to stand out among his peers.

The hit tool is serviceable, as the aforementioned prowess against heaters helps him, though he tends to swing over the top of breaking balls and cambios. That said, teams will be fine with the strikeouts considering his power, plus he walks a copious amount. It’s a very good offensive profile.

On the defensive side, Helfrick has seen improvements, as well. He gets out of the crouch well and features a strong, accurate arm to second base. Despite the physicality, Helfrick moves rather well and should continue to improve behind the plate.

Assuming Helfrick’s bat-to-ball skills improve this spring, Helfrick has first-round upside.

HT/WT: 5’11/197 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Texas Tech | Hometown: DeLand, FL | Projected Age: 21.2

Logan Hughes might be the best hitter in the country that not enough people know about.

After spending his freshman campaign at Stetson, Hughes wound up at Texas Tech, where he put up exceptional numbers for the Red Raiders.

Hughes’ exquisite barrel feel and 63% Hard Hit rate are amongst the best in the entire country, plus pitchers struggle to sneak pitches by him. You will not find a ton of holes in his swing, as he covers the zone exceptionally well (91% in-zone contact) and shows adjustability outside of the zone, too. He can get overly aggressive in terms of chasing, but his bat-to-ball skills help neutralize that wart.

The power is legit, as well. Hughes has excellent contact quality and has pushed his exit velocities beyond the 110 MPH echelon. Hughes’ power is above-average to plus at the next level, and it plays to both sides of the park, though he’s found most of his success pulling the baseball in the air to date.

It’s not out of the question that Hughes is a plus hit/plus power bat in the future. You won’t find many bats like this in the college landscape.

With that said, there is immense pressure on the bat to perform. He’s a physically maxed-out profile with limited defensive upside in the outfield. It’s a left field profile with fringe-average speed and arm strength. If he finds more defensive value and can handle a right field role, he’ll boost his stock.

However, even if he doesn’t do that, the bat is good enough to be taken within the first two rounds next July.

HT/WT: 6’4/218 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Georgia | Hometown: Visalia, CA | Projected Age: 21

Admittedly, Volchko is one of the more unique pitching profiles we’ve come across in recent years. It’s a full-on power arsenal; you won’t find many pitches in his logs under 85 MPH. However, Volchko has profiled more as a groundball machine than a strikeout specialist to date.

Now at Georgia, Volchko will look to find ways to evolve as a pitcher in the SEC.

Volchko is a long-framed athlete with plenty of projection to his body, but he is very athletic. There’s a ton of moving parts to Volchko’s delivery, one that features uptempo movements and looseness, though his body has been tough to sync up to date. However, Wes Johnson has gotten Volchko farther down the mound, and his release point has gotten lower. He’s done this without sacrificing much in terms of his power.

Volchko’s fastball is a unique pitch; it’s a hard-thrown cutter in the mid-90s that has reached 99 MPH in the past, and it generates a high number of grounders, especially from left-handed hitters. When his fastball command lacks, he’ll pitch primarily off a low-90s slider with firm shape and slight tilt.

However, his mid-80s curveball may be his best pitch. It’s a true hammer with significant depth and impressive spin rates, though he’s yet to unleash it at a high rate (~6% usage in 2025). To round out the arsenal, he throws a hard low-90s change-up that is seldom used.

Volchko’s pitch movements tend to blend, which does hamper his overall effectiveness. It wouldn’t be a shock to see a revamped arsenal in 2026, including a potential introduction of a sinker and the potential for the cutter or slider to be ditched from it. It will be an interesting situation to follow over the course of the next year, especially if he can find untapped upside as a result.

To help his case, Volchko will barely be 21 years old on draft day.

HT/WT: 6’2/185 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Texas | Hometown: Yardley, PA | Projected Age: 21.5

A two-year starter at Seton Hall, Robbins established himself as one of the best mid-major bats in this class. Now, after taking home the batting title honors on the Cape, Robbins will look to make an immediate impact at Texas, where he’s expected to be a key cog in their machine from the get-go.

It’s a swing that will remind evaluators of a mix of Zach Neto and Matt McLain. It’s not as loud a leg kick as what Neto had, but the same technique to generate leverage/coil is there. Robbins will sink deeply into his back leg and coil his core well, which allows his hips to open quickly and his hands to fly through the zone.

Robbins has more power than his slender frame would suggest, with exit velocities north of 110 MPH last spring, and he has shown an emphasis on utilizing the gaps consistently.

He’s a patient hitter who will rack up walks and feast on heaters (11% FB whiff in 2025), though his lower half can get stiff at times, and he’ll struggle with secondaries, especially those low-and-away. With that said, he’s shown the ability to adjust to pitches out of the zone, and that’s something he’ll need to improve upon further as he faces better competition in the SEC.

He’s an above-average runner presently and has shown a willingness to steal bases, plus that speed translates to right field. He’s a good route-runner with range and an average arm, which could leave him in left field as a professional, but he has the tools to be in right field until he comes across a better defender.

Robbins should be an impactful bat for a Texas team that is looking to build upon a solid first year with Jim Schlossnagle.

HT/WT: 6’0/202 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Auburn | Hometown: Pensacola, FL | Projected Age: 21

Auburn’s group of freshmen was among the best in the country in 2025, but it was Rembert who stood out the most.

Rembert finished the season with a slash line of .344/.467/.555, fourteen doubles, ten home runs, and a nearly identical K:BB ratio in the SEC. It’s a compact frame with proportionate strength, plus he’s become a smoother athlete since stepping onto campus.

It’s a healthy offensive package. There’s some twitch at the plate with quick hands and solid bat speed, sending the ball back up the middle and to the pull-side consistently. Rembert does a solid job of handling velocity, and he can ambush heaters for power.

However, he does swing over breaking balls and can struggle to generate quality contact on secondaries. He shows patience at the plate, seldom chasing and racking up a hefty amount of walks. He coils his core well and flashes average to above-average power, especially to the pull-side. If he can clean up some of the troubles with secondaries, it’s a potential 50-hit/55-power profile.

Defensively, his arm strength does limit him to the right side of the dirt, but he’ll be a reliable defender at second base. He has soft hands, solid footwork, and a gliding nature to his motions that will keep him in that position long-term, though it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Auburn try him out at shortstop next spring.

He projects to be one of the first draft-eligible sophomores off the board next July.

HT/WT: 6’3/189 | Bat/Throw: S/R | School: Tennessee | Hometown: Gettysburg, PA | Projected Age: 21.1

One of the better pitching talents to reach campus after the 2024 draft, Kuhns found some success as Tennessee’s Sunday guy, but it’s what he did on the Cape that has scouts and analysts looking towards a breakout in 2026. In three starts with Brewster, Kuhns allowed just two runs, striking out twenty and walking just one. It was an excellent showing.

Kuhns has a slender, athletic frame with plenty of projection yet to come, plus he has outstanding arm speed with some deception mixed in. Kuhns sinks into his lower half well with his drop-and-drive mechanics, allowing him to generate power from the ground up.

It’s easy velocity, too. Kuhns has already reached back for 98 MPH, though he’ll find himself holding 92-95 MPH throughout starts. He commands the heater well, especially on the top rail, where he’ll generate most of his whiffs thanks to the riding life and backspin on the offering. An argument can be made that this is Kuhns’ best pitch.

He has a strong breaking ball that he spins excellently in the upper-70s/low-80s that he can manipulate, morphing between a shorter curveball and a larger sweeper. The curveball itself flashes more 11/5 shape at its best, with spin rates creeping up on the 3,000 RPM barrier.

Kuhns added an upper-80s cutter to act as a bridge offering halfway through the spring, plus there’s feel for a tumbling mid-80s splitter, as well.

His secondary command was a bit lackluster in the spring, but that changed drastically during the summer. He’ll need to show the ability to carry that over to the SEC in 2026, but Kuhns is in line for a breakout sophomore campaign. Given all the traits and metrics, Kuhns could wind up rising up boards quickly.

HT/WT: 6’3/220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Texas | Hometown: Castle Pines, CO | Projected Age: 21.3

Tinney’s journey through collegiate baseball has been a unique one to date. Originally from Colorado, Tinney ventured to Notre Dame to start his career, but a torn ACL in 2024 kept him sidelined.

He had some struggles to start 2025, but he became one of the hottest bats in the country during the second half. After falling short of the postseason, Tinney is now at Texas, where he’ll replace Rylan Galvan for the Longhorns.

Tinney’s power is among the best in the country, grading out as potentially double-plus at the next level. There’s a lot of pure strength in his frame, but Tinney generates solid bat speed and leverage in his swing. He hits the stitches off the baseball routinely, plus his ability to pull the baseball in the air is a huge plus. He’s a guy who will mash mistakes.

The hit tool will lag behind the power, admittedly. He’s a patient hitter with the ability to draw a copious amount of walks, and he handles velocity decently, but he struggles to adjust to off-speed pitches and runs high whiff rates on them. Even if Tinney is a .220 hitter, odds are that Tinney is capable of hammering 30+ home runs. That’s still valuable.

Behind the plate, Tinney has an incredibly strong arm and throws out runners consistently. He can be slow out of the crouch, which is a problem that plagues larger backstops, though the arm strength helps ease those woes. Hunter Goodman is an easy comparison to make here, and it’s certainly a plausible outcome.

HT/WT: 5’11/200 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Georgia Tech | Hometown: Santa Clara, CA | Projected Age: 21.5

Over the past two seasons, Advincula has been one of the best pure hitters in the entire country. Now, he’s made the journey to Atlanta, where he’s joining a loaded infield at Georgia Tech and projects to be a table-setting option atop their lineup.

An athletic player who has seen strength gains since getting to college, Advincula is fairly maxed out in terms of projection. With that said, his tools will translate to the next level. Across two seasons at California, Advincula posted an astounding 90% contact rate, including a ridiculous 94% in-zone rate. It’s truly elite bat-to-ball skills.

He utilizes the whole field to his advantage, and he’ll use his plus speed to leg out infield singles and turn singles into doubles. If there’s one thing to complain about, it’s his aggression at the plate. Advincula loves to swing the bat, which has led to a bloated chase rate north of 30%, though the bat-to-ball skills give him a runway when compared to some of his peers.

He does possess budding bat speed with good barrel control and has shown power in his game, extending his arms at offerings in the bottom third and driving them to the gaps and pull-side, but his game is not centered around power. His swing is more slappy than anything else, but he’ll run into a few home runs, and there could be more in the tank if he changes his swing.

Defensively, he projects to have a good glove at second base. He has a good first step in the dirt with good range and some bounce to his game, gobbling up grounders hit his way.

At this stage in the cycle, it’s hard to believe Advincula falls out of the first two rounds, especially given past precedent for similar profiles.

HT/WT: 6’3/235 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: North Carolina | Hometown: Moorestown, NJ | Projected Age: 21

A draft-eligible sophomore from New Jersey, Lynch became one of Scott Forbes’ most trusted arms out of the bullpen in Chapel Hill. As the season drew to a close, Lynch began to see time as a starter, and he passed each test with flying colors.

After a successful summer trip to Japan, Lynch is now in a position to start for the Tar Heels in 2025, and there’s enough upside to suggest a full-fledged starter as a professional.

Lynch is more of a “data darling” at this stage, but he’s how you draw them up. A big-bodied right-hander with good athleticism, Lynch moves free and easy down the bump with a very low release height that hovers around the five-foot mark.

As a result, his fastball gets a ton of running action out of the hand, though he’s played with two shapes to date. One is a heavy two-seam/sinker that bores in on the hands of righties, while he’ll flash a more vertical four-seam with a flat VAA to the plate. He’s reached back for 98 MPH at his peak, mainly sitting in the 92-96 MPH bucket, holding velocity well and peppering the zone with strikes.

His best pitch is a mid-80s sweeper that flashes plus with significant sweeping action and lift. At times, he’s generated over five inches of lift and upwards of fifteen inches of sweep. It’s a gnarly offering.

He has yet to deploy a change-up, but he’s teased it during warm-ups. He’ll generate a ton of groundballs and have a higher floor than most of his peers, but his size, arsenal, and command are enticing for teams.

HT/WT: 6’1/185 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: South Carolina | Hometown: Fort Mill, SC | Projected Age: 21.5

Yes, we are aware that McCoy’s collegiate ERA starts with a seven. However, in recent years, bloated stats don’t paint the whole picture, and major league development programs know what changes are necessary.

McCoy certainly needs a coat or two of polish, but the pure stuff is electric. He started fourteen games for the Gamecocks in 2025, flashing significant potential, but his command was always a work in progress.

He’d earn an invitation to the Cape, and he took full advantage, striking out 25 batters and walking just three in 12.1 innings. It was loud.

He’s a metric darling, possessing a release height that hovers ~5 feet off the ground and utilizes a quick left arm. He’s primarily been fastball/slider to date, but the duo can be hellacious at times.

He spins the fastball well, averaging just under 2,500 RPMs, and it jumps on hitters quickly. Given the lower release, it’s only modest carry, but he’ll cut the heater and allow it to eat on the top rail. He’s been up to 97-98 MPH in shorter bursts, holding 90-95 MPH across lengthier outings.

His mid-80s slider has significant bite and lateral tilt, topping the 3,000 RPM barrier routinely. He can backfoot it to righties, and he will manipulate depth at times, though he generates close to eight inches of sweep on average. He’s toyed with a running mid-80s change-up, upper-80s cutter, and a low-90s sinker, as well.

He can rush his arm swing, which has led to an inconsistent release and command woes, but he’s an arm that has significant upside with the right organizational fit. We’ll see what’s in store for 2026, but scouts are excited for what’s to come.

HT/WT: 6’3/220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Virginia Tech | Hometown: Manassas, VA | Projected Age: 21.6

Virginia Tech has been known for producing quality bats over the past few seasons, but pitching hasn’t been as strong. Ian Seymour and Drue Hackenberg are two of the more noteworthy names to go high in the past five years, and there’s a solid chance that Brett Renfrow joins them in 2026.

A bulky athlete with a fluid delivery on the bump, Renfrow has seen his stuff improve significantly over the past calendar year. He’s also crafted his pitch usage to introduce his secondaries to hitters more. Between 2024 and 2025, Renfrow decreased his fastball usage by 15%, which led to an increase in slider and change-up usage. It led to an increase in both whiffs and chases.

His fastball does possess good value, though it was hit around often last spring. At his best, Renfrow will touch 97 MPH and sit closer to 93-95 MPH deep into starts, throwing two different shapes. He’ll utilize a cut/ride shape up in the zone to generate whiffs, while there’s some tailing action down. He’ll get in trouble with leaving the heater over the plate late in outings, which is something he’ll need to clean up in 2026.

His mid-80s slider is commanded rather well, and he’ll leave it down in the zone consistently, which makes it tough for guys to square up. It’s a two-plane offering at its best, though he’ll add/subtract depth and sweep. His upper-80s change-up took a significant step forward in 2025, gaining trust in the offering and displaying good tumbling action.

He can lose his command across lengthier outings, especially once he runs into issues repeating a slightly stabby arm action behind the back. However, his size, arsenal, and great athleticism are indicators of a future starting pitcher. He has the mold of a classic workhorse starter who fits in perfectly at the backend of a rotation.

HT/WT: 6’3/200 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Oregon State | Hometown: Mount Angel, OR | Projected Age: 21.2

Starting at Linn-Benton CC, Kleinschmit crossed the Willamette River and enrolled at Oregon State, becoming a key piece to their rotation and helping the Beavers return to Omaha in 2025.

He has the makings of a legitimate backend starter with improving command and great pitch shapes, even if he doesn’t throw particularly hard yet. It’s a strong frame with proportionate strength to his body, though he’s rather projectable with length to his limbs, and it’s an easy delivery down the mound with whippy arm speed.

Kleinschmit routinely sits in the low-90s, reaching back for 94-95 MPH in shorter bursts, but the pitch plays up thanks to the riding life it possesses. He averages close to twenty inches of carry on his fastball with over ten inches of run mixed in. It’s a pitch that has played well on the top rail, and any added velocity will help its value.

His upper-70s/low-80s sweeper has the chance to be a diabolical offering with more power. Kleinschmit averages over seventeen inches of sweeping life on the offering, adding/subtracting depth at times to play with shape. He can keep it down in the zone consistently and get hitters to swing over the top. His change-up was not utilized a ton last season, and he struggled to zone it at times, but there’s considerable vertical separation compared to the fastball, plus there’s significant tumbling action late in its life.

Adding a bit more polish to the profile should work magic for Kleinschmit, who looks to be something of a Michael McGreevy-type of arm. He’ll have plenty of suitors, and he should have a big role for the Beavers in 2026.

HT/WT: 6’2/220 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Kansas | Hometown: Las Vegas, NV | Projected Age: 21.1

Brady Ballinger’s offensive profile is one of the most underrated in the country.

After torching the opposition at the College of Southern Nevada, Ballinger made his way to Kansas, where he’d earn All-Big 12 first-team honors after slashing .353/.495/.670, racking up 38 XBHs (21 2Bs, 16 HRs, 1 3B), and walking more than he struck out. Now that scouts are well aware of his bat, Ballinger will have plenty of eyes on him in 2026.

A bulkier prospect with proportionate strength and physicality, Ballinger employs one of the best approaches in this draft class. Ballinger tends to be selective and rarely expands the zone, plus he stays balanced throughout his operation, sending the baseball to all fields.

It’s a compact swing with loft that allows Ballinger to do significant damage in the air, especially to his pull-side. His load can get a bit noisy, featuring a moderate leg kick and a slight bat wrap, but Ballinger operates with rhythm and consistently gets the barrel on the baseball. If there’s any big bugaboo in his profile, he can be beaten by higher-end velocity, but his ability to adjust to secondary offerings keeps him afloat.

He’s generated above-average power to both sides of the field, as well. It’s as well-rounded an offensive profile as you can find.

Given his size and lackluster speed, Ballinger has been relegated to first base duties to date. He’s enough of an athlete that he could see time in the outfield in some capacity, but many believe his below-average speed limits his range.

This is a profile that will have pressure on the bat to perform, but it’s a really good one. He’ll have plenty of suitors come next July.

HT/WT: 6’5/230 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Arizona State | Hometown: Tempe, AZ | Projected Age: 21.1

After earning MVP honors in the Alaskan League after a rough rookie campaign, Carlon returned to Arizona State and broke out in a huge way. He struck out 86 batters in just 54 innings on the mound, becoming a true stalwart in the bullpen for Willie Blomquist’s club.

His efforts earned him an invite to Collegiate National Team training camp over the summer, where he pitched very well despite not making the team.

Possessing a release height that touches the sky, Carlon’s outlier traits and angles have played a huge role in his success. It has primarily helped out his bullet slider, which has a chance to be the best breaking ball from a southpaw in this class. Carlon relied on the slider more than the fastball last spring, where it posted an obscene 56% whiff rate and 42% chase rate across a huge sample. He’ll land it for strikes consistently, especially when the fastball command goes awry.

Speaking of the fastball, he’s been up to 98 MPH and can hold mid-90s velocity well. He gets a ton of backspin and carry on the offering, flashing some late tail and incredibly steep angle.

Carlon has shown feel for a larger curveball in the low-80s and has implemented a kick-change in anticipation of a jump into the starting rotation.

He’ll need to refine his command if he’s to hang on to a starting spot as a professional, though he’s already shown to be a dynamo out of the bullpen. His ceiling certainly fits in the back-end of major league games if starting doesn’t work out.

HT/WT: 6’5/210 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Notre Dame | Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD | Projected Age: 21.9

Hailing from South Dakota, Radel is built much like a Black Hills spruce tree. He’s tall, sturdy, and plenty strong.

With that analogy out of the way, Radel has been a steady force in Notre Dame’s rotation since arriving in South Bend, making twenty-three starts over two seasons. His performance and arsenal give him a real shot to be the highest-selected Notre Dame player since Jack Brannigan, a third-rounder in 2022. He may even surpass that.

The ease of motion, strike-throwing, and extension give Radel a real shot at staying in a rotation. He gets excellent extension down the mound, averaging just shy of seven feet, an absurd mark. He repeats his delivery effectively, too, which allows him to pepper the zone with strikes and tunnel his pitches well.

Coming from a higher arm slot, the fastball isn’t a bat-misser, but he generates an astounding number of chases, at a 31% clip in 2025. It’s an offering that gets a ton of carry and can add or subtract horizontal movement, playing best as a cut/ride monster on the top rail. Sitting primarily in the low-90s, an uptick in velocity will help the pitch play better, and he’s already been up to 97 MPH.

The breaking ball tends to morph between a slider and a curveball in the low-80s, though reports indicate that Radel has gained feel for a more powerful curveball this fall. The pitch tunnels well off the fastball and drops to the dirt with some tilt, but it plays best with plenty of depth out of his slot. He’ll bridge the gap to the offering with an upper-80s cutter that he’s gained confidence in, and he has gained feel for a hard change-up with fading life.

He has the tools to succeed, but everything needs to fall in place. He’s a prospect with his best days ahead of him, and at the top of Notre Dame’s rotation, he has a chance to challenge for ACC Pitcher of the Year.

HT/WT: 6’3/168 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Arizona | Hometown: Sahuarita, AZ | Projected Age: 20.11

After barely being utilized on the bump in 2024, Kramkowski entered the 2025 campaign in Arizona’s starting rotation. Despite being shelled in his first outing of the season, he bounced back beautifully to cement himself as one of the best arms on the West Coast.

It’s an incredibly skinny frame with significant projection present, as well as stout athleticism on the bump. Kramkowski puts himself into excellent positions as he drives down the mound, displaying easy motions with strong arm speed and whip through release.

It’s a heavy east/west arsenal, rarely utilizing a vertical option, which is something that Kramkowski needs to add. His sinker reaches up to 97 MPH at its peak, generating quality sink and run, and sits in the 92-95 MPH range most nights. It doesn’t miss a ton of bats, primarily nibbling on the edges, but he’ll get in trouble when leaving it over the plate. With that said, he creates very flat angles to the plate and generates good extension. If he can separate the fastball into two distinct shapes and add a riding option, there would be more to unlock in his potential.

He bridges the gap to his sweeper with an upper-80s cutter that he commands very well, landing it backdoor consistently to lefties. The sweeper itself is a gnarly offering. It possesses huge spin rates in the 81-85 MPH range, generating nasty bite and over ten inches of sweep on average. He’s still reining in the command, as it moves so much that it can be hard to land, but it’s a potential plus offering.

Adding verticality to his arsenal will be paramount in 2026, but this is how you draw up a pitching prospect. He’ll be one of the more polarizing arms in the country next season, but it’s a definitive starting profile moving forward.

HT/WT: 6’0/195 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Central Florida | Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL | Projected Age: 20.11

Andrew Williamson’s swing has been tweaked a bit since getting to campus, but he’s found the recipe for explosiveness with his current iteration.

Williamson’s hands were quieter in 2024, but he added more noise in his load, which allowed him to get more whip with his hands and more bat speed. This move will enable him to tap into some more power, though it comes at the cost of a long swing/bat path and a noteworthy barrel tip.

He does a good job of staying balanced through his operation and getting the baseball in the air at a consistent rate, though. Williamson handles velocity well in the middle and lower thirds of the zone, though the length does hamper him on the upper third. He can also swing over spin at a considerable clip, too.

With that said, he doesn’t chase at a high clip, plus he’s capable of average power production at the next level and can pull the baseball with ease. We’ll see how the swing evolves and tightens up, but it’s an interesting offensive profile, all things considered.

In the outfield, Williamson is capable of playing all three positions, likely landing in a corner outfield spot as a professional. He has advanced instincts, above-average speed, and great route-running that allows him to be a strong defender wherever he’s put. He is capable of playing center in a pinch, too.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Williamson is a top-100 pick, though finding more of a balance at the dish will certainly help his case.

HT/WT: 6’6/235 | Bat/Throw: R/L | School: Arkansas | Hometown: Trinity, FL | Projected Age: 21.4

Once high school teammates with Liam Peterson and Landen Maroudis, Dietz was one of the prized southpaws to make it to campus in 2023 after flipping from South Florida to Arkansas.

However, his collegiate career has not gone as planned. A stress fracture in his elbow in 2024, followed by a subsequent setback, has limited Dietz to just 1.2 innings on the mound in Fayetteville. However, his fall showing was incredibly loud, and many scouts believe he’s one of the best southpaws in the land.

Dietz possesses a huge frame that has filled out since he made it to campus, now coming in at six-foot-six and 235 pounds. There’s not a ton of effort to the operation, flashing loud arm speed from an over-the-top slot, though his command has scuffled while he works back to full capacity.

The fastball has a chance to be really, really good. Already up to 99 MPH this fall, Dietz generates a ton of backspin and carry on the offering, featuring slight cut through the zone that hitters struggle to catch up to when commanded on the top rail.

There’s an upper-80s cutter that bridges the gap to a hammer breaking ball in the low-80s, which features strong gyro characteristics and snap. He rounds out his arsenal with a unique high-spin cambio in the mid-80s.

It is paramount that Dietz carries his fall form into the spring, especially given the lack of track record on his card. That said, he has a real chance to surge up draft boards this spring, and a top fifty selection is not an outlandish scenario if everything clicks.

HT/WT: 6’3/198 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Cincinnati | Hometown: Venetia, PA | Projected Age: 21.4

Natili spent his first year in college baseball at Rutgers, where he put together a solid freshman campaign for the Scarlet Knights. However, he hopped into the portal and ventured to Cincinnati, where he broke out and played a big role for the Bearcats in 2025, leading them back to a tournament appearance.

He’s a tall, physical athlete behind the plate with a power-oriented game on the field. Natili stands slightly crouched from the right side of the dish, utilizing an open front leg and a subtle leg kick to trigger the operation.

His ability to generate a tight coil in his core and separate the hips and shoulders is impressive. It’s loud bat speed with quick hands, punishing the baseball consistently with a heavy barrel and above-average power. This does come with a good amount of swing-and-miss, however. His swing can get long, and he’ll struggle to adjust to velocity and spin alike, but he stays within the zone at a respectable clip and doesn’t chase a ton.

He’ll need to work on the overall contact skills moving forward, especially once he reaches the upper levels of the minor leagues with more advanced stuff.

Behind the plate, Natili has a plus arm, and he likes to show it off regularly, though he’ll need some more polish in other facets of his game. His lateral mobility isn’t the greatest, which affects his ability to block wild pitches, though he can get out of the crouch well. His receiving is a work in progress, as well. With that said, his arm strength should keep him behind the dish, especially if the actions improve.

HT/WT: 5’9/200 | Bat/Throw: R/L | School: East Carolina | Hometown: Kernersville, NC | Projected Age: 21.5

The younger brother of Marlins infielder Connor Norby, Ethan is an extremely unique arm with loud spin numbers and intriguing traits on the bump. He is undersized, and it will be a knock against him at 5-foot-9, 200 pounds, but there’s a lengthy track record here.

Norby is a legitimate bulldog; he pitches with moxie and confidence, and he pounds the strike zone. The ball comes out of a really low slot with deception and width to it, though his arm slot does drop for the breaking balls compared to the heater.

He doesn’t throw hard, averaging just over 90 MPH on the heater and getting up to 94 MPH at his peak. He throws two fastballs, with the most effective one being the four-seam with considerable carry from his slot. It’s extremely flat to the plate with explosiveness out of the hand, spun very hard (2500+ RPMs), and misses bats on the upper third. He’ll mix in a sinker with significant horizontal movement to it, getting up to 20 inches of run at times.

His low-80s sweeper is his best offering, and it’s one of the best breaking balls in the country. It has exceptional bite with significant sweeping action, getting upwards of 20 inches of horizontal action at its best. The standout trait is the impressive spin rates he possesses, as he consistently spins the baseball over 3,000 RPMs. It’s an easy plus offering.

He added a mid-80s cutter that acts like a bridge pitch, though it has similar spin numbers to the sweeper and has upside. Norby does have the feel to delete spin on his mid-80s cambio, but he hasn’t deployed it often to date.

Norby has a very good floor as a prospect, and he has the chance to be a backend starter at the next level. If he can add more velocity, he’ll have a better outlook, but even as it is, Norby will have a future as a professional.

HT/WT: 6’1/205 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: UCLA | Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA | Projected Age: 21.11

A big part of UCLA’s young core, Levu has been a consistent force for the Bruins across his two years on campus. He’s hit at every stop in college, which includes trips to Omaha, the Northwoods, and USA Collegiate Trials.

He’s a bulky prospect with good size and strength, though it’s his below-average speed and arm strength that limit him to first base. With that said, the bat is a solid one.

Levu stays compact in his operation, maintaining an even stance and a high handset, utilizing the entire field to his advantage. It’s an adjustable swing with excellent bat-to-ball skills and tight turns to the baseball, especially on the inner half, though he does hit the ball on the ground more than you’d like. He can be beaten by upper-end velocity, as well. Levu’s approach is very aggressive, swinging nearly 50% of the time and having a chase rate near 30%, but it hasn’t hampered him much.

His power is squarely average overall, though his contact quality is best to his pull-side. He’ll let the ball travel and lace it to the opposite field, but it plays best to right field when he can turn and burn on pitches. He’ll need to lift the ball more and show more patience, but it’s hard to find a more consistent bat on the West Coast.

While he is landlocked at first base, Levu does show good lateral movement and can move around the bag well. He’ll be a serviceable defender at the position. Expect Levu to play a significant role once again for the Bruins in 2026.

HT/WT: 5’11/190 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: UC San Diego | Hometown: Brentwood, CA | Projected Age: 21.8

Potestio has been one of the best collegiate bats on the West Coast the past two seasons, boasting a career .321 average and an OPS of .891 during his time at UC San Diego. Pairing exquisite bat-to-ball skills and a stable approach at the dish, it may be the best hit tool in this part of the country.

While Potestio can get passive at times, there’s not much to be harsh about at the plate. He loves to lace the ball to every quadrant of the ballpark, plus he keeps whiff and chase rates to a minimum. Potestio posted a 90% in-zone contact rate during the spring and an 85% rate during the Cape season.

That success on the Cape culminated in an All-Star appearance, and that gives him a nice feather in the cap when it comes to evaluations.

The swing path is more linear, though he’s shown the ability to generate solid backspin and lift the baseball. He boasts a high AirPull%, and as he fills out his frame, he’ll find himself depositing more baseballs beyond the fence.

With that said, his power is likely no more than 40-grade. He has the makings of a potential table-setter, though he could make a living in the back-half of the lineup and provide stability, as well.

On the defensive front, Potestio has manned shortstop for the Tritons, though he did see time in the outfield this summer. He showed well in right field, and he can play there in a pinch with good route-running and instincts, but his future is up the middle. It’s solid range with feel to throw from different angles, and he’ll likely stick at the “six” until a better glove pushes him to second base.

Overall, Potestio has quietly put together one of the better track records in this class, especially at the mid-major level. A top-five round selection is very much in the cards for him come July.

HT/WT: 6’5/230 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: North Carolina | Hometown: North Port, NY | Projected Age: 20.2

Once a member of the 2024 draft class, DeCaro reclassified into the 2023 class, but ultimately found himself in Chapel Hill. Since getting to campus, he’s been a consistent force in their rotation, making 34 starts for the Tar Heels to the tune of a 3.80 ERA.

DeCaro has physicality to his frame at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, though there’s some projection remaining, and he’s a solid mover down the mound. There’s a lot to like with his arsenal, though there are some rough edges to iron out. It’s an arsenal that is deep, but it does lack power.

He has hit 97 MPH with the heater, although he’ll typically pitch it around 91-94 MPH in most outings, with significant running life out of his hand. It’s a two-seam shape that does possess a flat approach angle on the top rail, but his extension is subpar, and he’ll pull the heater at times. He may wind up needing to separate the heater into two distinct shapes to help his effectiveness at the next level.

He spins the ball extremely well with his breakers, consistently getting to 3,000 RPMs, though they both lack sufficient power. His low-80s slider is more of a pure sweeper, but the mid-70s curveball flashes more potential with good bite and two-plane tilt. His best secondary is his low-80s change-up that features significant tumble, throwing it with conviction and tunneling well off the heater.

His command can waver at times, mainly because of a bucket step in his delivery that caused him to fall out of line. He’ll need to clean that up, as well as add more power to his arsenal to fulfill his potential. If there’s anything that helps his cause, he projects to be 20.2 years old on draft day, which is nearly unheard of.

It’s a high-floor profile presently, but there’s untapped upside here.

HT/WT: 6’5/220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Tennessee | Hometown: Charlottesville, VA | Projected Age: 21.11

A draft-eligible sophomore at Virginia, Ford went undrafted and headed to Tennessee, where he’ll aim to be a key part of the Volunteers’ lineup in 2026.

Ford’s build is similar to that of an automobile mechanic. He’s very physical, with plenty of strength throughout his frame, and he’s a solid athlete despite his size.

Although his swing is a bit stiff, Ford rotates well and has a heavy barrel through the zone. He generates a lot of leverage with his mechanics, sinking deeply into his back leg, though he sometimes steps into the front leg, which can break his kinetic chain and reduce his leverage and power.

Ford handles velocity well, especially pitches over 95 MPH, although he tends to expand the zone a lot. He’s not in a hurry to take his walks, but his swing adjusts when he reaches outside the zone. While his bat-to-ball skills improved in 2025, he didn’t tap into his power as often, leading to a big drop in extra-base hits and home runs. He’ll need to find a better balance in Knoxville in 2026, but his offensive upside remains clear based on past performance.

Defensively, Ford spent much of his freshman year at first base, but he handled right field well for the Cavaliers in 2025. Ford has good athleticism and covers ground effectively, showing solid route-running and a strong arm. He’s not a liability out there. He should remain in right field for Tony Vitello’s camp in 2026, though he might still get some reps at first base.

HT/WT: 5’8/177 | Bat/Throw: S/R | School: Louisiana State | Hometown: Las Cruces, NM | Projected Age: 21.11

While Milam has been given the moniker “Monster” by his peers, his stature is anything but. However, his impact on the diamond certainly fits the bill. During his time in Baton Rouge, Milam has slashed .310/.406/.511 with fifty XBHs and a 73:63 BB:K ratio, and his efforts in 2025 were integral to Louisiana State’s national championship run.

Milam’s biggest asset offensively is his bat-to-ball skills. A legitimate switch-hitter, Milam operates with compact and direct paths to the baseball from both sides, utilizing a decent-sized leg kick to trigger his swing. To date, Milam has found much more success as a left-handed bat, lacing line drives to both sides of the field. As a right-handed bat, it’s a bit more rigid, chasing aggressively out of the zone, but there are still hitterish traits to like.

Milam’s ability to pummel the heater from both sides of the plate stands out, generating a 93% contact rate (94% LHH, 90% RHH) overall. Given his size, Milam won’t be a significant power threat, likely ending up with below-average to fringe power.

Before the 2025 season, Milam moved to shortstop and impressed in his debut at the keystone position. While his size and arm strength will limit him to a future second base role, Milam’s soft hands, smooth actions, and solid range will give him a chance to start at the “six” to begin his professional career.

He’s someone who scouts will adore, and his work ethic and skill set should allow him to carve out a role.

HT/WT: 6’0/199 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Florida State | Hometown: Jacksonville, FL | Projected Age: 21.3

One of the biggest names to reach campus from the 2024 draft, Carns did well in his time for Florida State, but strikeouts piled up and neutralized some of his potential.

However, he looked like a different prospect on the Cape, posting an OPS of 1.033 and walking more than he struck out. It was a noteworthy stint that has garnered attention for the draft-eligible sophomore.

He’s a well-rounded backstop that has a rather unique toolset at his disposal. It’s a power-over-hit offensive profile with a big emphasis on pulling the baseball in the air. Carns has had robust power in his bat for quite some time, as he’s able to generate significant leverage and loud bat speed. The power is currently above-average and has the potential to become a plus tool in the future.

The biggest development has been refinement at the plate. It’s a low-effort, quiet operation at the dish, triggered by a weight shift. Carns lowered his chase rate significantly on the Cape, dropping from over 26% to a measly 18%. He did still suffer from slight issues with secondaries, but the fastball whiff rate dropped to 13% and he began to utilize the opposite field more.

It’s a promising development. The hope is that this will carry over to the spring, which leads us to believe he’s in for a breakout campaign for the Seminoles.

Behind the dish, he’s athletic and moves excellently for his size. An above-average runner on the bases, there is solid agility, blocking, and footwork. It’s a strong arm with quick transfers, as well.

We’ll see how he handles a bigger workload in the spring in Tallahassee, but it’s hard to ignore the tools available here.

HT/WT: 6’2/188 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Georgia Tech | Hometown: Cumming, GA | Projected Age: 20.11

A highly regarded two-way player as a prep, Hernandez quickly emerged as one of the most potent bats in the entire ACC, winning ACC Freshman of the Year honors while having multiple roles for the Yellow Jackets.

He was put out at a myriad of positions: second base, both corner outfield spots, first base, and he even jumped on the bump to close out some games. However, he’s just a bat at the next level, and it’s a good one.

He’s a physical right-handed bat with good athleticism, employing a wide base at the dish with significant leverage and bat speed present in his swing. Hernandez runs promising hard hit and barrel rates, plus his exit velocities were impressive for his first taste of college ball, exceeding 110 MPH multiple times. It’s above-average power to both sides of the park, though scouts would like to see him pull the baseball more with his toolset.

He lets the ball travel deep into the zone and loves to go up the middle or to the opposite field. He handles heaters well, though he can get beat by higher-end velocity due to a bat wrap in his load, plus it’s a path that tends to swing over better breaking balls. However, he has shown good adjustability to pitches out of the zone and possesses good bat-to-ball skills. It’s a tantalizing offensive profile.

Defensively, he can end up at second base, third base, or a corner outfield spot. He can rush plays in the dirt, though he’s got the arm strength and range to handle the hot corner. If the infield doesn’t work out, he can be a solid defender in right field with a strong arm.

On the bump, he primarily threw change-ups to the opposition, which features heavy sink and fade. He mixed in a fastball, slider, and curveball, but he didn’t get enough time on the bump to show off the potential he had as a prep.

He likely ditches pitching to focus solely on hitting in 2026, which puts him in line to improve upon his impressive 2025.

HT/WT: 6’3/200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Liberty | Hometown: Gretna, VA | Projected Age: 21.3

One of the best mid-major arms in this class, Blair is a unique profile with big deception, low-launch traits, and big projection that scouts and models will enjoy.

Boasting a release height that hovers around four-and-a-half feet off the turf, Blair certainly has the look of a reliever, given the herky-jerky movements and slight effort, but he stays compact and repeats his delivery well. He throws strikes at a healthy clip, though the command can get streaky from one start to the next.

It’s an east-west arsenal that garners a lot of chases and weak groundballs, which makes up for the lack of swing-and-miss. Blair’s sinker gets heavy sink and running life out of the hand, boring in like a bowling ball to the hand of right-handed bats, plus he’s shown an ability to elevate and miss bats on the top rail. At his best, he’s been able to generate nearly two feet of run on the pitch. Blair typically sits in the low-90s, though he’s run the heater up to 98 MPH in shorter bursts.

Blair implemented a hard cutter that bridges the gap to his low-80s slider, featuring some angle and firmness away from right-handed bats. The slider is a bigger bender with immense sweeping life, and he’s shown the ability to land it for strikes when his fastball command lacks. There’s a nascent change-up to round out the arsenal, as well.

Blair’s profile likely fits best in a bullpen as a professional, though he’s earned the ability to start in the rotation after he gets drafted. He’ll need to hold his stuff better as the season progresses, but there’s definitive Day 1 upside for the funky righty.

HT/WT: 6’2/220 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Wake Forest | Hometown: Sartell, MN | Projected Age: 21.1

After a robust rookie campaign at Butler, Lewis entered the portal and took his talents to Winston-Salem, where he made a statement in his first ACC season. That success translated to the Cape, where he earned an All-Star appearance with Bourne. Now, his bat projects as one of the best in the ACC, though it’s paramount that he repeat his 2025 success.

Lewis made adjustments to his approach and plate discipline after arriving at Wake Forest, including hitting the ball more to the opposite field and tempering his aggression. Lewis’ walk rate more than doubled, and his chase rate fell from 30% to 26%. He’ll suffocate fastballs in the zone with authority, as well.

Lewis has quality thump in his barrel, eclipsing the 110 MPH barrier numerous times, and he’ll deliver power to both gaps. He does struggle with secondary offerings below the zone, as his front hip tends to get stuck in neutral, which is something to address in 2026. Scouts want to see this fixed, as well as more consistent pull-side power.

Most of the value in his profile comes from the stick, as most believe he’ll move to first base in due time. There’s stiffness in his hands and feet, and his arm strength is fringe-average across the diamond.

Moving to first base will put a ton of pressure on the bat to perform. However, given the impact he’s already made to date, Lewis should hear his name called within the first five rounds in July.

HT/WT: 6’4/230 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Wake Forest | Hometown: Wyalusing, PA | Projected Age: 21.3

Morningstar was among the better recruits to visit campus after the 2023 draft, and after a first-team All-ACC selection as a sophomore (79 IP, 3.87 ERA, 93 K’s), he’ll lead the Demon Deacons’ rotation in his draft-eligible campaign.

He’s undergone a significant transformation on campus. As a high schooler, Morningstar used a more traditional three-quarters arm slot and showed quality athleticism on the mound. Now, he’s filled out his frame and dropped his slot to a near sidearm release, keeping the easy mechanics and whippy arm action. It’s a lengthy arm action with plenty of scapular retraction, though it’s cleaner than in high school.

Morningstar’s arsenal is deep, with five total pitches to keep the opposition on their toes. He deploys two fastball shapes, primarily throwing a heavy sinker with impressive darting/sinking action. He’ll elevate a four-seamer to generate more whiffs, and while he does get above-average whiffs on his sinker, it projects as a groundball machine at the next level.

His best secondary is a low-80s curveball with nasty bite and two-plane tilt. It’s a true hammer with solid spin rates and big vertical separation off the fastball, and he’ll land it for strikes with ease. It’s an above-average to plus offering.

His mid-80s change-up flashes significant potential with depth and tumble, and he shows confidence throwing against righties. He’ll also offer an upper-80s cutter to complete his arsenal. It’s advanced pitchability and command, as well.

He looks like a high-floor innings eater, though he can find more upside if he gets more value from his fastballs. He looks like a Day 1 selection.

HT/WT: 6’2/220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Texas A&M | Hometown: Orange, CA | Projected Age: 21.6

The 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year, Grahovac played a significant role in the Aggies’ CWS Finals run and had high expectations for his sophomore season. Unfortunately, Grahovac suffered an early-season shoulder injury that sidelined him for the year. Once recovered, he is expected to be fully healthy for Opening Day 2026 and will return with similar expectations to 2025.

An ultra-physical right-handed hitter, Grahovac is a power-over-hit profile with tremendous bat speed. He stands in an even stance with a crouched posture, using a swaying motion with his lower half to initiate his swing. His hips explode open, allowing his hands and bat to move through the zone and drive the ball to all fields.

He tends to let velocity travel through the zone and shoot the ball the other way, while pulling breaking balls and off-speed pitches. Grahovac possesses legitimate above-average to plus power.

However, his hitting tool and approach need some refinement. In 2024, he displayed a notable amount of swing-and-miss, especially in the zone, and often chased pitches out of the zone. This likely stems from his lower half getting stuck in neutral, limiting his adjustability once his swing operation is triggered—a flaw that needs correction. Despite this, he has a potentially loud offensive profile.

He has played third base and corner outfield, though most believe he will see more action in a corner outfield spot. His speed is below average with limited range, but he has very good arm strength suited for right field.

The bat will carry most of the weight, and staying healthy in 2026 will be crucial for him. Nonetheless, Grahovac is poised to provide impact for the Aggies, who missed his presence in 2025.

HT/WT: 6’5/215 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Coastal Carolina | Hometown: Myrtle Beach, SC | Projected Age: 21.4

An integral bullpen piece during their College World Series run, Johnson is expected to make the jump into the rotation in 2026 behind Cameron Flukey. With a deceptive delivery and a formidable one-two punch, Johnson has the potential to be a significant draft riser during the spring.

Pitching from the first base side of the rubber, Johnson can be a devilish at-bat, especially for left-handed bats. He’ll hammer the strike zone with the heater, which has crept up in velocity this fall at 92-94 MPH.

It’ll play up from its current state thanks to impressive life on the top rail, as it generates hefty IVB numbers with flatter VAA traits. The pitch performed as one of the better heaters in college baseball last spring, missing bats at a 31% clip and garnering chases at a 35%. Both are rather impressive marks.

To go one step further, Johnson’s whiff rate in the zone on the heater was 26%, which ranked the highest among 2026-eligible southpaws. That is insanely good.

Johnson’s low-80s curveball has a chance to be a true hammer. Coming out of the same tunnel as the heater, it dives for the dirt with quality snap and some late sweeping action. It’s been up to 84 MPH this fall, as well.

There’s a need to expand the arsenal in a starting role, though scouts have said that Johnson is adding a cutter and change-up to his repertoire in preparation for his expanded role.

The expectation is that Johnson will slot in as the Saturday arm for the Chanticleers this spring, and assuming that assistant coach Matt Williams can work his magic, Johnson is in line for a Day 1 selection.

HT/WT: 6’1/195 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Northwestern | Hometown: Chandler, AZ | Projected Age: 21.10

A high school teammate of Roch Cholowsky at Hamilton High, Kucherak started his college career at LSU, but limited playing time led to his transfer. He moved north to Northwestern and secured the shortstop position in 2025, making a significant impact for the Wildcats.

Kucherak’s 18 home runs in 2025 set a single-season program record, showing how he seized the opportunity and made the most of it. While he’s not the most physically imposing athlete, his hips move quickly, allowing his barrel to get through the zone efficiently. Kucherak consistently makes solid contact, showing power to both fields, but his ability to generate fly balls when pulling the baseball stands out. His power is above average for the next level.

The hit tool can be inconsistent at times. Kucherak will crush anything inside, but his swing can become a bit predictable, and he struggles with off-speed pitches away. However, he has shown flashes of adjustment and consistently stays within the zone.

Defensively, Kucherak has the athletic tools required to remain a long-term shortstop. He maintains control over his body at the position, displays a strong arm across the field, and has a good internal clock. He looks comfortable at the shortstop position with quick exchanges and good footwork.

Improving his ability to avoid strikeouts and maintaining his power will raise his profile, but as it stands now, Kucherak is an exciting prospect to watch and is likely to hear his name called early next July.

HT/WT: 6’4/257 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Florida State | Hometown: Tallahassee, FL | Projected Age: 21

There is not a single bat more powerful than Bailey in college baseball.

An incredibly physical presence in the left-handed batter’s box, Bailey emerged as one of the premier sluggers down the stretch, posting an OPS over 1.300 and hitting nine home runs from the beginning of May onward. This included seven home runs alone during postseason play. As he begins to settle in for his draft-eligible campaign as a sophomore, his top-of-the-scale power will have scouts coming in droves to see him.

Bailey separates his hips and shoulders violently, allowing the barrel to fly through the zone with dangerous intent and loft. As a result, it’s loud all-fields power with exit velocities that consistently tickle the 115 MPH barrier, and he’s gotten up to 118 MPH in game settings already. It is incredible juice.

While the hit tool does leave a few question marks, he did adjust and became better as the season progressed, especially against fastballs. The whiffs will always be there, and the 59% contact rate in 2025 isn’t pretty, but most expect it to improve in 2026.

Defensively, the burly nature of his frame relegates him to first base, where he does provide some defensive value with mobility around the pillow.

However, the bat will need to perform. It is paramount that the hit tool continues to improve. If it does, Bailey will have clear Day 1 upside.

HT/WT: 6’2/190 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Southern California | Hometown: Los Angeles, CA | Projected Age: 20.11

Last summer, southpaw Caden Hunter was selected in the sixth round by the Orioles out of USC, the highest an arm had been taken from the program since Kyle Hurt in 2020. While he’s not too dissimilar to Hunter, Edwards has a chance to go much higher this spring, and after a big fall showing, it’s easy to see why.

Edwards uses a deceptive drop-and-drive delivery with crossfire, fluidity, and an over-the-top slot. This deception allows his entire arsenal to play up from the velocity he currently throws, and his pitch shapes and projection also lean in his favor.

The fastball has reached 94 MPH, routinely sitting in the 89-92 MPH range, and he generates a ton of ride, backspin, and slight cut through the zone. Jumping out of his hand, the pitch has hitters struggling to pick it up, which led to a 30% whiff rate in 2025.

His best secondary is a firm low-80s change-up that doesn’t have a ton of vertical separation off the heater but tunnels well off it and fades away from the barrels of right-handed hitters. He can manipulate a slurvy breaking ball in the upper-70s/low-80s, which plays best when it stays short to the plate and below the zone. He commands the offering well, landing it for strikes at will.

Command and sequencing are both solid, and he won’t turn 21 until after the draft. He’s very model-friendly, though he’ll need to stay healthy after suffering injuries during his first two campaigns.

HT/WT: 6’0/203 | Bat/Throw: S/R | School: Oklahoma | Hometown: Fort Cobb, OK | Projected Age: 21.8

The baseball world should be well-acquainted with the Willits name by now. His younger brother, Eli, was the first overall pick in last year’s draft, and his father, Reggie, played six years in the big leagues. Jaxon is next in line.

He enjoyed a breakout campaign at Oklahoma this past spring, and that success carried over to the Cape. A switch-hitter, Willits features an upright stance from both sides, though his hands are set lower from the left side.

He’s more polished from that side of the plate, posting solid contact rates on fastballs and sliders and displaying very good swing decisions. There’s more loft from that side of the plate, as well. He has found success from the right side, though he’s more aggressive and whiffs slightly more.

While Willits has good feel to lift the baseball, the exit velocities leave a bit more to be desired. It’s below-average pop with limited projection given the physical nature of his frame, though fringe-average power is in the cards as a professional.

He’s not the rangiest shortstop in the collegiate landscape, but he has the arm strength and actions to handle the position to start his career. He’ll likely move off the position as he comes across a better defender, though he’ll have use as a utility type.

Considering the bloodlines and success in the SEC, Willits will have Day 1 upside in this class. A selection within the top two rounds would not be a shock, either.

HT/WT: 6’2/185 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Florida State | Hometown: Dunedin, FL | Projected Age: 21.9

Funky lefties, you just can’t quit on them. That’s a saying that describes Beard perfectly. It’s funky, it’s weird, and it has gotten significant results in college, especially in 2025. Beard struck out 118 batters in 86 innings for the Owls before traveling up to Tallahassee to join Florida State for his draft-eligible season.

Beard employs a very deceptive operation on the bump, contorting his body to generate the towering release height. His release hovers just south of seven feet, which is impressive considering his 6-foot-2 stature on the bump.

Given how high his release is, he generates a ton of carry on his fastball, averaging north of twenty inches. He doesn’t throw hard, maintaining 88-92 MPH with the ability to reach 94 MPH, but batters chase it above the zone routinely. It’s unique, albeit Beard’s short stride and steep angle can hamper the value.

His mid-70s change-up is truly diabolical, an easy plus offering with significant velocity separation. Beard is confident in floating it into the zone consistently, and hitters struggle to pick it up. His low-80s slider takes advantage of the vertical plane, too. It’s more of a bullet slider, but the angle allows it to play up. The same happens with his mid-70s curveball, which has bigger depth.

He can lose his release at times, causing inconsistent command, which will be something to watch for at Florida State.

It’s truly one of the most unique profiles in the country, and it’s a high-probability starting profile, too.

HT/WT: 6’3/205 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: NC State | Hometown: Winter Garden, FL | Projected Age: 21.1

After going unselected as a prep in 2024, Head made a loud statement once he set foot in Raleigh. Not only did he possess one of the best hit tools in the ACC as a freshman, but his glove in center field was among the best in the country.

Now draft-eligible as a sophomore, many anticipate more impact this spring, which would further enhance an already dynamic profile.

At six-foot-three, 205 pounds, Head’s frame is wiry and projectable, and most believe he’ll add more power as he fills out. He’ll need to find the barrel more consistently, but he has already shown the ability to sneak a few over the fence to his pull side. Reaching fringe-average or better power would help a great deal.

That said, it’s his keen eye and exquisite bat-to-ball skills that stand out, giving him a solid foundation to build upon offensively. Head walked nearly twice as many times as he struck out in 2025, and he rarely whiffs on anything within the zone, posting an in-zone contact rate of 91%. His ability to lace fastballs is another feather in his cap, with a 9% whiff rate on fastballs overall, including a 4% in-zone whiff rate on velocity.

However, it’s the glove that’s the loudest asset. Head glides in the outfield, covering plenty of ground with solid route-running and speed, and he’ll give up the body to make highlight-reel plays. It’s a cannon arm, as well. The feel for a premium position like this is hard to find, and it will give him leeway come draft day.

HT/WT: 5’11/185 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: UC Irvine | Hometown: Valencia, CA | Projected Age: 20.9

A consistent force in UC Irvine’s bullpen over the past two seasons, Ojeda might possess the most electric fastball in the country.

He isn’t the biggest pitcher out there, nor does he throw extremely hard, but Ojeda’s stats will catch your eye instantly. His average velocity stayed around 90 MPH throughout the spring, though he showed the ability to reach the mid-90s during the summer with Team USA.

The pitch metrics are impressive: Ojeda generates over 19 inches of vertical carry on his fastball from a lower arm slot, along with over seven feet of extension. It rises on the top rail of the strike zone, striking out over 30% of batters during the summer.

Few heaters are better than this, and there’s still room for growth. Ojeda’s frame still needs filling out, and his athleticism is evident on the mound. There’s a good chance he can gain velocity before next July.

His pitch mix is very fastball-heavy, with him throwing it nearly 80% of the time in 2025; however, he also has upside with his secondary pitches. His low-70s curveball offers a change of pace, with nearly 17 inches of depth, and has been an effective swing-and-miss pitch so far. He’ll also throw a low-80s splitter with good tumbling action. He commands both pitches well, though he sometimes slows his body down, which hitters can recognize.

Still, the fastball establishes a foundation for further development, and he could see time in UC Irvine’s starting rotation in 2026, as they aim to break into Omaha for the first time since 2014.

HT/WT: 6’0/170 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Houston | Hometown: Houston, TX | Projected Age: 20.9

Starting his college career as a JUCO player at San Jacinto, Broussard gained significant weight and saw his game improve. For his sophomore year, Broussard transferred to the University of Houston, where he established himself as a key part of the Cougars’ lineup and gained recognition as a draft prospect.

Broussard is more than just a typical table-setter. While he has a swing suited for slashing the baseball at times, Broussard also has some sneaky power with good bat speed. His top exit velocities have reached upwards of 109 MPH, and he has shown the ability to hit over the fence down the lines, though he more often drives line drives into the gaps.

His plate coverage is outstanding as well. Broussard rarely whiffs on fastballs and can adjust his swing easily. He posted a 90% in-zone contact rate in 2025, which improved to 94% on the Cape. In addition to his hitting ability, Broussard is a double-plus runner and knows how to be a threat on the basepaths.

That speed makes him an excellent center fielder, with a quick first step and exceptional route-running skills, which could develop into a plus defender.

To add to his accolades, Broussard will only be 20 years and 9 months old on draft day. With his toolset, projection, and traits favorable for the draft, Broussard could be a Day 1 selection.

HT/WT: 6’1/180 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Florida | Hometown: Tampa, FL | Projected Age: 21.3

Sandefer’s journey to this stage took a path less traveled.

Out of high school, Sandefer enrolled at DII Saint Leo before jumping into the portal and enjoying a nice campaign at UCF, where he secured a starting role towards the end of the season. Now at the University of Florida, Sandefer will face his biggest test yet.

He has a long, wiry, and projectable frame on the bump with solid athleticism and arm speed, though he can rush his delivery and open his body early, which leads to some command inconsistencies.

It’s an east/west arsenal with an emphasis on generating groundballs. His deceptive low three-quarters slot generates significant run and sink out of the hand, spinning it very well. He’s gotten up to 96 MPH in shorter bursts, holding 90-93 MPH primarily deep into his starts. It’s not a pitch that will miss bats, but he will grow into better command and generate a good amount of chases with it.

The secondaries are the moneymakers, though.

His low-80s slider is vicious, flashing excellent bite and loud spin numbers. It averages over ten inches of sweep on average, as well. He can struggle to land it for strikes, and he drops his arm slot to throw it, but he missed bats at a clip just under 50% in 2025. His change-up sits in the same velocity band, flashing tons of running action away from lefties, sometimes upwards of twenty inches. He’s flashed a bridge cutter in the upper-80s, too.

Florida is high on Sandefer’s potential, and he should see time in the starting rotation this spring. Cleaning up the command will be paramount, but scouts do like the projection and athlete as it is.

HT/WT: 6’6/240 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Missouri State | Hometown: Jackson, MO | Projected Age: 21.3

With a body and toolset that will remind people of Spencer Jones and Jace LaViolette, Bogenpohl is a mid-major behemoth with immense offensive upside, albeit without a ton of polish present.

At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, Bogenpohl is a very athletic specimen and moves with nimbleness on the field. As expected for his size, power is the calling card in his profile. It’s mammoth juice from the left side, with exit velocities surpassing 115 MPH at times, and it plays to every part of the field. It’s easy double-plus power at the end of the day, though he hasn’t produced the kind of over-the-fence production you’d want to see with that kind of juice.

However, Bogenpohl’s swing is a work in progress. His hands can get outside of his body and cause his swing to get long, plus he has struggled to find a consistent bat path to date. He’s struggled with pulling the baseball in the air and has pounded the ball into the dirt more often than not, though he did tweak his swing mid-season and found some improvements in that department.

It’s a lot of swing-and-miss presently, and the 23.8 K% isn’t great for a mid-major bat, but it’s excellent plate discipline. Bogenpohl draws an enormous amount of walks and rarely chases out of the zone. The overall contact skills need polishing up, but if they do, the comparisons to guys like Jones or LaViolette won’t look as outlandish.

The nimbleness mentioned above is on display in the outfield, where he’s manned center often, though many believe he’ll move to a corner outfield spot in due time. It’s above-average speed right now with good routes and a strong arm.

If Bogenpohl can improve his contact and find ways to punish the baseball more consistently in the air, he’ll be a no-doubt Top 100 pick. The ceiling is too hard to ignore, but it’s a steeper path given his track record and conference strength.

HT/WT: 6’2/224 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Oklahoma State | Hometown: Atoka, OK | Projected Age: 21.9

A late riser during the 2023 draft cycle, Ritchie was drafted in the 19th-round by the Baltimore Orioles, though his lack of time on the summer circuit made it tough on his evaluation. However, now at Oklahoma State, Ritchie has proven his viability as a prospect.

After missing the start of 2025 with an injury, Ritchie saved his loudest performance for last, as he hammered five home runs during the Athens Regional.

A physical left-handed hitter, Ritchie can really drive a baseball. He has loud bat speed with loft, showing an affinity for pulling the baseball in the air that’s rarely matched by his peers. Leaving a fastball on the inner third of the zone is a mistake to Ritchie, as he takes tight turns to the baseball and likes to live on the barrel, as well.

He’s performed better against southpaws, though velocity from righties has given him some fits to date, especially up and away. However, teams will take the tradeoff considering the above-average or better power.

Despite his physicality, Ritchie is more nimble and athletic than you’d expect. He runs well and has gotten run in center, though he fits better in a corner spot. He has the arm strength to hold his own in right field. A former shortstop, Ritchie has the size and instincts to move to third base, as well.

Assuming he can stay healthy, Ritchie has the physical tools to see his name at the top of the home run leaderboard this spring.

HT/WT: 6’4/200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Arkansas | Hometown: Coppell, TX | Projected Age: 21.8

Once a well-known prep bat, Pompey’s game has made considerable strides during his time in college. After an outstanding freshman campaign, where he hit .279/.389/.516 with ten home runs, Pompey was off to a torrid start in his sophomore spring before a broken hand limited him to just nineteen games. Now at Arkansas, he has the tools to be a threat in the SEC and could be in line for a massive spring.

Pompey has a ton of length and projection left to his frame, though he’ll need a coat or two of polish to reel everything in. His swing is more on the grooved side, meaning he’ll punish mistakes in his sweet spot, but struggle to adjust outside of that. He’ll struggle heavily with spin as a result, and it might not be more than a 40-hit tool at the end of the day.

However, the power has the potential to be a plus tool. Pompey’s bat speed is ludicrous, and he has plenty of pull side thump in the stick. He has no issue deleting baseballs when they are left in his sweet spot.

As he fills out his frame, most believe he’ll show more body control, which will aid his case in finding adjustability and improving the overall hit tool.

Pompey shifted from second base to third base before his injury, displaying good mobility and range at the hot corner, along with strong arm strength. His speed and athleticism can play in a corner outfield spot, as well, though his size fits best at third base.

The upside is tantalizing here, and if Pompey puts it all together, he’ll surge up draft boards.

HT/WT: 6’1/191 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: North Carolina | Hometown: Apex, NC | Projected Age: 21.11

One of the most consistent bats in the Carolinas since he made it to Chapel Hill, Gallaher isn’t going to blow you away with any single tool. However, there’s serious talent here; his 2025 season was a result of efforts to fix the warts in his profile, and he thrived, slashing .325/.409/.603 with seventeen tanks.

Better yet, he’s become a postseason legend for the Tar Heels, and in a program that has a long history of success, his resume in late May and June may be the best of anyone.

Gallaher moved away from a pull-heavy approach and began doing more damage in the gaps this past spring, though the ability to blast the baseball over the left field fence is still there. He has innate barrel feel and has found the ability to lift the ball more frequently. The power did back up on the Cape with wood bats, which will be something to monitor, but he’s posted average exit velocities with metal to date.

Gallaher became a bit more upright and compact as a sophomore, and that showed in his ability to handle spin better. His whiff rate against sliders dropped from 39% to 27% in 2025. A bat with average grades for the hit and power is the likely outcome.

As a defender, Gallaher has manned the hot corner primarily, and while the arm strength is big enough to handle the position, his instincts, internal clock, and mobility fit better at second base. He played there in the fall, and the expectation is that he will stay there throughout the 2026 season.

HT/WT: 6’2/205 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Oregon State | Hometown: Soledad, CA | Projected Age: 21.6

A pop-up prospect during the 2023 cycle from Soledad High School, Segura has found another level to his game after making it to Corvallis. After spending all of his freshman campaign in the rotation, Segura spent most of his time in the bullpen, where he underwent quite a transformation.

His mechanics didn’t change significantly, but he added more strength and intent, which led to his velocity trending in a positive direction. His fastball average jumped from 90.8 MPH in 2024 to 93.9 MPH in 2025, peaking at 97 MPH. The fastball shape isn’t the greatest, as it falls into the “dead zone” pail more often than not, but it gets exquisite results in terms of whiff (32%) and chase (28%) rates.

While he does generate sink and tail on the fastball, he’s toyed with a cutter-esque heater that he’ll deploy on the top rail, and batters can’t touch it. It plays up from its vanilla shape due to the sidearm release and an average VAA of -4.5 degrees, which is an above-average mark.

His primary secondary is a low-80s sweeper with over fifteen inches of sweep on average, flashing some depth and healthy spin rates. It moves so much that he struggles to command it consistently, which will be something to watch this spring.

He’ll add significant depth and turn the pitch into an upper-70s curveball, plus he’s shown confidence in throwing a nasty mid-80s change-up with serious tumble.

With the command taking a step back in 2025, there are more question marks surrounding his profile, though his release traits and success are hard to ignore. He’s a data darling in every sense and will have plenty of suitors this July.

HT/WT: 6’2/205 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Louisiana State | Hometown: Sulphur, LA | Projected Age: 21.6

As a rising senior, Brown made the 18U USA National Team as a southpaw, displaying a solid three-pitch mix with projection. However, after arriving in Baton Rouge, Brown’s bat was too good to leave out of the lineup, and he’ll leave campus as a corner outfielder.

Brown’s ability to smother fastballs is really, really good. Across a 661-pitch sample size across two seasons at LSU, Brown has a 90% contact rate against heaters, including a ridiculous 94% clip within the zone. Throwing heaters inside to Brown is an ill-advised effort from pitchers, as he whiffed on just one heater on the inner third in 2025.

That said, Brown can be susceptible to spin, especially from southpaws, and he can get in trouble when his arms are fully extended. He does chase at a frequent clip, which does hamper his overall output.

He does possess above-average raw power, though he has struggled to fully tap into it during games. Improving his pitch selection and tapping more into his power will be key to his success.

Brown’s defensive home will be in right field, where he’s a solid runner with good route-running abilities and plus arm strength. If the bat doesn’t work out, he can transition back to the mound, where he has been up to 93 MPH in the past with low-launch traits. However, the contact prowess against the fastball is too hard to ignore, and he’ll provide value with the stick.

HT/WT: 6’3/215 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Auburn | Hometown: Auburn, AL | Projected Age: 21.7

The hometown kid, Belyeu is an easy player to root for.

One search of his name on Google, and you’ll find the heartwarming Opening Day home run mere hours after his mom passed away. It’s a feel-good moment that will always follow him in his journey. That journey is likely to continue into professional baseball, as Belyeu’s power/speed combination has put him on the radar for area scouts in the Deep South.

Belyeu had a big freshman campaign slugging the baseball, posting a slugging percentage of .625, but the length of his swing hampered him on the inner half of the plate. He shortened up his swing and began to utilize the middle of the field in 2025, and the contact results trended upward. The contact quality was still inconsistent, which will be the primary issue to address in 2026.

That said, Belyeu can punish baseballs to the pull side, posting above-average exit velocities. Additional polish will be necessary on the hit tool, and finding a happy medium between contact and power will be crucial this spring, as well as maintaining good health.

As a defender, Belyeu moves well for his physical size. He’s manned center field for the Tigers and covers plenty of ground with above-average speed and strong route-running. It’s also standout arm strength. Most expect Belyeu to move to right field as he fills out his frame, where he’ll be a valuable defender given his skillset.

The tools for a Day 1 selection are there, and if everything clicks this spring, Belyeu can achieve that goal.

HT/WT: 5’10/200 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Arkansas | Hometown: Omaha, NE | Projected Age: 21.8

As a senior at Millard South High in Nebraska, Kozeal had helium attached to his name, but he landed at Vanderbilt. He played only one season for the Commodores before entering the portal, landing in Fayetteville, and becoming a key piece of the Razorbacks’ offense.

A physical athlete with a filled-out frame, Kozeal doesn’t possess much projection, but he’s already shown the ability to unleash dangerous intent on the baseball.

Kozeal’s stance is upright and even, displaying significant torque and big separation between his hips and shoulders. This allows him to generate loud bat speed and impact the baseball to both sides of the field, though the power plays best to his pull side. He can backspin the baseball well and has produced exit velocities upward of 112 MPH to that side of the field.

There is some swing-and-miss in his profile, and he tends to expand the zone at an aggressive clip, though he’s shown improvement against secondary offerings. Toning down the aggression and generating more walks will be necessary in 2026.

He’s a fluid defender at second base with good footwork and arm, pointing to a potentially average defender at the position. Most of his value will come from the stick, and so far, he’s shown enough offensive upside to warrant a top-five-round selection.

HT/WT: 6’0/205 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Clemson | Hometown: Fort Myers, FL | Projected Age: 21.9

Aidan Knaak’s evolution since his prep days is a fun one to talk about. He endured his hardships in high school, but as a senior, Knaak found another gear and showed out in front of scouts at multiple events. He would make the rotation as a freshman once on campus, and he has not looked back.

He’s turned into a bulky athlete with drop-and-drive mechanics, flashing decent arm speed, and he’s raised his arm slot slightly since getting to Clemson. His fastball is more on the generic side, though he hammers the strike zone with good carry upstairs that’s mixed in with tailing life. He’s been up to 96 MPH at his peak, sitting 90-94 MPH consistently, though he hasn’t missed bats at a big clip.

His best offering is an upper-70s change-up that he sells incredibly well, flashing significant tumble and tail late in its life that befuddles hitters. He has excellent feel of the pitch and throws it in the zone often, plus he ran a whiff rate of 50% in 2025. He’ll also throw a harder change-up in the upper-80s that acts more like a bridge pitch.

He’s thrown a plethora of breaking balls to date, though the one with the most upside is a firm mid-80s slider/cutter hybrid that stays short to the plate. He’ll flash a hard low-80s curveball with depth, but it lacks bite.

He’s a high-floor starter at the next level with a smattering of average pitches and a plus offering in the cambio. Given the track record, Knaak should hear his name called relatively early.

HT/WT: 6’2/170 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Texas A&M | Age: 22.9

Sdao broke out for the Aggies in his sophomore campaign, where he posted a 2.96 ERA with a 55:8 K:BB ratio and got starts down the stretch. However, Sdao suffered an elbow injury in a Super Regional outing against Oregon, and he had Tommy John surgery in September of that year.

After opting to turn down significant draft interest to return to College Station, Sdao will return to the fold this spring. A wiry athlete with tons of projection still left, Sdao’s arm speed really stands out at first glance, maintaining it with all three of his pitches and working quickly down the bump with some deception.

The fastball has solid carry up in the zone with some slight cut, working primarily in the low-90s, though Sdao has reared back for 97 MPH on occasion. The low-80s sweepy slider is the best secondary and got whiffs at a 44% clip in 2024. There’s some lift paired with ten inches of sweep in the pitch shape, and he’s shown an ability to backfoot the pitch to righties. He turns over a quality mid-80s cambio with tumbling action away from right-handed bats, as well.

Sdao has a track record of peppering the strike zone and is unafraid of attacking hitters inside. He’s a bona fide starter long-term. He is going to be on the older side in this class, as he turns 23 in late September, but he should be one of the more sought-after senior arms in this class.

HT/WT: 5’10/180 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Michigan State | Hometown: Clarkston, MI | Projected Age: 21.8

In high school, McKay was a lesser-known piece to a historic Orchard Lake St. Mary’s squad that consisted of Ike Irish, Nolan Schubart, and Brock Porter. Now a junior at Michigan State, McKay is one of the best bat-to-ball artists in the entire country, and with a Cape All-Star nod on his docket, he’ll have plenty of suitors in July.

McKay underwent a significant approach change that enabled him to explode onto the scene in 2025. He toned down his aggression on fastballs, swinging ~15% less at velocity than he did in 2024, and maintained his swing rate against breaking balls, a strength during his 2024 campaign.

As a result, McKay turned into one of the best breaking ball hitters in the country, hitting over .400 against them and posting a 92% contact rate. He will turn around anything left in the zone and utilizes a line-drive swing to place the ball wherever he likes, including the gaps.

He’ll manage to lose a few balls over the right field fence, but power will never be a big part of his game.

He’ll be a key piece at the top of the lineup that can keep the revolving door rotating once the card flips over. As a defender, McKay’s lack of sufficient arm strength and choppy gait will keep him at second base, where he’s got a serviceable glove.

Any improvements in the dirt will boost his draft stock, as well as maintain his success from 2025. If he can do that, his profile fits well within the first five rounds.

HT/WT: 6’2/208 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: UCLA | Hometown: Whittier, CA | Projected Age: 21.9

After taking his lumps as a freshman, Martin evolved into one of the better bats on the West Coast in 2025. He improved his pitch selection, bat-to-ball skills, and chase rate, leading to a successful sophomore campaign and becoming a key cog in their Omaha run.

Since his prep days at Servite High School, Martin has gotten more physical and become more of a power threat to every part of the field. The power plays best to his pull side, where he has seen his exit velocities over 105 MPH routinely, peaking at 111 MPH. It’s explosive hand speed and big bat speed.

Martin is more on the selective side, which can lead to arms getting to their best weapons early, but he’s one of the best hitters in the country against the fastball. He posted an OPS north of 1.100 on the season and whiffed just 11% of the time in 2025. On fastballs 93 MPH and higher, Martin whiffed just four times and posted an OPS just south of 1.300.

He will need to continue improving his contact quality against spin, as he’ll hover over his front hip and swing over the top.

To pair with the upside of the bat, Martin is a quality defender at the hot corner. He doesn’t skip a beat, staying calm and collected at the position. He’s agile with a quick first step, solid range, plus he’s got a great arm across the diamond. There’s a non-zero chance that Martin can move to his left and take over shortstop as a professional.

His selectivity and glove certainly give him a floor, and if the bat takes another step, it’s a surefire Day 1 profile.

HT/WT: 6’1/198 | Bat/Throw: R/L | School: Florida State | Hometown: Tampa, FL | Projected Age: 21.9

Once pitching for Ole Miss, Mendes returned to his home state of Florida and earned a starting role for the Seminoles behind Joey Volini and Jamie Arnold. He experienced ups and downs, but he was a consistent Sunday starter for Link Jarrett’s team.

Mendes has excellent athleticism on the mound, moving smoothly with a deeper arm stroke that results in a three-quarters slot.

His fastball has some life, reaching up to 96 MPH with a cut/ride shape upstairs, while showing tailing action down in the zone. He regularly sits 91-94 MPH throughout his outings, though his pitch doesn’t miss many bats. It primarily sets up his secondary offerings, which are advanced.

His best pitch is an upper-70s changeup with excellent velocity separation, tumbling action, and tunnel point off his heater. It’s his most effective out pitch, generating whiffs over 50% of the time in 2025, and potentially plus.

His mid-80s slider flashes tilt, though it mostly stays short to the plate with good bite. Currently, it’s an average offering, but throwing it harder could increase its upside. He also has a softer mid-70s curveball with depth and bite, though it can be inconsistent with its shape.

The biggest necessary improvement for Mendes will be his secondary command, which can be inconsistent. Improving in this area will be crucial in 2026, as it will allow him to access more pitchability and use his advanced secondaries more often. A velocity boost is also possible.

Mendes is poised for a strong 2026 season, where he is expected to lead the Florida State rotation.

HT/WT: 6’4/202 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Oklahoma State | Hometown: Tuttle, OK | Projected Age: 20.10

Starting his collegiate career at Cowley College in Kansas, Conover took his talents to Stillwater and has turned into one of the more powerful bats in the Midwest. However, we have yet to see it much in-game, given his approach, and scouts would like to see him tap into it more.

Conover’s power is incredibly easy, and there’s still projection left to his frame to suggest more is on the way. It’s impressive left-handed bat speed with excellent feel for the barrel and exit velocities that clear the 110 MPH echelon, though he only hit six home runs this past spring.

Conover opts to utilize both gaps with his approach rather than open up and let the power eat. He does operate well within the zone, especially against heaters, though his contact skills against secondary offerings are on the fringier side, and he lacks suitable adjustability at present.

That said, the swing is rather simple, and more tinkering with his mechanics could unlock more. If he changes the approach and opts for a more pull-happy approach, Conover’s power output should outweigh the strikeouts that come with it.

Defensively, Conover has spent some time in center field, where his instincts and route-running have given him good chances. However, as he fills out his frame and becomes more physical, most expect Conover to trot to a corner outfield spot, with left field being the likely destination with a fringy arm.

He’d have to mash the baseball to fit there, but with his sort of power, he should be just fine.

HT/WT: 6’4/230 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Texas Christian | Hometown: Blue Springs, MO | Projected Age: 21.3

After starting his collegiate career at Wichita State, LaPour entered the transfer portal and took his talents south to Fort Worth, where he spearheaded TCU’s rotation as a sophomore. While he came up just short of winning the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, he looks like the favorite in 2026.

That said, there are mixed reviews on how LaPour projects as a professional, and that will be talked about leading up to July.

Built like a wrestler, LaPour has a super-strong, durable build, featuring extremely broad shoulders and a sturdy lower half. There’s a ton of arm speed from his three-quarters arm slot, and while the arm swing is more on the “stabby” side, LaPour’s command hasn’t been negatively affected by it. He commands the baseball well and loves to attack hitters like a bully.

He throws extremely hard, routinely sitting in the 94-98 MPH range and touching triple digits, though the pitch hasn’t missed many bats to date. He spins the baseball well and can create quality carry, but the shape can even out when thrown in the lower half of the zone. Extracting more value from his fastball will be vital, even with how hard he throws.

His best secondary is an upper-80s change-up with big fade and high spin rates, thrown to both sides of the plate with confidence. The low-to-mid-80s slider has inconsistent shape but plays best with shorter break to the plate. He has worked on incorporating a cutter, and swapping the slider out for a hard curveball could help him.

Some see LaPour as a back-end starter, while others wonder if he’s best suited for the bullpen. Nonetheless, he’s expected to attract big scouting heat this spring for TCU.

HT/WT: 6’0/200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Virginia | Hometown: Yardley, PA | Projected Age: 21.1

The 2025 MAAC Player of the Year, Tiroly will go down as one of the best hitters in Rider’s history. Across 100 career games at Rider, Tiroly slashed .335/.453/648, crushed 28 home runs, and posted a 70:64 BB:K ratio. That success made him a hot commodity in the transfer portal, and Chris Pollard’s crew at Virginia scooped him up.

Muscled up like a gym rat, Tiroly’s body doesn’t offer a ton of projection, though the bat is already excellent. Tiroly swings a heavy barrel and produces significant thump that plays to all fields, posting some of the best exit velocity averages in the country last year. He posted a figure of 92.6 MPH this fall before a broken foot sidelined him.

He possesses lightning-quick hands, big bat speed, and an innate ability to barrel up the baseball. However, he’s more than just a thumper. Tiroly handles in-zone offerings very well, especially fastballs. He’s a tough out.

The operation can get a bit noisy, though he became more compact and found more repeatable mechanics this fall. The combination of contact ability and quality is tantalizing.

As a defender, he’s an average athlete with some range, though he can be heavy-footed in the dirt, especially when ranging to his right. He’ll stick at second base as a professional.

He’ll need to monitor the status of his body as he develops, but if the bat continues to be loud in the ACC, he’ll find himself going high once July arrives.

HT/WT: 6’2/175 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: West Virginia | Projected Age: 21.6

Meyer possesses one of the most electric arms in all of college baseball. Equipped with tons of athleticism and the best breaking ball in the class, he looks like an arm that could come out of a major league bullpen right now. He’ll need to iron out his scattershot command and find consistent mechanics, but the upside of a closer at the next level is there.

Possessing a whippy arm, Meyer pitches solely from the stretch, though he’ll vary his arm slot and his lower-half mechanics. This does cause the command to go haywire, and his strike percentage is under 60% for his collegiate career. This will need to be polished up this spring, but it’s hard to deny the pure stuff and how it plays despite these warts.

The fastball tends to sit in the mid-90s, getting up to 98 MPH in shorter spurts, though he’ll lose velocity quickly as he fatigues across longer outings. There’s good life when he’s in the zone, and he’ll operate with a four-seam and a two-seam.

The mid-80s curveball is the moneymaker in the arsenal, though. A hellacious hammer that has gotten as high as 89 MPH, it averages over 3,000 RPMs and features devastating depth and tilt. When he can locate it, hitters simply can’t touch it. It’s every bit of an 80-grade offering.

Meyer has incorporated a hard cutter and will flash a change-up with two-seam movement, though both offerings lag behind the one-two punch.

He’ll likely see some starts for West Virginia, but he’s incredibly valuable at the backend of games. He could very well fly through the minor leagues if everything begins to click in 2026.

HT/WT: 5’11/197 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Indiana State | Hometown: Carnduff, SK | Projected Age: 21

Originally from Saskatchewan, Beck’s journey to date has been an adventurous one. He started his collegiate career at the University of Mary, a Division II school in North Dakota, before ending up in Terre Haute, where he has become one of the best mid-major bats in the country.

He is a scout favorite thanks to his electric playstyle and dynamic athleticism. While he’s built on the smaller side, Beck has a sturdy frame.

He coils his body extremely well, displaying twitchy hips and separation to generate solid bat speed through the zone. He’s produced exit velocities up to 111 MPH and consistently gets the barrel to the ball, crushing the baseball to both sides of the field. The power to the opposite-field gap is particularly noteworthy.

The hit tool is promising as well. While he does chase at an aggressive clip, his bat-to-ball skills are pristine, especially against velocity and spin. Change-ups can give him fits, but he’s posted an 88% contact rate against fastballs, and that figure holds for any offering inside the zone. It’s a well-rounded offensive profile.

He’s an above-average runner with a quick first step out of the box, and that speed translates to center field. He’s an aggressive route-runner and will cover solid ground to gobble up baseballs, though as he climbs the ladder, he’ll likely be moved to a corner outfield spot.

It’s easy to dream on the playstyle and tools available here, and if Beck can recreate his 2025 campaign, he should go rather high in July.

HT/WT: 6’0/180 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Texas A&M | Hometown: Waller, TX | Projected Age: 21.11

Starting his collegiate career at McLennan CC in 2024, Freshcorn stood pat on a commitment to Texas A&M, and so far, it has paid dividends. While his 2025 campaign did have bumps and bruises, his stellar outing in Hoover against LSU showcased his upside.

Gifted with exceptional athleticism and projection, Freshcorn has a chance to turn into a low-launch monster. It’s a fluid operation with a loose arm and whip out of a lower slot, which sits just over the five-foot mark with solid extension.

The fastball performs well given the traits at hand, possessing quality ride and some cut out of the hand. To date, Freshcorn has sat in the 92-96 MPH range, bumping 97 MPH at his best, but given the physical projection, Freshcorn could be consistently sitting much higher in due time.

The low-to-mid-80s sweeper could be a plus offering at the end of the day. It’s got serious teeth and excellent command, and as the cherry on top, he averages over fifteen inches of sweep. He’ll bridge the gap to this pitch with an upper-80s cutter with firm shape, mainly using it to steal strikes and tunneling it off the fastball.

Scouts want to see an off-speed offering with an expanded role expected in 2026, and he has toyed with a splitter this fall.

Given the stuff, strike-throwing, and athleticism, it’s easy to envision Freshcorn holding down a weekend rotation role this spring. It’s significant upside as a starter and he could find himself climbing his way into a Day 1 pick if the cards shuffle themselves in order.

HT/WT: 6’1/185 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Mississippi | Hometown: Aliso Viejo, CA | Projected Age: 21.2

As a prepster at Santa Margarita Catholic, Townsend enamored scouts with a potent repertoire, but command woes hampered him. As a result, he made it to Oxford and got more time on the mound down the stretch, which culminated in a loud outing during the SEC Tournament in Hoover. Now eligible as a sophomore, Townsend has filled out his frame and undergone a couple of mechanical changes.

Utilizing drop-and-drive mechanics, Townsend sinks into his back leg more than he did as a prep, which has resulted in a slight drop in his release point. He possesses outrageous arm speed from an over-the-top slot, though there is effort at release that causes his command to get streaky.

Townsend’s fastball is a cut/ride monster, surpassing twenty inches of IVB with ease and possessing slight cutting action. He’s held 92-96 MPH deep into outings, topping out at 98 MPH.

His upper-80s cutter can be a monster, as there’s significant vertical separation, and it tends to act more like a gyro breaker. He’ll pair that with a hard mid-80s curveball with a ton of depth, though he’s still trying to reel in the command. He’s tinkering with an upper-80s splitter against left-handed hitters, though it’s a work in progress.

Unless the command takes a step forward, Townsend’s future will be in the bullpen, though he’ll get a chance to start for the Rebels in 2026.

HT/WT: 6’3/170 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Florida | Hometown: Athens, GA | Projected Age: 21.5

A star freshman at Stetson in 2024, Jones opted to change zip codes for the 2025 season, moving to Gainesville and joining the SEC.

However, things did not go as planned. Jones played just four games for the Gators in 2025, held back by a nagging hamstring injury before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. While we want to see what he can accomplish in the SEC first, the tools are too hard to ignore.

Jones’ wiry frame boasts a ton of physical projection and stout athleticism. At Stetson, Jones displayed exquisite contact skills and flew around the bases with game-changing speed. The swing does have some length to it, but despite this, Jones has a career contact rate of 86%, an in-zone contact rate of 92%, and an out-of-zone contact rate of 73%. All of those marks are really, really good.

There’s aggression in his swing decisions, but with his bat-to-ball skills, it hasn’t negatively affected him. There’s solid bat speed in his swing, and given the projection, he can generate quality power numbers one day. For now, he primarily utilizes his plus speed to be aggressive on the basepaths, routinely stretching singles into doubles.

His aggressive style translates to the field, where he’s unafraid to give up his body to make highlight-reel plays in center. He has a ton of range at the position and runs great routes to the ball. As long as he doesn’t outgrow his athleticism, he’ll be a force at the “eight” over the long haul.

HT/WT: 6’3/220 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Clemson | Hometown: Frankenmuth, MI | Projected Age: 21.2

To quote DJ Casper: “Now it’s time to get funky.”

After following Erik Bakich from Michigan to Clemson, Titsworth was tasked with a starting role in mid-April against Louisville, where he went six scoreless. He did not relinquish his spot in the weekend rotation after that.

Built sturdily with solid strength throughout his frame, Titsworth brings one of the funkiest deliveries in college baseball to the mound. It’s an extreme drop-and-drive delivery with a sinking right shoulder that allows him to release the baseball just over four feet off the ground. His back knee drags along the mound while he displays loud arm speed from a sidearm slot.

Given these qualities, Titsworth’s fastball has low-launch traits that teams will covet in his evaluation. He’s a VAA king as a result, reaching -3.00 degrees or lower when commanding the pitch on the top rail. He generates considerable run and sink out of the hand, tying up the hands of right-handed hitters when he lets the pitch travel inside. He’s already been up to 96 MPH, routinely parking in the low-90s with good command.

It’s a really fun pitch to dissect, though it is his carrying tool. He uses the heater over 75% of the time and needs to extract more value from his secondary pitches to earn a starting role as a professional.

His best secondary is a low-80s slider with short break and slight horizontal action, sometimes acting like a cutter when thrown closer to 85 MPH. He does have an upper-80s splitter that he uses sparingly.

While he’s a one-trick pony to date, the data is unique, and he’ll carve out a role at the next level as a result.

HT/WT: 6’6/220 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Kansas State | Hometown: Lincoln, NE | Projected Age: 20.11

A highly projectable athlete who will remind folks of Eli Serrano III, Evasco put up impressive results during his first collegiate campaign. Across 56 games, Evasco hit .311/.380/.554 with eleven home runs and a BB:K ratio of 18:31. As a draft-eligible sophomore, the trail to a potential draft selection has been cemented, and an approach change in 2026 will help him climb the next hill he’ll face this spring.

Considering Evasco’s length and lankiness, it appears that he struggles to fit inside the box with his operation. He employs a rather wide base with an open front leg, which can be tough to repeat; however, Evasco’s athleticism and bat speed help him mitigate those pains.

While most would expect a player of his size to struggle with tight turns to the ball, Evasco has shown the ability to turn and burn on the inner third. He can handle his own inside the zone, posting a respectable 86% in-zone contact rate, though Evasco will do most of his damage to the opposite field, especially when pitched away.

His power has been a bit subdued as a result of his approach and aggression, as he chases at an alarming rate, and scouts want to see him become more selective and pull-happy this spring. If he can do that and create exit velocities north of 110 MPH, he’ll hear his name called.

Defensively, Evasco’s athleticism and nimble first step give him leeway in a corner outfield position, with left field being the likely home due to fringy arm strength. He’ll get shots at first base to get his bat in the lineup, too.

HT/WT: 6’4/235 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Miami | Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL | Projected Age: 21.1

A well-known name during his prep days, Cuvet was drafted in the 17th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates but opted to stay home and attend Miami. Two years later, Cuvet is one of the premier power hitters in the college world and was the main catalyst in Miami’s near return to Omaha for the first time since 2016.

After putting together a torrid second half in the spring, Cuvet has positioned himself well with 70-grade power at his disposal, though there’s still some work to polish under the hood.

Cuvet has thunderous bat speed with loft and huge hip/shoulder separation in his swing. This helps him achieve exit velocities well over the 110 MPH barrier, and he’s reached as high as 115 MPH. It’s legitimate all-fields power, and he’s already tapped into it with 42 career home runs on his baseball card.

That said, his hit tool does leave some questions. He’s a highly aggressive swinger with a chase rate that approaches 40%, and his bat-to-ball skills have suffered as a result. It’s a stiffer swing with struggles to adjust to spin, though he doesn’t run a bloated strikeout rate and knows how to shorten up. We’ll see how the hit tool evolves, but the magnitude of his power helps alleviate some warts.

Despite his physicality, Cuvet moves well for his size and carries big arm strength at the hot corner, though he can get heavy-footed and lacks the range of his peers. A move to first base is in the cards, which puts more pressure on the bat to perform.

However, the current track record and impact will help his case come draft day. He projects as a middle-of-the-order bat if the hit tool can continue to develop.

HT/WT: 6’6/200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: South Carolina | Hometown: Tampa, FL | Projected Age: 21.9

Philpott spent the first two years of his collegiate career at the University of Florida, where he made 36 career appearances for the Gators. Philpott would hit the transfer portal this past summer seeking opportunities in a starting rotation, and he landed at South Carolina, where he’s expected to see a bigger role.

Built with a ton of length and projection, Philpott moves fluidly down the mound, generating excellent extension numbers (upwards of seven feet) and arm speed from a three-quarters slot. To date, Philpott throws a good amount of strikes, but when he fatigues, his command becomes streaky, and batters begin to take advantage of offerings left up in the zone.

His fastball has a real chance to improve at his new home. It’s a high-spin heater with excellent carry and slight tail on the top rail, although he has endured issues with shape consistency (i.e., flattening out) in the middle of the zone. At his peak, he’s reached 98 MPH, though he routinely parks it in the 92-95 MPH range. Finding better command will help the pitch quality, and the foundation for a good heater is there.

His upper-80s change-up has solid fade and depth away from left-handed bats, plus he’s shown some confidence to throw it right-on-right. He’s tinkered with his upper-80s cutter while at South Carolina, featuring more riding action, plus he’s got a loopier breaking ball as a fourth offering.

Philpott’s profile is based a lot on projection, but if everything clicks, he can turn into a nasty starting pitcher. At worst, he’d have two quality pitches to work out of the bullpen as a professional.

HT/WT: 6’0/190 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Arizona State | Hometown: San Jose, CA | Projected Age: 21.8

Moutzouridis burst onto the collegiate scene with a robust freshman campaign at California, though his sophomore year saw regression. That said, Moutzouridis’ glove and pure contact skills give him a runway to a professional role. He has taken his talents to Arizona State, where he’ll take over as the shortstop for the Sun Devils.

As a defender, Moutzouridis is one of the best in the country at shortstop. It’s an excellent internal clock with composure and buttery smooth actions in the dirt. He is comfortable throwing from many arm angles and features solid arm strength across the diamond, as well. Evaluators have put a plus grade on the glove as a result, and he’s a no-doubt shortstop at the next level.

Moutzouridis is a bat-to-ball artist who consistently makes contact, though the impact dropped off compared to his 2024 results. He found himself chasing more pitches out of the zone, and his barrel rate dropped as a result of this change.

However, when he swings at pitches in the zone, he makes contact 92% of the time. Moutzouridis rarely misses the fastball, as well. Power will never be a big part of his game, though he’ll utilize the gaps and tap into some over-the-fence pop to his pull side.

If more impact can be found in 2026, Moutzouridis’ ceiling will improve, but it’s hard to ignore the floor that he has currently.

HT/WT: 6’3/215 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: NC State | Hometown: Commack, NY | Projected Age: 20.11

After a successful campaign at VCU in 2024, McHugh hit the portal and took his talents to Raleigh. At NC State, McHugh would hit a team high of .365 and eighteen extra base hits, which earned him a place on the All-ACC Second Team roster.

While he’s got the look of a hulking slugger, McHugh is a more complete hitter than expected. While he is somewhat aggressive in his approach, McHugh possesses solid bat-to-ball skills and excels at covering the zone, where he posted an 87% contact rate. He will pummel offerings on the inner third of the zone, and southpaws struggle to sneak fastballs past his barrel.

The swing path does need some work, as McHugh finds himself pounding the ball into the dirt more often than not, but he can produce screaming line drives with big bat speed and a heavy barrel. Another thing to work on is pulling the ball more with backspin, as well as staying away from flailing at spin away from him. The total offensive package is enticing, and he has a chance to be an average hitter with above-average or better juice.

McHugh does have good athleticism and mobility, but as he fills out his lower half, he’ll slow down and stick at first base. He does move well around the pillow and should provide some value defensively, turning into an average or better defender at the position.

Something that does help McHugh with models will be his age, as he won’t turn 21 years old until after the draft. If everything clicks this spring and he begins to lift the ball more, McHugh should go rather high.

HT/WT: 6’2/175 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: North Carolina | Hometown: Janesville, WI | Projected Age: 21.9

A glove-first shortstop with projection and feel to hit, Schaffner was a key cog to North Dakota State’s offense the past two seasons. During his collegiate career, Schaffner has posted a .353/.435/.446 slash line, complimenting that with a sturdy glove and the ability to be a base-stealing threat.

Once the transfer portal opened, he took his talents from Fargo to Chapel Hill, where he’ll replace Kane Kepley as the leadoff option for Scott Forbes.

The glove has been the biggest tool in his bag, and it’s easy to see why. He’s a fluid mover in the dirt, boasting solid body control, rangy actions, and soft mitts. While the arm is merely average, it is accurate, and he’ll rarely miss the first baseman. It’s standout athleticism and instincts, as well. It is rare when he doesn’t gobble up a ball hit in his direction.

Offensively, Schaffner is a contact-oriented bat that will fight to keep at-bats going. Schaffner’s stance last spring was more crouched, though he has become more upright this fall in an effort to keep his hands inside.

It’s a compact stroke to the baseball with a slasher mentality, opting to place the ball anywhere on the field. In his career, Schaffner has posted a contact rate of 86% and an in-zone contact rate of 93%, both of which are very high marks in college.

His bat speed isn’t impressive, though, given the projection, Schaffner has a chance to grow into below-average pop. This would help his profile climb up draft boards, though his floor is high considering his glove and contact prowess.

HT/WT: 6’2/192 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: NC State | Hometown: Chantilly, VA | Projected Age: 21.4

A 20th-round selection by the Cleveland Guardians in 2023, Marohn upheld his commitment to NC State and rewarded Elliott Avent with a breakout sophomore campaign.

Despite being undersized, Marohn utilized an improvement in command to find success, which included an ability to tunnel and sequence his arsenal better. This culminated in a 3.38 ERA across 85.1 innings, as well as a spot on the USA Collegiate National Team roster.

While he won’t overpower batters with his stuff, the deception he creates is another factor in his success. He pitches from the first base side of the rubber and possesses significant crossfire angle to the plate. This enables his low-90s heater to generate significant chases despite not being a big bat-misser. He’s been up to 94 MPH at his best with solid carry and slight tail.

However, the secondaries are the stars of the show. Marohn’s mid-70s curveball has huge depth and lateral tilt, tunneling well with the fastball and creating big vertical separation off the fastball. Given his release point, it’s extremely tough for left-handed bats to pick up, and he lands it for strikes at a solid clip.

He introduced a new slider/cutter hybrid in the mid-80s, plus his low-80s change-up hits the brakes late and fades heavily away from right-handed bats, generating a ton of chases.

It’s a high-floor profile with pitchability present, and he’ll have back-end upside as a starter.

HT/WT: 6’3/185 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Louisville | Hometown: Middlefield, OH | Projected Age: 21.2

After pitching sparingly as a freshman, Bean made fifteen starts for Kent State in 2025, posting a 4.20 ERA across 75 total innings. He turned that success into a commitment to Louisville, where he’ll face a big test in the ACC as a part of the Cardinals’ rotation in 2026.

At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Bean is roughly how you draw them up. It’s a long, projectable body with fantastic athleticism on the bump, moving freely with a whippy right arm and excellent extension. He gets his arm on time with big scapular retraction, and while there’s some violence at release, it hasn’t affected his strike-throwing ability much.

The fastball isn’t a big bat-misser, but an uptick in velocity may unlock another gear for him. Bean tends to sit in the 90-93 MPH range, reaching back for 95-96 MPH when he needs it. The pitch shape can fall into the “dead-zone” bucket at times, though he’s shown the ability to generate quality carry with moderate tail through the zone.

His mid-80s curveball is the moneymaker, though. While he doesn’t post elite spin rates, it’s a true hammer with immense depth and sweeping action. He’s still learning to harness it and land it for strikes regularly, but it’s a plus pitch with some shape manipulation. He kills spin on a low-80s change-up that features a ton of depth and fading action, too.

There will be a need for some additional polish, especially with his fastball and change-up, but there aren’t many breaking balls better than Bean’s.

HT/WT: 6’6/220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: UCLA | Hometown: Los Angeles, CA | Projected Age: 21.7

The son of the Dodgers’ VP of Baseball Operations, Billy Gasparino, Will is a polarizing prospect in this class. He has the upside of a first-rounder as a gifted athlete with big power and defensive instincts, but the questions with the bat leave a low-floor outcome in the cards.

Now at UCLA, Gasparino looks to capitalize on new scenery to put everything together and climb back up draft boards.

For someone of his size and stature, Gasparino is a freakish athlete that oozes projection. His body is capable of withstanding another twenty pounds or more of muscle, which would aid the impressive power he already possesses. He has plus raw power with loud bat speed, and some of that has already started to translate in-game, but the lack of consistency with his hit tool has dampened his power output to date.

While he does display solid body control, Gasparino has continuously fought his length, especially when it comes to shortening his arms when attacked inside and adjusting to the top rail. He does chase at a high clip, as well. However, when his arms are extended, the damage is quite loud. Finding a happy medium in Los Angeles will be paramount to his draft stock.

In the outfield, Gasparino glides like a gazelle at the “eight” with a long gait, plus speed, and impressive range to both gaps. As he grows into his body, he may wind up moving to right field, where his big arm would fit perfectly.

The upside is immense, and Gasparino’s evaluation process will be a fascinating one to examine throughout the cycle.

HT/WT: 6’0/185 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: UC Santa Barbara | Hometown: Long Beach, CA | Projected Age: 21.2

It’s no secret that Andrew Checketts has created a pitching pipeline in Santa Barbara. With Jackson Flora getting most of the attention, and deservedly so, there are a couple of other arms that have piqued scouts’ interests, including southpaw Cole Tryba. He’s been a bullpen stalwart for the Gauchos over the past two seasons, plus he put together an All-Star campaign on the Cape this past summer.

An undersized athlete on the bump, Tryba utilizes drop-and-drive mechanics and displays solid extension for a player of his size. It’s a clean, yet deep, arm swing with impressive scapular retraction before releasing the baseball under five feet off the dirt.

As a result, Tryba’s low-launch traits generate considerable run and sink on his fastball, though he’s shown the ability to create solid vertical carry for his slot and misses bats at a high clip upstairs. The pitch is a groundball machine, as well, generating grounders at a 60% clip on the Cape.

Tryba’s upper-70s sweeper features some depth and routinely gets 15-20 inches of horizontal movement, though the lesser-used cambio is the better offering. Thrown in the low-80s, the pitch tumbles hard to the dirt and gets obscene whiff and chase rates. It’s an offering that should be utilized much more.

Considering his size, Tryba may be destined for a bullpen role as a professional, though he will get chances to start before the transition is made. He hammers the strike zone and displays great feel for his entire arsenal, which will help his case to stick in a rotation.

HT/WT: 6’3/190 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Florida | Hometown: Milton, GA | Projected Age: 21.3

McNeillie had helium as a wiry prep arm with athleticism and tons of projection in 2023, but he wound up in Gainesville, where he’s worked in numerous roles. In 2026, McNeillie should compete for the final rotation spot, though it’s not ruled out that he gets long innings in the bullpen.

Whichever role he lands, McNeillie will have scouting heat attached to him.

Still slender and projectable, McNeillie has added some strength and seen his velocity spike since his prep days. Now sitting in the mid-90s, McNeillie generates solid carry and tail out of a three-quarters slot, spinning the baseball very well (2,500+ RPMs) and finding whiffs on the top rail.

The mid-80s slider is a potential plus offering with big depth and devastating bite, and it lands for strikes consistently. He actually threw the pitch more than the fastball in 2025, and while he can drop his slot on the pitch, hitters struggle to adjust, whiffing on it 43% of the time. It’s a really good pitch. The change-up is thrown hard with some fading action, though he doesn’t throw it often.

There’s volatility in the delivery that has affected his command to date, particularly with the fastball. Adding more weight to his frame should help alleviate some of that, though if the command doesn’t come around, he’ll have a dynamic one-two punch in the bullpen.

HT/WT: 6’2/185 | Bat/Throw: S/R | School: UCLA | Hometown: Palmdale, CA | Projected Age: 21.3

During a two-year stint at San Diego, Reddemann was an immediate contributor in the rotation, making 22 starts for the Toreros with plenty of success. This included two appearances on the All-WCC First Team list, as well as the WCC Freshman of the Year in 2024. Now at UCLA, Reddemann will look to slot into their weekend rotation and provide experience for their pitching staff.

Reddemann possesses an uptempo delivery with deception, repeating his mechanics well and displaying little effort down the bump. As a result, he can command the baseball very well, peppering the strike zone repeatedly. Free passes are very rare from him.

His fastball shapes tend to vary, primarily sitting in the “dead-zone” profile, but he’s shown the ability to elevate with cut/ride shape. He sits in the 91-94 MPH range, but will reach back for 96 MPH. Commanding the heater is his best attribute, and he sets up his secondaries well as a result.

His best secondary is a low-80s change-up that mimics the fastball shape before diving to the dirt with serious tumble. He kills spin particularly well and maintains arm speed, too. His slider possesses tilt, mixing in shorter break with good sweeping action. It can turn into a cutter the harder he throws it.

He has a higher floor with his command prowess and secondaries, fitting in as a serviceable back-end option in someone’s rotation.

HT/WT: 6’2/200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Kansas | Hometown: Columbia, IL | Projected Age: 21.4

After being selected in the 20th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023, Voegele elected to stand firm on his commitment to Kansas. The move paid immediate dividends, as Voegele took home the Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors and earned an invitation to Collegiate National Team training camp. 2025 wasn’t as kind to him, but his operation, athleticism, and stuff point to a viable starting pitching prospect.

Voegele has a low pulse on the bump, striding down the mound with effortless mechanics and athleticism. He shows solid arm speed from a three-quarters arm slot and a longer arm swing, though he doesn’t get a ton of extension given his short stride.

The fastball can get generic, though he found more value as a sophomore and can get chases at a sufficient clip. He does generate solid carry with run mixed in, though as he fatigues, the shape tends to waver. He’ll hold 91-95 velocity through starts, and he’s been up to 98 MPH this fall.

His mid-80s slider features tight shape and big spin rates, but it can be inconsistent. It’ll turn into a cutter at times, though it plays best with shorter break and tilt. The low-80s curveball has more teeth, breaking sharply to the dirt with similar spin rates. There’s a fading upper-80s change-up that doesn’t have a ton of separation from the fastball, though he kills a good amount of spin.

Voegele throws a ton of strikes, though he’ll get in trouble by leaving pitches in the zone too much. He will attack hitters inside and has little fear in how he operates. Limiting fly balls, improving command, and maximizing the value of his arsenal will be key in 2026.

HT/WT: 5’11/185 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Oklahoma | Hometown: Lucas, TX | Projected Age: 21.2

The younger brother of slugging Georgia infielder Kolby, Kyle grabbed the bull by the horns and never let go of a starting spot during his rookie collegiate campaign. While he’s no slugger like his brother, Branch’s toolset revolves around outstanding bat-to-ball skills, big speed, and fantastic defense in the infield.

The defense is what really stands out and gives him a solid floor at the next level. It’s an operation that’s smooth and under control, displaying a quick first step and soft hands at second base. While he does rush himself at times, Branch has shown good adjustments to the college game, and he’s not afraid of making the highlight reel play.

With Jaxon Willits holding down the “six” for the Sooners currently, Branch is blocked, but there’s a belief that he can handle his own on the other side of the bag. Either way, he’s an up-the-middle defender.

Offensively, Branch is a bat-to-ball artist who will spread the ball around the park. Branch simply does not miss the baseball in the zone, posting a 95% in-zone contact rate in 2025, including a ridiculous 97% rate on heaters. Slugging the baseball isn’t in his bag of tools just yet, mainly utilizing his above-average speed to put pressure on the defense and make aggressive plays on the basepaths. He’s not afraid to steal the extra base.

A draft-eligible sophomore, Branch should get looks around the fifth round come July. The pure talent is hard to ignore, and if the power begins to show up, he’ll go higher.

HT/WT: 6’5/230 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Cincinnati | Hometown: Amelia, OH | Projected Age: 21.3

A mainstay in the Bearcats’ rotation since he first stepped on campus, Taylor has been a steady force for Jordan Bischel’s squad during their recent uptrend in success. The physical right-hander isn’t the flashiest arm on the planet, but the body control, repeatability, and extension stand out, plus it’s a fun fastball/slider combination.

The fastball is rather generic, though there’s some untapped upside with six-and-a-half feet of extension on average and the ability to set up his slider to hitters. He sits in the low-90s, bumping 96 MPH at his peak, with moderate carry and slight cutting action, though he’ll tinker with armside tail at times.

The pitch shape allows him to generate a good amount of groundballs from lefties, though it’s not a bat-misser. Command will come and go, though Taylor’s slider helps alleviate trouble when this occurs.

His mid-80s slider is an above-average or better offering, characterized by tight spin, a short break, and tunneling traits off the heater. He’ll land it in the zone repeatedly, and he’ll manipulate depth and mold it into more of a curveball.

Behind the fastball and slider, Taylor has worked on a change-up, though it remains inconsistent, and he does lack feel for the offering due to his supinator profile. Taylor will need to find ways to extract more value out of the fastball and change-up to realize his full ceiling, though the mold of clay present is intriguing. He’s worth taking a shot on once the draft goes beyond the fifth round.

HT/WT: 6’2/215 | Bat/Throw: S/R | School: Wake Forest | Hometown: Madison Heights, VA | Projected Age: 20.11

As a high-schooler, Wentz was well-known in the Mid-Atlantic for his two-way prowess, though he opted to ditch the mound and keep the bat in his hands full-time.

While he took his lumps in 2025, Wentz ended the year on a high note, including multiple multi-HR games during the postseason. That success carried over to the Cape, where he earned an All-Star nod.

A barrel-chested switch-hitter, Wentz found more success as a left-handed hitter this spring. It’s an uphill path with serious bat speed and feel to launch the baseball, punishing mistakes from opposing pitchers. This does lead to swing-and-miss, especially with velocity up and spin down, though Wentz has no problem getting to his power to both sides of the field. His ability to pull the baseball in the air is certainly welcomed.

However, polish will be necessary from both sides of the plate. He does a better job of catching up to velocity from the left side, though he will find himself fishing outside the zone at change-ups and sliders alike. Assuming the contact improves as a sophomore, Wentz is capable of being a 40-hit/55-power bat. Not too shabby.

Wentz has played at second and third base to date, with his size fitting better at the hot corner. He can rush himself at both positions and will need to show more comfort to generate more defensive value, though that should come with added reps and time in the field.

A draft-eligible sophomore, Wentz will look to be one of the main catalysts in a talented Wake Forest offense.

HT/WT: 6’4/200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Texas Christian | Hometown: Jonesboro, AR | Projected Age: 21.2

Valley View High School had a loaded roster in 2024. Outside of 2024 first-rounder Slade Caldwell, the team consisted of three other D1 commits, including Davis.

While he didn’t pitch during his freshman season at Arkansas, Davis had a coming-out party on the Cape with Brewster, striking out 24 batters and walking just four during 17.2 innings. Now at Texas Christian, Davis will get a chance to build upon his Cape success, as he figures to slot into their weekend rotation.

Boasting a long and physical build, Davis moves with fluidity down the mound with repeatable mechanics. He possesses a deep arsenal of pitches and displays feel to command the baseball horizontally, attacking to both sides of the plate.

The fastball plays downhill with a heavy sink and bore, sitting 92-96 MPH throughout the summer and peaking at 97 MPH. The pitch generates its fair share of groundballs, plus he’ll hammer the pitch armside and flashes some carry upstairs.

He commands a mid-80s gyro slider away from right-handed hitters, displaying good bite, and he likes to land it on the black for called strikes. The upper-80s cambio flashes well with good tumbling action, and he’ll need to incorporate it more to neutralize left-handed bats. He rounds out his arsenal with a big-bending upper-70s curveball.

A draft-eligible sophomore, he’ll only have one year of experience in college on his resume, but an All-Star nod on the Cape is a nice feather in his cap. It’s a projection play, but we feel confident in the tools and operation.