Tyler Albanese, RHP, San Jose State

Albanese broke out in 2025 as one of the more interesting late-inning arms on the West Coast, and he carried his momentum into a strong showing in the Cape Cod League. The 6-foot-6, 237-pound righty delivered a 2.97 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 19 walks over 39.1 innings for San Jose State while collecting eight saves. He then posted a 2.45 ERA with 20 strikeouts and seven walks in 22 Cape innings, reinforcing the quality of his stuff in a wood bat environment.

Albanese’s release traits set the foundation. He was one of just 33 Division I pitchers with at least 100 pitches in front of Trackman to create more than seven feet of extension. He also worked with a relatively flat -5.0 degree attack angle. Those traits paired well with a low-to-mid-90s fastball that carried through the top of the zone and spun at an average of 2,413 rpm in Trackman games. The pitch generated a 29% miss rate and 34% chase rate, marks placing it well-above-average for a college fastball.

Albanese’s curveball was a legitimate swing-and-miss weapon. It showed two-plane action with roughly 10.5 inches of vertical drop and more than 16 inches of horizontal movement. He also manipulated the pitch by taking velocity off in the low 70s to create more vertical action. He supplemented it with a tighter slider that performed well as another breaking look.

The combination of extension, fastball shape and high-quality breaking balls gives Albanese clear draft appeal. With a large frame, strong movement traits and the ability to generate chase across multiple pitches, he enters 2026 as an arm with a chance to climb if he continues to sharpen his command and hold his shapes over a larger role.

Thomas Burns, RHP, Texas

Burns made a strong first impression in the SEC after transferring from Arizona State, finishing the year with a 3.71 ERA and 40 strikeouts to 16 walks over 26.2 innings. The line would have tightened even further if not for a single rough outing against Arkansas in early May in which he allowed five of his 11 earned runs in 1.1 innings. Over the rest of the season, he worked with one of the most explosive fastballs in the conference.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound righty shows premium velocity. His fastball averaged 95.1 mph in Trackman settings, touched 100 and paired speed with 21.2 inches of induced vertical break. The pitch produced a 34% whiff rate and carried a -5.41 degree vertical approach angle, which is solid given his 6-foot-7 release height. 

Burns’ heater performed at an elite level when it cleared two key thresholds, as, at 95 mph or above with at least 20 inches of carry, it generated a 67% strike rate and a 57% whiff rate. Hitters recorded only one hit against the pitch when it met those conditions, which placed Burns in rare company.

He supported the fastball with a tight, mid-80s slider and a low-80s changeup. The changeup showed fade and late tumble with roughly a degree and a half of separation off the fastball, giving him a workable speed and movement contrast. Both secondaries flashed enough to suggest progression as he continued to gain feel.

Burns’ profile was built around the fastball, and the data pointed to a pitch that could anchor a high-leverage role at the next level. If he maintains the high-end characteristics that drove the miss rate and continues to sharpen his slider and changeup, he has a chance to establish himself as one of the country’s more formidable relief arms with early-round potential.

Ethan Kleinschmit, LHP, Oregon State

Kleinschmit emerged in 2025 as one of the premier No. 2 starters in the country and gave Oregon State a frontline pairing behind 2027 draft class star Dax Whitney. He logged a 3.56 ERA with 113 strikeouts and 36 walks over 91 innings and carries a 6-foot-3 frame that still offers room for physical growth. Performance and underlying measurements placed him on the cusp of the Top 100 entering his draft season with a profile built more on polish, feel and shape quality than raw velocity.

His fastball sat at 90.4 mph in Trackman games and reached 94, yet the pitch played with far more utility due to its movement characteristics. He averaged 19.3 inches of induced vertical break with steady armside run—a combination that helped him work above barrels despite average velocity. The attack angle trended flatter than average, and his extension was solid, which allowed him to create advantageous entry points at the top of the zone.

Kleinschmit’s offspeed mix separated him. His sweeper averaged 18.5 inches of horizontal break with a 34% miss rate and 30.2% chase rate in Trackman environments. The pitch had late action and paired cleanly with the fastball. 

His changeup appeared markedly less often than his fastball and sweeper but showed above-average fade, consistent tumble and nearly 2.5 degrees of separation relative to the heater. The shape and action gave him a legitimate third offering with real carryover against righthanded hitters.

Kleinschmit repeated his delivery, was generally around the zone and held his mix over longer outings. The combination of strike-throwing, shape traits and an offspeed foundation that consistently produced chase gave him clear Top 100 potential. If the fastball continues to firm as he adds strength to his frame, he projects as one of the more complete lefthanded starters in the class.

Brett Lanman, LHP, Abilene Christian

Lanman enters 2026 with a chance to follow the path set by former Abilene Christian righty Dominick Reid, who this past July became the program’s highest draft pick since 2000 after a breakout junior year. 

At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Lanman showed that level of promise as a freshman when he delivered a 3.48 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 32 walks in 72.1 innings. His sophomore season, however, brought significant regression. He finished 2025 with a 6.25 ERA and 84 strikeouts to 34 walks in 72 innings before finding a partial reset on the Cape, where he managed a 3.60 ERA with 11 strikeouts and four walks in 10 innings.

The underlying data from 2025 still pointed to meaningful upside. His low-to-mid-90s fastball carried through the top of the zone with 19.4 inches of induced vertical break in Trackman settings, and he paired that movement with elite extension (about seven feet) and a -5.19 degree vertical approach angle. Those traits created a difficult entry point for hitters. The fastball produced a 23.6% whiff rate and a 23.2% chase rate, and it held its shape even when his command wavered, which kept him competitive despite the surface line.

Lanman supported the heater with a low-80s slider that showed two-plane tilt, a high-70s curveball with deeper vertical action and a seldom-used changeup that flashed late tumble. All three pitches had the raw shape to grow into reliable offerings.

The runway for advancement is clear. If Lanman translates his improved summer performance into more consistent strike-throwing and leverages his fastball traits more efficiently, he has the ingredients to push back toward early-round territory. The combination of size, extension and fastball metrics make him a pitcher to follow closely this spring.

Luke McNeillie, RHP, Florida

McNeillie enters 2026 as one of the more volatile yet intriguing arms in the class. He has a realistic chance to secure the Sunday role in a Florida rotation fronted by No. 1 overall 2026 pitching prospect Liam Peterson and 2027 top prospect Aidan King—a scenario that would give him the innings volume evaluators have wanted to see. 

His first two seasons showed meaningful progress. He lowered his ERA from 7.07 as a freshman to 4.82 in 2025 and struck out 72 with 24 walks over 52.1 innings, almost all of them in relief. His command backed up in a short Cape Cod League sample with eight walks in 12.2 innings, which kept the control question firmly in place heading into the spring.

When his delivery synced, McNeillie’s pure stuff was difficult to square. His fastball sat at 94 mph and touched 98 in Trackman environments with nearly 20 inches of induced vertical break and a -4.71 attack angle that played above average for his release slot. The pitch averaged 2,400 rpm and produced miss and chase rates around 25% in those settings. He paired it with a mid-to-high-80s slider that showed two-plane action, including roughly four inches of vertical bite and spin north of 2,600 rpm. His changeup carried real armside life, averaging about 15 inches of horizontal movement with roughly two degrees of separation from his heater.

The central variable was strike-throwing. McNeillie’s 10.4% walk rate in 2025 reflected the inconsistency that has defined his early career and could ultimately push him back into a bullpen role at Florida. That outcome would limit his ability to rise into the earlier rounds. If he holds a rotation job and shows stable fastball command for longer stretches, his raw stuff is strong enough to change the conversation entirely, especially with a projectable frame.

Ethan Norby, LHP, East Carolina

Norby established himself as one of the most advanced spin artists in college baseball. Few lefthanders showed a more distinct or reliable feel for manipulating the baseball, and his entire arsenal rested on that strength. Although undersized at 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds, he’s consistently produced, carrying a career 3.80 ERA with 182 strikeouts and 47 walks over 149.1 innings through two seasons at East Carolina.

Norby’s fastball sat in the low to mid 90s, and he paired that velocity with an unusual shape profile. The pitch averaged 13.5 inches of armside run, carried an average spin rate above 2,500 rpm in Trackman games and benefited from nearly 6.5 feet of extension. His 5-foot-1 release height helped him create a remarkably flat -4.19 degree attack angle, which contributed to a 26.4% whiff rate and a 27.4% chase rate. When he located the pitch particularly well, he reached close to 20 inches of run—a premium figure for a college lefty.

His sweeper functioned as his trademark offspeed pitch. Over a 290-pitch Trackman sample, it averaged 15.5 inches of horizontal break and spun above 3,000 rpm while producing a 48% whiff rate and 34% chase rate. His mid-80s changeup added another look with strong fade and almost 2.5 degrees of separation from the fastball which allowed him to neutralize right handed hitters without abandoning his strengths.

Norby’s feel for spin and his ability to command and manipulate multiple pitches makes him one of the more consistent lefthanders on the board. Entering his third year as a starter at East Carolina, he is well positioned to maintain that trajectory and has a clear path into the early rounds if the performance holds as expected.

Jack Radel, RHP, Notre Dame

Radel made steady gains over his first two seasons at Notre Dame, trimming his ERA from 4.58 to 3.58 while improving his strikeout rate from 16.7% to 20.8% and cutting his walk rate from 8.1% to 6.2%. He carried a heavier rotation workload in 2025 with 70.1 innings and showed enough refinement to put himself firmly on the draft radar.

The appeal lies in the underlying traits. A 6-foot-5, 210-pound righty with long levers, Radel delivered more than seven feet of extension—a premium marker that pushed his fastball on hitters earlier than the velocity alone would suggest. The pitch sat in the mid to high 90s in Trackman environments, and he paired that speed with quality shape, including an 18.2 inch induced vertical break average and a -4.96 degree vertical approach angle. Those characteristics gave the pitch the foundational attributes commonly seen in early round arms, even if the raw bat-missing numbers have not yet reached that tier.

Radel complemented the fastball with a sweepy slider that flashes lateral finish and a changeup with fade and tumble. The changeup showed roughly two degrees of separation from his fastball, giving him a legitimate third look and a pathway to more consistency against lefthanded hitters.

Even without the swing-and-miss totals that define many peers in the early rounds, Radel’s data profile fits comfortably within the top 200 and could climb higher if he continues to improve. The fastball metrics, extension and secondary traits give him more ceiling than his already-solid surface numbers might indicate.

Bo Rhudy, RHP, Tennessee

There is usually at least one pitcher each year whose draft case is built around a single elite offering, and Rhudy looks like an early candidate for that label. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound righty transferred from Kennesaw State to Tennessee after a strong sophomore year in which he logged a 3.16 ERA with 44 strikeouts and only five walks across 37 innings. He carried that momentum to the Cape Cod League, where he posted a 2.45 ERA with 12 strikeouts and two walks in 11 innings while saving five games in nine appearances.

Rhudy’s fastball is wicked. In Trackman settings, it averaged 90 mph with a peak of 93.3 yet played far beyond the velocity because of an unusual set of traits. The pitch generated 18.4 inches of induced vertical break with an average spin rate of 2,722 rpm and came from a low 5-foot-4 release height with a -4.27 degree vertical approach angle. That combination made his heater extremely difficult to pick up, and hitters chased it 38% of the time, which is well above average. The pitch functioned as a true outlier, one that created late carry and unexpected life at the top of the zone, considering its velocity range.

Across the 2025 college season and his Cape workload, Rhudy went to his fastball 88% of the time, a staggering usage rate that reflected how dominant the pitch was in both environments. He also showed a high-70s slider with enough bite to miss bats when he executed it, although the feel and consistency lagged behind the fastball.

Rhudy’s elite spin characteristics open the door for significant development. With his ability to impart that level of spin, it is easy to envision a professional staff broadening his offspeed mix and helping him build shapes that complement the fastball. 

If the velocity climbs and the secondary offerings take hold, he has a chance to move quickly. Rhudy is a name to track very closely heading into the spring. The raw material on his fastball alone places him firmly on the radar.

Cal Scolari, RHP, Oregon

Scolari entered the 2026 cycle with unfinished business. He ranked No. 247 on the final BA 500 in 2025 yet went undrafted despite showing promise at San Diego as he logged a 4.22 ERA with 77 strikeouts and 39 walks across 70.1 innings. He honored his transfer commitment to Oregon, where he is expected to compete for the Friday role in what should be his final college season.

The appeal lies in how Scolari’s raw traits have come back online after a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery. A 6-foot-4 righthander, he sat 91-93 mph and reached 96 in 2025. The fastball showed life at the top of the zone with an 18-inch induced vertical break average, nearly 2,400 rpm spin, 6.35 feet of extension and a relatively flat -5 degree attack angle. The combination allowed the pitch to play above its velocity band when he located it.

Both secondaries carried viability against righties and lefties. His low-80s slider showed two-plane tilt with 7.2 inches of horizontal break, and his firmer changeup offered fade and tumble with roughly a degree and a half of separation from the fastball. There is room for the changeup separation to grow, but the underlying movement cues give him a workable third pitch.

Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski expressed real optimism this fall, telling Baseball America that Scolari has continued to show improvement in both velocity and pitch shape definition. If the command tightens and the fastball regains more consistent shape after a full healthy offseason, Scolari has a legitimate chance to pitch his way into the early rounds.

Cole Tryba, LHP, UC Santa Barbara

Tryba enters 2026 as one of the more reliable profiles on the West Coast after two highly effective seasons at UC Santa Barbara and a dominant summer on the Cape. He posted a 3.64 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 14 walks across 47 innings in 2024, then returned from a brief injury absence in 2025 to deliver a 3.48 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 12 walks in 31 innings. His Cape League summer with Orleans reaffirmed the quality of his arsenal. He logged a 1.07 ERA with 28 strikeouts and seven walks in 25.1 innings and looked like one of the most polished bullpen arms in the league.

Tryba’s operation carried more violence than his size suggested. His fastball averaged a five-foot release height with just over six feet of extension—a combination that created a challenging approach angle even without premium velocity. The pitch sat in the low 90s and showed heavy armside life, averaging 17 inches of run in Trackman settings. It held its plane well enough to draw consistent early-count swings and positioned hitters to protect against two secondaries that both project as comfortably above average.

His upper-70s-to-low-80s sweeper was his separator. It averaged roughly 15 inches of horizontal break. The changeup showed similar promise with nearly 18 inches of fade in Trackman environments, an outrageous metric for a college lefty and one that helped it play as a legitimate weapon against righties.

Tryba’s combination of a deceptive release, two miss-generating secondaries and a consistent strike-throwing track record gave him the look of a lefty who could move quickly in pro ball. He profiles as one of the more complete arms in the class with a chance to climb if the fastball ticks up or holds velocity more consistently over longer outings. He’s expected to try his hand at starting in the spring.

Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 4

Peterson enters the spring as the most complete data-driven pitching evaluation in the class, and the intrigue begins before examining a single pitch.

Peterson’s delivery is uniquely vertical. Among Top 100 pitchers, he posted the third-highest average release height in 2025 and the highest among righties, trailing only lefties you’ll find in the story below: Trey Beard (Florida State) and Cole Carlon ( Arizona State). Peterson’s operation became even steeper this fall as added lower-half strength allowed him to stride more efficiently, pairing that elevation with roughly average extension. The combination of height and reach creates an unusual entry angle that separates Peterson from typical collegiate arms.

Peterson’s pitch mix is equally distinctive. He owns excellent feel for spin across his arsenal, a trait that shapes his mix. His four-seam fastball averaged 2,420 rpm last season with 21 inches of induced vertical break and natural armside run, giving it real swing-and-miss carry. The vertical approach angle itself is modest due to the steep release, but he generates nearly two degrees of separation between his fastball and changeup. The changeup features both fade and tumble, and the separation, in action, mirrors the visual separation created by his slot.

Both breaking balls grade out cleanly in the data. His slider and curveball each show plus spin characteristics, and the consistency of his axis manipulation reinforces the broader observation that his spin proficiency is not tied to one grip or shape. 

The addition of a running two-seam fastball this offseason gives Peterson a fifth differentiated offering and more flexibility in fastball usage.

Between the operation, verticality, spin traits and completeness of his mix, Peterson brings one of the deepest data foundations of any recent college pitcher. The industry views him as the early favorite to be the first arm selected because the metrics support every part of the profile.

Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 10

Flukey cracked the top 10 in our most recent draft update after evaluators across the country made it clear the rankings gap between him and Peterson needed to shrink. He was a foundational piece of Coastal Carolina’s 2025 staff, helping pitch the Chanticleers to Omaha while logging 101.2 innings, a 3.19 ERA, a 28.5% strikeout rate and a 5.8% walk rate across 18 appearances. At 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, he presents a long, lean look on the mound with a high leg lift, deep arm action and a three-quarters slot.

Flukey’s fastball is the backbone of his profile. He averaged 95 mph and touched 98 while his movement data drove substantial industry interest. The pitch averaged 20.3 inches of induced vertical break and has a well-above-average approach angle that plays well at the top of the zone. His extension is solid, but not extreme, given his height, and he does not rely on release height to manipulate shape, but the consistency of his fastball axis and command made it one of the more reliable heaters in the country. The dramatic drop in walk rate from his freshman year reflects meaningful improvement in fastball location.

Flukey supports that foundation with three usable secondaries. His mid-70s curveball shows true 12-to-6 action, while his mid-80s gyro slider is his go-to breaking option against righthanded hitters. Both offerings benefit from his ability to generate late movement from a consistent release window. Flukey also mixes a mid-80s changeup to lefties, a pitch he deploys sparingly but effectively to reduce predictability.

With a fastball that carries, improved command and a four-pitch mix that works against both sides, Flukey possesses the ingredients needed to be the top pitcher in the class. The movement traits, strike-throwing gains and physical projection explain why clubs increasingly view him as one of the top arms available for 2026.

Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 17

Flora is the next arm to emerge from UCSB coach Andrew Checketts’ pitching factory, a lineage that recently produced multi-million dollar signee Tyler Bremner and has consistently turned out some of the most data-forward pitchers on the West Coast. 

While early draft attention has centered heavily on Peterson and Flukey, Flora belongs firmly in that same conversation. His data indicates the tools of an arm who could be the first pitcher selected in July if the spring performance matches the metrics.

The foundation of Flora’s arsenal is his fastball, and it’s a standout offering thanks to its movement profile and sheer power. The pitch is explosive, regularly touching triple digits with huge carry that spikes into the low 20s of induced vertical break to make it one of the most high-octane heaters in the class. UCSB refined the pitch this fall to eliminate occasional dead-zone characteristics. Early feedback suggests it has even more carry and a cleaner movement profile now—an impressive development given how strong the pitch already graded last year. Flora’s -4.6-degree vertical approach angle is strong out of a low three-quarters slot and could tighten further following the fastball adjustments.

Flora’s feel for spin is advanced. He routinely snaps off pitches that exceed 2,700 rpm, and that spin expresses itself in multiple breaking shapes. His sweepy slider, the headliner of his mix, and a tighter slider both show plus movement, and Checketts added a curveball this offseason to sit neatly between those two shapes. 

Flora also began throwing a kick changeup this fall. While it does not yet have in-game Trackman readings, Checketts told Baseball America the pitch has looked outstanding in scrimmages and separates cleanly from the fastball.

Flora gets solid extension, which helps amplify the carry and angle characteristics of his arsenal. With true velocity, elite carry, multiple high-spin breaking balls and emerging changeup separation, Flora’s data package sits comfortably alongside the top arms in the class. If the refinements hold in 2026, he has every tool to pitch himself into discussion for first arm off the board come July.

Joey Volchko, RHP, Georgia

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 25

Volchko enters 2026 with premium raw material. At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, he has long shown the frame and arm strength associated with a frontline evaluation, yet his first two seasons at Stanford revealed how much separation existed between the tools and the execution. Over 113 innings, he logged a 5.89 ERA with a 20.6% strikeout rate and 10.5% walk rate—outcomes tied to difficulty repeating his delivery and producing competitive strikes. The inconsistency led him to seek a reset.

He found that at Georgia with Wes Johnson, a coach known for structured pitch design work and individualized development. The goal for Volchko was straightforward: Consolidate a powerful but erratic mix into something with more predictable shapes, steadier command and a delivery that holds from inning to inning.

Volchko arrived in Athens with a 95 mph fastball that touched 99 and showed natural cut. He paired it with a low-90s slider with real bite, a mid-80s power curveball, a low-90s cutter and a low-90s changeup. He’s also brought exceptional feel for spin. His breaking pitches regularly operate in the upper 2000s and can reach 3000 rpm, giving him the foundation to manipulate shape and create multiple looks off similar cues. Georgia worked to tighten the four-seam fastball by creating more carry at the top of the zone without losing velocity. They added a high-80s sweeper to diversify his breaking shapes and introduced a true changeup to create cleaner separation across his velocity bands.

Strength and direction work lowered Volchko’s arm slot by 3-4 inches and was intended to correct the below-average approach angle on his cut-ride fastball while improving consistency of release. The adjustments were aimed at giving him a fastball that plays truer at the top of the zone and allowing his high spin secondaries to work in more defined lanes.

The power in the arsenal has never been the question. The determining factor is whether the strike-throwing stabilizes and the movement profiles hold their new form. If those gains carry into the spring, Volchko has the ingredients to push into the upper tier of the 2026 class.

Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, Arkansas

• 2026 Draft Ranking: 54

Gaeckle arrived at Arkansas with a reputation for rare arm speed and pure stuff. His first two seasons have reinforced that evaluation. Across 114 innings, Gaeckle has produced a 3.63 ERA with a 30.7% strikeout rate, showing the ability to miss bats in volume even as the delivery and strike-throwing remain inconsistent. 

At roughly 6 feet and 190 pounds, Gaeckle attacks with a drop-and-drive operation from a high three-quarters slot and creates surprising force for his size. The fastball sits in the mid 90s and has reached 99 mph at peak with ride that plays well at the top of the zone.

Gaeckle’s pitch characteristics behind that heater help explain the bat-missing ability. His release height is low for a righty with his velocity, and the flatter attack angle he generates pairs cleanly with the carry. That combination gives hitters a difficult look when he accesses the top of the zone. 

Gaeckle’s slider is his most advanced secondary offering, as it averaged 2,682 rpm in front of Trackman in 2025 and produced a 41% whiff rate with a 36% chase rate. The pitch has sharp action and shows late depth when he stays on top of it. His changeup offers a different challenge. The pitch features significant run and creates nearly two degrees of separation from his fastball while generating a 47% whiff rate in his Trackman sample, giving him a legitimate weapon against lefties.

Gaeckle also mixes a power curveball and maintains enough feel to spin both breaking shapes. The question centers on efficiency. His strike-throwing has been below average and the effort in the delivery introduces volatility from outing to outing. 

The raw ingredients are clear and the pitch data supports a high-octane pitch mix. If Gaeckle can stabilize the command and hold his shapes more consistently, he has the arsenal to factor prominently in the 2026 class.

Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 55

Carlon has been one of the more significant year-over-year risers in the class after transforming himself from a low-leverage reliever in 2024 into one of the top strikeout arms in college baseball last spring. His sophomore season produced a 3.33 ERA with a 38.7% strikeout rate across 54 innings, good a top-five mark nationally among pitchers with at least 50 innings. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, he presents a large, downhill look on the mound and works primarily off a fastball and gyro slider.

Carlon’s release height is among the highest in the Top 100, trailing only Florida State’s Trey Beard (see below). That vantage point helps create angle even though his extension is modest. The fastball averaged 94 mph in 2025, reaching 98 and generating sufficient ride to stay above barrels despite the steeper release. The pitch plays best when elevated and has enough life to avoid the dead-zone look that can accompany a tall lefty without elite extension.

The slider is Carlon’s defining pitch. It operates in the mid 80s with a true gyro profile, and he leaned on it heavily, throwing it close to half the time. Hitters managed a 56% miss rate against it and batted .163, making it one of the most effective breaking balls in the country on a rate basis. The shape is firm, late and consistent, which explains the reliance. Carlon also has a slower curveball and a mid-80s changeup, but he deploys both sparingly, and neither has yet shown the predictability or depth required for a full starter’s mix.

For Carlon to move from high-octane relief arm to viable rotation piece, he will need more breadth in the arsenal. The fastball and slider form a powerful foundation, and the delivery and release point give him a look that many lefties cannot replicate. The next step is adding a secondary he can land and trust early in counts, which would allow his two plus weapons to hold their performance deeper into outings.

Trey Beard, LHP, Florida State

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 75

Beard was one of the most effective starters in the country last spring, and his data places him among the most unique arms in the 2026 class. He delivered a 3.14 ERA across 16 appearances with 118 strikeouts in 86 innings, good for a 34.4% strikeout rate and one of the highest bat-missing outputs in Division I. Now at Florida State, the lefthander brings an operation and release profile few college pitchers can match.

Beard’s delivery works from a straight-over-the-top slot and produces a 6-foot-9 release point, which is the highest among all Top 100 pitchers. That angle is especially unusual for a lefty and creates a visual challenge that hitters rarely see. His fastball sits in the low 90s, yet the pitch plays significantly firmer due to the combination of carry and entry angle. Beard averaged 20.8 inches of induced vertical break, a standout measure for a pitcher whose slot would typically create a steeper plane. Hitters struggled to pick it up, whiffing at a 28% rate in Trackman games with a 35% chase rate.

Beard’s changeup is the separator. He maintains full arm speed and generates roughly 2.5 degrees of separation off the fastball. The pitch produced a 46% whiff rate with late tumble and has the characteristics of a true plus offering. It is a difficult change of pace for hitters because the slot and arm speed disguise it until late. 

He complements it with a mid-70s curveball that shows depth and downward action and a distinct slider in the upper 70s with more lateral movement than the curve.

Beard’s arsenal is unconventional but highly effective. The missing ingredient is velocity, yet the pitch shapes, deception and release traits create a package that grades out as one of the most intriguing lefthanded profiles in the class. If the velocity climbs even marginally in 2026, Beard has a chance to pitch himself into a much higher tier.

Ricky Ojeda, LHP, UC Irvine

• 2026 Draft Rankings: No. 82

Ojeda has been one of the most relied-upon relievers on the West Coast since he arrived at UC Irvine. Across two seasons, he has logged 118 innings over 54 appearances with a 3.51 ERA and a 31.3% strikeout rate, operating almost exclusively in leverage situations for the Anteaters. His 2025 workload continued into the summer, as he dominated in the Cape Cod League and for Team USA, striking out 20 in 10 scoreless innings across the two stops.

Ojeda is undersized at roughly 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, yet his fastball is one of the most deceptive offerings in the class. The pitch comes out with carry and a flat approach angle that plays at the top of the zone, and he has touched 96 mph with more consistent low-90s velocity this fall. He generated the highest fastball whiff rate in Trackman environments among Top 100 college pitcher—a data point that reflects how well the shape and angle work together despite modest physical stature. The heater forms the core of his attack, and he leans on it heavily because it continues to generate misses even when hitters know it is coming.

Ojeda has the ability to manipulate spin off the same release. He throws a soft curveball in the low 70s with defined shape and a harder slider around 80 that shows later action. Both pitches serve primarily as change-of-pace looks off the fastball window. He also mixes a split changeup near 80 mph with tumbling life that gives him a neutralizer against righthanded hitters. His strikethrowing has held at an adequate level for two seasons, and the delivery is repeatable enough that starting is not out of the question even though his usage has been almost entirely in relief.

UC Irvine plans to give Ojeda a shot at its Friday night role in 2026. If the fastball shape holds over longer outings and the secondary consistency improves, he has the pitch characteristics to move well up draft boards in the spring.

Aidan Knaak, RHP, Clemson

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 85

Knaak has been a steady presence in Clemson’s rotation for two seasons and has already handled one of the heavier workloads in the ACC. He was dominant as a freshman with a 3.35 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 83.1 innings, then followed with a 4.18 mark and 110 strikeouts over 90.1 innings in 2025. The strike-throwing has remained consistent, and the pitch usage reflects a clear understanding of how his arsenal works.

His fastball grades out closer to average in pure quality. The pitch shows solid carry with a more neutral approach angle and does not generate the type of whiff volume seen from the upper tier of fastballs in the class. It functions more as a tone setter than a bat-misser. The shape, however, creates ideal contrast for his changeup, which is the defining pitch in his mix. 

Knaak produces roughly three degrees of separation between his fastball and changeup, and the offspeed comes with late fade and tumble. He uses the pitch with advanced feel, and it generated a 50% whiff rate and 36% chase rate in Trackman games. It is one of the most reliable changeups in the class because he locates it with intent and maintains arm speed.

Knaak also mixes a curveball and a slider, though both sit behind the changeup in consistency and shape. Each pitch flashes utility, but neither has yet developed into a true third offering that can be relied on in leverage counts. Continued progress in one of those offspeeds will be important for his long-term profile given how changeup-centric the current mix is.

The delivery holds up, the strike-throwing is stable and the changeup is a legitimate separator. If Knaak can firm up one of the breaking balls, he has the potential to make a sizable jump in 2026 because the foundation built around the changeup is already in place.

Ryan Marohn, LHP, NC State

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 93

Marohn, who was added to our 2026 Top 100 in October, pairs one of the cleanest strike-throwing records in the class with a well-sequenced four-pitch mix. At 6-foot-2 and 185 pound, he works from a three-quarters slot with a delivery that repeats and allows him to attack the zone. 

His low-90s fastball has solid carry and generated a 31% chase rate and a 22% whiff rate despite modest velocity. The offering is helped by the angles he creates even without standout extension.

Marohn supports the heater with three viable swing-and-miss secondaries. His low-80s changeup shows fade and tumble and produced a 47% chase rate in Trackman games. His upper-70s curveball has depth and created a 37% miss rate, while his mid-80s slider flashes lateral action. 

The mix is balanced and the strike-throwing is already in place. Marohn may not have the premium velocity of the top arms in the class, but he sequences cleanly, keeps all of his pitches in the zone and misses enough bats to profile as a legitimate starter.

Coastal Carolina Chasing More History

Coastal Carolina enters 2026 chasing more history under Kevin Schnall, who last year became the first coach ever to win BA’s College Coach of the Year award in his first season as a Division I head coach. 

The Chanticleers won 56 games and reached the national championship series behind one of the best pitching staffs in the country and the all-around excellence of catcher Caden Bodine, who was one of the most well-rounded backstops in the nation. With a strengthened returning core and a staff Schnall believes can again be elite, Coastal looks positioned to remain on college baseball’s biggest stage.

According to Schnall, five key position players return and have each taken noticeable steps forward physically:

• Blake Barthol hit .274/.387/.468 with a team-high 12 home runs.
• Colby Thorndyke produced a .303/.395/.445 line with four homers and 18 doubles.
• Walker Mitchell reached base at a .443 clip.
• Dean Mihos posted the team’s best batting average at .332/.418/.453.
• Blagen Pado added power with a .267/.364/.543 line and eight home runs.

Schnall told Baseball America that all five appear “primed for an even better season this year,” noting they look bigger, stronger and faster than they did a year ago.

The weekend rotation is set to feature Cameron Flukey, one of the top pitching prospects in the 2026 draft class, along with lefthander Hayden Johnson and righthander Ross Norman, a transfer from Georgia State. Johnson posted a 2.82 ERA with 55 strikeouts and 18 walks in 38.1 innings last season, all in relief. 

“This staff could rival our elite rotation from last year,” Schnall told BA.

The bullpen returns four important arms who combined for 117.1 innings: Ryan Lynch, Dominick Carbone, Darin Horn and Scott Doran. Lynch (0.56), Carbone (2.36) and Horn (2.73) were dominant, while Doran flashed significant promise in 17.1 innings. Flukey, Carbone, Lynch and Doran were kept on lighter workloads this fall.

Horn has been one of the most improved arms on the roster. He now features a sinker, slider and cutter, the last of which is new to his arsenal. Schnall said Horn’s mechanics are more synced up, producing more consistent strikes with the slider and rounding out his mix.

With a reinforced lineup, a top-tier rotation core and a bullpen anchored by outstanding returners, Coastal Carolina again looks capable of contending for another historic season in 2026.

Wake Forest Hopeful Pitching Will Shine In 2026

Wake Forest has garnered a reputation as one of the nation’s premier programs for pitchers thanks to significant investment into its player development on that side of the ball. After ranking fifth in the ACC last year in ERA, the Demon Deacons are confident they can return to nationally-ranked dominance on the mound.

Demon Deacons coach Tom Walter told Baseball America his squad has a chance to be “elite on the mound.” He credited the impact of first-year pitching coach and program alum Eric Niese and first-year pitching lab coordinator and director of player development Ezra Bye, the two of which Walter said have “done a great job elevating everyone on the staff.”

Added Walter: “In terms of velo, pitch shapes and pitch packages we will have as many weapons as anyone in the country.”

The centerpiece is righthander Blake Morningstar, who posted a 3.87 ERA in 79 innings last season and has taken a notable step forward. Morningstar has refined his arsenal so that his two- and four-seam fastballs now show clearer separation in movement profiles, and he also added a sweeper that has already posted standout metrics. Walter’s confidence in him is immense as Wake prepares to build its rotation around a more complete and more deceptive version of one of its most reliable arms.

Walter is equally optimistic about the team’s defense, saying Wake Forest should be “as good as we have ever been” with speed up the middle and a strong catching corps.

Offensively, the Demon Deacons return a productive nucleus led by Kade Lewis and Dalton Wentz. They are joined by key returners Austin Hawke, Matt Conte, Luke Costello and Javar Williams—a group that accounted for 47% of Wake Forest’s home runs last season. The lineup also received a boost from the transfer portal with a group of additions in Boston Torres (VMI), Jackson Miller (Ole Miss) and Blake Schaaf (Georgetown), all of whom were highly recruited.

On the mound, Wake added one of the ACC’s most significant transfer arms in Cam Bagwell from UNC Wilmington, giving the staff even more depth.

With a more advanced arsenal across the pitching staff, a strengthened defense behind it and a deep returning lineup supplemented by impact transfers, the Demon Deacons have a realistic path to prominence in 2026.

More Fall Ball Notes

• Illinois State expects to contend in a competitive Missouri Valley Conference, with twin brothers Ryan Bakes and Brayden Bakes at the center of that optimism. Redbirds coach Steve Holm told Baseball America that both brothers “played like draft picks this fall.” Brayden hit .313/.407/.542 with eight home runs, 10 doubles and 26 walks to 28 strikeouts last season. Ryan transferred from South Carolina after logging only 28 at-bats with the Gamecocks, but he produced a loud Northwoods League summer with a .313/.481/.495 line, four home runs, seven steals and 24 walks to 18 strikeouts in 29 games. Holm, who caught 52 major league games between 2008 and 2011, said Ryan improved his operation behind the plate this fall.
  
• Cal Baptist earned a dominant fall scrimmage win over Arizona State on Nov. 7 in Southern California, beating the Sun Devils 21-5 in the first of two games before tying Game 2, 1-1. The Lancers hit five home runs in the opener, including two from outfielder Ben Castelli. Outfielders Bryce McFeely and Riley Hunsaker and catcher Matt Chavez also homered. Lefthander Cody New threw three shutout innings. While the outcome has no W-L bearing on the season, it’s a strong early sign for a Cal Baptist roster with the pieces to be competitive in 2026. It also marks a difficult showing for an Arizona State team facing significant pressure to perform next spring, though the Sun Devils bounced back nicely in a scrimmage against Grand Canyon on Thursday in Tempe.

Jack Arcamone, C, Georgia

Arcamone broke out in 2025 at Richmond, hitting .355/.463/.675 with 22 doubles, 13 home runs and 62 RBIs, setting career highs across every category. His offensive track record and underlying data make him one of the more intriguing analytic evaluations among college catchers. 

Arcamone produced a 92.9 mph average exit velocity and a 108.1 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, with multiple batted balls clearing 110 mph, confirming the ability to generate real force on contact. The ball leaves his barrel with consistent carry, and his ability to create leverage while pulling the ball in the air allows his strength to translate directly into game power.

He also frequently finds the barrel. His swing path and compact move to contact produce quality impact without excess length, and the metrics align with a hitter who can consistently create efficient contact trajectories. Arcamone chased at a 25% overall clip, reflecting a disciplined but not passive approach that supports his power-first contact style.

He transferred from Richmond to Georgia, where he’s expected to take on a larger share of the catching duties after serving in a part-time role previously. Arcamone’s offensive data already supports a high-level evaluation. More consistent defensive reps will determine whether he can fully anchor his value behind the plate.

Brady Ballinger, 1B, Kansas

Ballinger’s 2025 data places him among rare company. Only three Division I hitters with at least 65 batted-ball events reached all of the following marks last season: an average exit velocity of 89+ mph, 90th percentile EV of 106+, barrel rate above 30%, zone contact rate above 85%, overall contact rate above 80% and air-pull rate above 35%. Those were UT Arlington’s Tyce Armstrong, UCLA shortstop and No. 1 2026 prospect Roch Cholowsky and Ballinger.

Ballinger’s numbers reflect a balance of both high-end impact and consistent contact. He posted an 89.9 mph average exit velocity and a 106.1 mph 90th percentile EV in 2025. His 32.9% barrel rate and 50% hard-hit rate were among the best in the country, while an 85.2% zone contact rate and 80% overall contact rate show he reached those results without selling out for power. His 20.4% chase rate suggests a mostly disciplined approach that lets the strength play inside the zone.

Ballinger’s swing decisions show he picks his spots. He swung at 36.6% of all pitches, with a 69.4% heart swing rate and 59.1% zone swing rate, leaning toward selectivity over volume, though the approach can at times border on passive. The combination of strong contact metrics and disciplined swing choices gives his offensive data the shape of a player capable of producing both frequency and damage.

Ballinger enters his 2026 draft season with one of the most complete data sets among unranked players. His underlying metrics suggest he has a real chance to rise into the Top 100 conversation with continued production.

BRADY. FREAKIN'. BALLINGER.#Big12BSB | @Phillips66Gas pic.twitter.com/sNSBBiQuaQ

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) May 23, 2025

Jayce Dobie, 1B, Nevada

Dobie’s offensive data points to an efficient, high-contact hitter with well-organized impact. He posted an 88.8 mph average exit velocity and a 101.9 mph 90th percentile EV, with a 109.8 mph max that suggests room for higher-end power as he continues to mature physically. His 41% hard-hit rate and 19.7% barrel rate indicate that a meaningful portion of his contact is struck with quality force and precision.

The contact frequency is a clear strength. Dobie made contact on 91.7% of swings in the zone and 84.8% overall, reflecting a short, direct move to the baseball that allows him to stay efficient while maintaining a reasonable swing rate. He swung at 40.6% of pitches overall with a 73.9% heart swing and 63.3% zone swing rate, demonstrating selectivity without falling into passivity. His 21.1% chase rate supports that approach.

Dobie’s batted-ball angles are well above average. He produced a 15.6-degree launch angle on hard-hit balls and a 14.2-degree pullside average, with a 42% air-pull rate, all of which point to an ability to lift and drive the baseball on a consistent trajectory. While the 90th percentile exit velocity does not reach the top tier of college hitters, the overall combination of frequent contact, solid impact, and well-shaped air contact suggests he extracts the most from his strength.

Dobie also pitches for Nevada, but the data clearly underscores that his future value lies at the plate, where his combination of contact skill, leverage and underlying bat speed gives him a productive and efficient offensive foundation.

Trey Hawsey, 1B, Louisiana Tech

Hawsey’s 2025 batted-ball data mirrors that of former Tennessee first baseman Andrew Fischer, now a first-round pick of the Brewers. Both produced near-identical contact and impact metrics in 2025 when Fischer was a junior and Hawsey a freshman. 

Hawsey’s 91.5 mph average exit velocity and 106 mph 90th percentile EV aren’t far behind Fischer’s 93.4 mph and 106.6 mph, with similar max EVs (109.1 vs. 109.7). Their hard-hit rates (53% from Hawsey vs. 60% from Fischer), barrel rates (30.1% from Hawsey vs. 35.7% from Fischer) and air-pull percentages (52.5% vs. 53.2%) also fall in line, as do their hard-hit launch angles (19.1 vs. 23.2 degrees)—numbers that reflect similar power generation and consistent air-ball trajectories to the pull side.

Their swing and approach data line up as well. Hawsey swung at 41.9% of pitches with 76.7% heart and 66.3% zone swing rates, nearly parallel to Fischer’s 39.2/78.7/69.8 breakdown. Both operated with strong chase control (Hawsey 23.7%, Fischer 18.2%) while maintaining steady contact rates (Hawsey 76.7% overall, Fischer 77.3%) and in-zone contact (85.4% vs. 83.7%). On paper, Hawsey’s batted-ball profile sits firmly in the same range as Fischer’s pre-draft breakout season.

The difference between the two lies in how their damage is distributed. Hawsey’s production comes primarily against righthanded pitching, while his impact drops significantly versus lefties. Fischer elevated his value by maintaining nearly identical output from both sides of the mound. Hawsey’s ability to balance that split will be key.

If he can replicate his contact quality against righties when facing same-handed pitching, the underlying data, highlighted by consistent air contact, disciplined swing control and legitimate power markers, suggests a profile capable of high-level offensive production within Conference USA.

Logan Hughes, OF, Texas Tech

Hughes turned in a breakout season at Texas Tech in 2025, hitting .327/.411/.697 with 19 home runs,13 doubles and underlying data that both affirmed that level of impact and suggested more could be on the way. 

He generated a 94.4 mph average exit velocity and a 106.7 mph 90th percentile EV, a set of metrics that point to real strength in a compact 5-foot-11, 197-pound frame. His 62% hard-hit rate and 32% barrel rate reflect a hitter whose swing is frequently on target and does damage.

At the plate, Hughes shows an efficient move to contact with strength through the zone and a controlled approach. He swung at 44.6% of pitches overall, including 75.8% over the heart and 68.8% in the zone, signaling an intent-driven approach that allows him to stay selective while still aggressive in advantage counts. His 23.8% chase rate supports the view that he operates with zone awareness and discipline. Contact rates of 88% in-zone and 84.2% overall confirm a swing built on precision rather than volume.

The batted-ball shape leaves room for additional power. Hughes’ 26.2% air-pull rate and 14.2-degree hard-hit launch angle show his best contact is primarily on a line, with modest lift to the pull side. His current swing path already produces firm line drives, but the underlying strength and balance suggest untapped carry if he lifts the ball even more. 

The data paints the picture of a polished lefthanded hitter with strong bat control, an accurate barrel and enough explosiveness to profile as one of the more advanced offensive players in the Big 12 entering 2026. Hughes could rocket up boards this year.

Owen Hull, OF, North Carolina

Hull transferred from George Mason to North Carolina after a breakout season that included 42 stolen bases and a data profile that places him among the more intriguing power-speed combinations in the country. At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, he is a physical athlete with above-average run ability and enough quickness to at least test center field, though he’s spent most of his time in the corners.

Hull’s batted-ball data suggests legitimate offensive upside. He produced an 87.1 mph average exit velocity and a 104 mph 90th percentile EV as a sophomore in 2025 and paired those with a 46% hard-hit rate and a 20.1% barrel rate, indicating that a substantial share of his contact is firm and productive. 

The swing behavior supports those outcomes. He offered at 43% of pitches overall with a 77.9% heart swing rate and a 67.1% zone swing rate, maintaining steady aggression without losing control. His 24% chase rate, 87.7% zone contact rate and 80.7% overall contact rate round out a stable approach.

Hull’s batted-ball angles show that much of his damage comes on lower trajectories. He posted a 7.1-degree hard-hit launch angle, a 15.9% air-pull rate and a -5-degree average pullside launch angle, meaning his hardest contact often stays on a line or hits the ground rather than lifting. 

Even so, the combination of speed, leverage and impact strength gives him clear indicators of untapped game power. Hull’s athleticism, ability to impact the baseball and run tool make him one of the more interesting transfers in this year’s draft pool.

Wesley Jordan, OF, Texas A&M

Jordan transferred to Texas A&M from Baylor this summer after two productive seasons in the Big 12, hitting .331/.455/.632 in 2024 and .308/.396/.564 in 2025. He will be nearly 24 years old at the time of the 2026 draft, which is a limiting factor for his overall draft value, but the data foundation remains strong enough that continued production in the SEC could still elevate his stock.

Jordan’s underlying metrics reflect consistent, quality contact. He posted a 92.5 mph average exit velocity, a 108.5 mph 90th percentile EV, a 57% hard-hit rate and a 25.8% barrel rate, showing the ability to drive the baseball with real force when squared. 

His 47.9% swing rate, 87.1% heart swing and 77.2% zone swing illustrate an aggressive but efficient approach that keeps him active on hittable pitches. He chased at 25.2%, maintaining reasonable swing decisions while producing 87.7% zone contact and 76.5% overall contact.

The one notable constraint in his offensive data lies in batted-ball shape. Jordan’s 52.9% air-pull rate shows a willingness to lift the ball, but his 15.2-degree hard-hit launch angle and 7.8-degree pullside average indicate that his best contact occurs on line drives rather than consistently elevated balls. 

That helps explain why he produced only 10 home runs despite his strong exit velocity foundation.

Brayden Martin, 3B, Maryland

Martin’s approach is one of the most passive in college baseball, reflected in his 25.9% swing rate, the lowest among all Division I hitters with at least 15 batted-ball events. His offensive identity is built on elite contact precision and zone control rather than aggression. In 2025, he walked 59 times against 24 strikeouts, batting .319 with a .478 on-base percentage, and his data supports that outcome: a 95.3% zone contact rate and 94.7% overall contact rate, both exceptional.

The comparison to former Hawaii outfielder Matt Miura, a 2024 sixth-round pick of the Cardinals, is an instructive one. Both share a high-contact, low-impact offensive model defined by minimal chase and strong barrel accuracy. Their data sets nearly mirror each other, though Martin swings even less frequently and makes slightly firmer contact. Miura posted an 86.8 mph average exit velocity, a 98.3 mph 90th percentile EV and a 26% hard-hit rate, while Martin showed modestly more strength at 86.2 mph, 99.1 mph and 36%, respectively. Miura’s superior air-pull rate (13.3%) and hard-hit launch angle (11.6 degrees) reflect a better ability to lift, whereas Martin’s 20.9% air-pull rate with flatter pullside angles (-9.5 degrees) shows his contact stays mostly on the ground or line.

Martin’s discipline borders on stubbornness, but it is also the core of his success. His 8.4% chase rate underscores elite pitch recognition, and his 48.4% zone swing rate suggests he rarely expands his plan. 

The path forward will require increasing aggression and finding ways to convert contact quality into more extra-base output. He stole 16 bases in the NECBL this summer, a key supplemental skill that could bolster his value if it holds. If he adds even modest lift or damage against velocity, his elite contact efficiency could carry him into earlier draft consideration like it did for Miura in July.

Jack Natili, C, Cincinnati

Natili transferred to Cincinnati after beginning his career at Rutgers, and his sophomore season marked a clear step forward in both production and batted-ball quality. He hit .338/.451/.556 with 14 doubles and nine home runs, setting new career highs across nearly every offensive category. His frame and strength translate to the data, which reflect a balanced combination of impact and approach that should keep him on the radar among draft-eligible catchers.

Natili’s 2025 contact quality was impressive. He produced a 93.1 mph average exit velocity with a 107.5 mph 90th percentile EV and 112.4 mph max, along with a 51% hard-hit rate and 23.1% barrel rate, numbers that support consistent loud contact to all fields. The power foundation is clearly in place. His 45% overall swing rate, 84.2% heart swing rate, and 75.8% zone swing rate show a hitter who hunts strikes aggressively without empty effort, and his 22.8% chase rate suggests he limits unnecessary expansion.

The contact profile is less clean. His 79.5% zone contact rate and 73.2% overall illustrate the room that remains for improving bat-to-ball consistency, while his 13.6-degree hard-hit launch angle and 25.5% air-pull rate point to a relatively neutral batted-ball shape that could benefit from more consistent lift to his pull side.

Behind the plate, Natili is still refining his defensive actions, but his plus arm strength and developing receiving skills suggest a long-term path to staying at catcher. Offensively, the mix of strength, leverage and emerging discipline gives him a real chance to establish himself as one of the better offensive backstops in the 2026 class.

Jack Natili gives that one a ride to keep @GoBearcatsBASE within #Big12BSB | @Phillips66Gas pic.twitter.com/FEYTZh0K88

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) May 22, 2025

Joe Tiroly, 2B, Virginia

Tiroly’s transfer from Rider to Virginia comes after a dominant sophomore season that redefined his offensive profile. He hit .377/.481/.749 with 16 doubles, 18 home runs and 70 RBIs, walking 36 times against 25 strikeouts. The production was supported by one of the more advanced batted-ball data sets among mid-major players and reflects both bat speed and consistency of impact.

Tiroly posted a 93.1 mph average exit velocity with a 107.5 mph 90th percentile EV and 112.4 mph max, paired with a 51% hard-hit rate and 23.1% barrel rate. The combination of contact regularity and quality places him among the most productive returning hitters in the class. His swing decisions are assertive without being reckless—he swung at 45% of pitches overall with an 84.2% heart swing rate and 75.8% zone swing rate, expanding at a manageable 22.8% chase rate.

While his contact rates (79.5% in-zone, 73.2% overall) are solid, Tiroly’s underlying batted-ball shape could still be refined. His 13.6-degree hard-hit launch angle and 25.5% air-pull rate suggest a relatively neutral trajectory and room to add more consistent lift, especially to the pull side, to better access his raw power.

The 6-foot, 200-pounder combines strength with compact athleticism and a swing built for high exit velocities. His track record of contact quality, plate discipline and game power makes him one of the more intriguing bats to transition from mid-major to ACC competition, where sustained data performance could elevate him into early round consideration.

Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 1

Cholowsky enters the 2026 draft cycle as the top player in the class with a complete data foundation and the defensive certainty clubs covet in a top-of-the-draft shortstop. The actions at short are easy and fully formed. He plays low to the ground with clean glove presentation, advanced footwork and internal clock and a short, accurate arm stroke that produces carry from multiple angles. The pace and decision-making separate him. UCLA coach John Savage publicly referenced Brandon Crawford when describing Cholowsky’s defensive presence, and the comparison aligns with how he organizes the field and manages tempo. There is no projection question about where he plays.

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Cholowsky’s offensive profile is supported by one of the most convincing batted-ball datasets in recent college classes. Cholowsky, who hit .353/.480/.710 with 23 home runs and 45 walks to 30 strikeouts last season en route to being named Baseball America’s College Player of the Year, produced a 91.5 mph average exit velocity with a 106.5 mph 90th percentile mark. He paired a 54% hard-hit rate and 31.3% barrel rate with an 89% zone contact rate and 81.7% overall contact rate while also lifting the ball with intent, shown in his 44.3% air-pull rate. He was the only hitter in the country to reach all of those thresholds. The bat speed, contact frequency and contact quality allow him to profile without needing mechanical overhaul.

He will chase at times, and the approach in Japan with Team USA showed some timing drift against offspeed pitches, though that trip was a uniform struggle for the roster. The two-strike approach remains competitive and adaptable. Cholowsky’s overall profile is that of a shortstop with above-average defensive reliability and a hitter with top-tier contact and impact markers. He should be one of college baseball’s best offensive players in 2026.

Derek Curiel, OF, LSU

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 5

Curiel arrived at LSU with one of the more polished hit tools in the class, and it immediately translated against SEC competition. He hit .345/.470/.519 with seven home runs and 20 doubles while serving as the team’s everyday left fielder and leadoff hitter. The swing is simple with a direct path and few moving parts, producing consistent line-drive contact rather than targeted lift. After adding strength over the offseason, he is expected to move to center field this spring, and evaluators anticipate at least average outfield defense with efficient routes and above-average feel for timing plays off the bat.

Curiel’s offensive identity is rooted in swing decisions and contact quality. His 34% overall swing rate reflects a patient approach that can veer passive, but his contact skill is among the best in the class. Last season, he made contact on 94.7% of swings in the zone and 85.8% overall—both well above college first-round benchmarks. His 51% hard-hit rate and 89.9 mph average exit velocity, paired with a 104.1 mph 90th percentile, indicate that added strength is already materializing into firmer contact. His 31.8% air-pull rate and lower average launch angles support the observation that he generates flush contact but without consistent lift intent.

The developmental focus lies in how often Curiel is able to inflict damage. His 51.3% zone-swing and 56.6% heart-swing rates show an extremely tight approach that values base-reaching but leaves power untapped in hitter’s counts. The underlying markers suggest at least average raw power and the ability to access more if he selectively hunts lift in counts designed for damage.

Curiel projects as a high-contact, top-of-the-order profile with room to grow in impact if he refines when and how he looks to elevate.

Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 16

Burress has been a divisive evaluation for clubs due to his shorter stature. Despite the frame questions, Burress has produced high-level impact against ACC pitching and enters the spring as one of the more data-forward outfield bats in the class.

Burress is a selective but intentional swinger. His 36.8% overall swing rate shows he does not chase offense through volume. Instead, he targets pitches he can drive. 

His 70.3% heart-swing and 62% zone-swing rates land around average for impact bats while supporting an approach built around controlling damage windows. He chased only 19.8% of the time, which is comfortably better than typical power profiles. 

When he goes, the quality of contact stands out. Last season, Burress posted a 91.7 mph average exit velocity and 106.9 mph 90th percentile with a 52% hard-hit rate and 24.9% barrel rate. Each of those numbers indicates real strength in the hands and forearms with efficient bat speed.

The batted-ball shape is geared toward carry. Burress posted a 57.6% air-pull rate and a 14.7 degree average launch angle to the pull side, reflecting a deliberate attempt to lift and drive the baseball. The consistency of his barrel direction is a positive indicator for translating to wood, though the margin for timing error will tighten at the next level. Clubs that are skeptical cite the possibility that velocity at scale and professional breaking ball depth could limit how often he gets to his damage contact. Supporters see an efficient move, true strength and a well-structured batted-ball profile that is difficult to coach into players who lack it.

Burress enters the year as a data-supported power bat with clear conviction in approach and lift intent.

Caden Bogenpohl, OF, Missouri State

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 38

Bogenpohl fits into a well-defined physical and offensive archetype shared by recent Guardians draft picks Jace LaViolette and Nolan Schubart. All three are extra-large outfield profiles with real strength and plus raw power. 

Bogenpohl’s quality of contact data from his sophomore season aligns closely with that group. He posted a 94.2 mph average exit velocity and a 110.4 mph 90th percentile exit velocity. His 55% hard-hit rate supports the strength-driven contact profile. The bat speed and strength traits are evident and allow him to produce impact without needing to maximize swing length or external effort.

Where Bogenpohl’s profile diverges significantly is in batted-ball shape and contact consistency. His overall contact rate (69.6%) and zone-contact rate (76.9%) trail both LaViolette and Schubart, which places more pressure on the impact contact he does generate. 

Bogenpohl’s groundball rate of 46.2% is significantly higher than LaViolette’s (25.9%) and Schubart’s (19.6%). His hard-hit launch angles and pullside launch angles are notably lower, as well, which shows that much of his best contact is occurring on flatter or downward planes. His 26.5% air-pull rate reinforces the observation that he has not yet accessed his power consistently in the air.

The chase behavior is well above average. He chased 16% of pitches overall, and his two-strike chase rates are in line with LaViolette and Schubart. The developmental question is whether or not he can make more contact and how efficiently he can reshape his angles to convert power into more power production.

Bogenpohl enters the year as a high-exit-velocity center fielder with real strength and room for meaningful gains if he can adjust the swing plane to reduce ground balls and access more frequent pullside lift.

Maddox Molony, SS, Oregon

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 39

Molony has produced across two seasons at Oregon with a .314/.405/.569 line and 25 home runs. The foundation of his offensive profile is contact efficiency. Molony’s 90.8% zone-contact rate and 81% overall contact rate are comfortably above the college baselines, reflecting a direct swing with minimal length and reliable barrel entry. 

The swing decisions are assertive. A 47.7% overall swing rate paired with an 80.5% heart-swing and 76.2% zone-swing rate show he is proactively getting off swings at hittable strikes rather than operating passively or in react mode. Still, he limited chases to a 24.6% clip in 2025, which is moderate.

The contact quality shows real pullside intent. His 50.9% air-pull rate supports a swing geared to access the left-field line and left-center gap rather than working line to line. His 88.3 mph average exit velocity and 102.9 mph 90th percentile are closer to average among hitters in the top half of the class, while the 40% hard-hit rate and 20% barrel rate indicate that his best contact presents as selectively strong rather than universally loud. 

The average launch and impact patterns suggest that the power he gets is primarily a product of how often he gets to the pullside air window rather than raw force.

A 33.1% chase rate with two strikes shows some approach leakage when behind. Overall, though, Molony is an athletic middle infielder with above-average contact skills.

Carson Tinney, C, Texas

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 43

Tinney’s profile is built on baseball-melting power that shows up consistently in the data. The contact he produces at peak is among the firmest in the class. Tinney posted a 95.8 mph average exit velocity and a 111.1 mph 90th percentile with a 115.6 mph max in 2025. His 58% hard-hit rate and 31.5% barrel rate show that when his swing connects, it produces top-end damage. 

A 55.8% air-pull rate with a 17.7-degree hard-hit launch angle indicate that his best contact is already organized in the air to the pull side rather than needing swing-path rework to access the power.

The question is how often he’ll get to it. Tinney’s overall contact rate sits at 69.4% with a 79.4% rate in-zone. The approach is not reckless. His 39.3% swing rate and 20.8% chase rate show he is not expanding wildly or chasing power outcomes. 

Reports out of the fall at Texas indicated a return to loud contact after a poor summer on the Cape, consistent with his underlying strength and bat speed.

Steven Milam, SS, LSU

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 57

Milam’s contact profile is built on frequency and barrel accuracy rather than raw impact. His 89.3 mph average exit velocity and 102.2 mph 90th percentile show that his hardest contact does not reach the top end of the class, but the ball comes off his bat with steady firmness. The contact rates are the defining feature. He made contact on 91.8% of swings in the zone and 84.8% of swings overall, which reflects a swing that finds the ball often.

The batted-ball shape supports how his production is built. Milam works to the pull side in the air. 

Milam’s developmental focus is approach-based. He makes contact on much of what he chooses to hit, but LSU’s coaches would like to see him be more aggressive on pitches thrown in favorable locations. Last season, he posted a 66.7% heart-swing rate, which was below average. He also chased at a 24.5% clip, which is solid but far from elite.

Milam does not profile as a top-end power producer, but the underlying marker is that the process to create contact is stable, the angles are repeatable and the athleticism supports continued refinement. The path forward lies in leveraging those traits to convert swing decisions into more frequent damage outcomes.

Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 70

Helfrick enters the spring in the mix for the top catcher spot in the class with a profile that blends defensive stability and emerging offensive indicators. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn told Baseball America that Helfrick’s receiving took another step forward this fall and that he will call his own game this season—a notable marker of trust in his field awareness and handling. The arm strength and overall catching skills give him a real pathway to stay behind the plate.

Offensively, the contact quality suggests more impact may be coming. His 87.2 mph average exit velocity last season sits near the middle of the college range, but his 106.3 mph 90th percentile exit velocity shows there is real strength in the bat when he gets to his best contact. The 50% hard-hit rate supports that, too. 

His barrel rate (16.9%) did not separate last year, but his batted-ball angles did. He created a 22.3 degree launch angle on his hard-hit balls and an average 13.1-degree launch angle to the pull side.

The swing decisions point to intent without over-expansion. Helfrick swung at 78.8% of pitches over the heart and 72.3% in the zone, while chasing at a 21.3% clip. The contact rates are lighter at 78.3% in-zone and 69.8% overall, which places more emphasis on how often he can get to the contact that produces his stronger batted-ball outcomes.

Van Horn said Helfrick was Arkansas’ best offensive performer this fall. The data from 2025 supports the idea that his strength, swing decisions and batted-ball shape give him a chance to show more damage if the contact rate improves.

Aiden Robbins, OF, Texas

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 87

Robbins’ contact is consistently firm. He posted a 91.5 mph average exit velocity and a 107.1 mph 90th percentile with a 109.8 mph max in 2025. He recorded a 48% hard-hit rate and a 25.2% barrel rate, which indicates that a large share of his balls in play were struck with significant force.

His swing decisions show he is selective about when to unleash but does not get passive in the zone. He swung at 42.2% of pitches overall, with an 80.0% swing rate on pitches over the heart and a 69.5% swing rate in the strike zone. His 20.6% chase rate shows limited expansion outside the zone.

The contact rates reflect frequent ball-in-play outcomes. He made contact on 87.1% of his swings in the zone and 79.6% of swings overall.

The batted-ball direction is less air-pull oriented. His 30.2% air-pull rate shows that a smaller portion of his airborne contact occurred to the pull side compared to players who produced similar exit velocities. But the swing decisions, contact purity and raw strength are all working in the favor of the 6-foot-2, 190-pound outfielder.

Myles Bailey, 1B, Florida State

• 2026 Draft Ranking: No. 94

Bailey is a 6-foot-4, 265-pound lefthanded hitter whose offensive identity is built around top-of-the-scale raw power. He showed 70-grade raw power as a high schooler and carried it directly into college, homering 19 times as a freshman at Florida State.

The batted-ball data reflects the strongest impact contact in the class. Among college hitters with at least 100 batted-ball events in 2025, Bailey led the country in average exit velocity (96.9 mph) and ranked second in 90th percentile exit velocity (112.1 mph). The contact he produces when the barrel arrives is consistently gaudy, and his swing path is constructed to access that strength. The move to the ball is steep, producing high carry and long flight when with home runs leaving the bat to all fields.

Bailey’s swing characteristics that create that power also show up in the swing-and-miss. He struck out at a 31% rate in 2025, and his overall contact rate was 59%, which is well below average, even for a power hitter. The mismatch between contact frequency and the impact level of the contact he does produce is central to his offensive profile.

Bailey produces the hardest and most damaging contact in the class, and he will need to increase contact frequency to fully access the value of that power.

1. Vanderbilt

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 7

The Commodores boast the top recruiting class in the country led by a whopping seven players who rank inside the top 100 on our 2026 MLB Draft rankings. The top pitcher in the class is righthander Joseph Contreras, who is the son of 11-year big leaguer Jose Contreras. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, Joseph has exciting “now” stuff to go along with plenty of physical projection. His fastball has been up to 98 mph, and he pairs it with a low-to-mid-80s slider that flashes plus, as well as a mid-70s forkball and low-80s changeup.

On the other side of the baseball, Aiden Ruiz is the best defensive shortstop in the class. Ruiz looks the part of a professional shortstop, and on the dirt, he has quick feet with soft hands and smooth actions. He has the arm strength to handle the position and has shown a knack for making SportsCenter-esque, highlight-reel plays. At the dish, Ruiz has a line drive-oriented stroke from both sides of the plate. He has present bat speed and high-level contact skills, and his power at this point is geared more towards extra-base hits than it is home runs.

Shifting from the dirt to the grass, outfielder Noah Wilson has a pro body with present strength and some projection remaining. He possesses an enticing toolset, headlined by his combination of speed and athleticism. Wilson has shown he can drive the baseball from gap to gap, and he could eventually grow into being a 20-25 home run threat. A plus runner, Wilson’s speed translates well both on the basepaths and in the outfield.

Fellow outfielder Eric Booth Jr. is a “toolshed” in every sense of the phrase. An outstanding athlete, he has a unique swing and big-time bat speed. If he can pull the ball in the air more, Booth Jr. could eventually grow into above-average power. A true difference-maker with his legs, Booth Jr. routinely turns in double-plus run times.

Shortstop Keon Johnson stands out for his exceptional bat speed and advanced approach. He can already impact the baseball, but it’s easy to envision him getting even stronger as he continues to mature physically. He has demonstrated an advanced feel for the strike zone to go along with polished swing decisions and slightly above-average contact skills. Johnson doesn’t have an individual tool that jumps off the page, but he’s a well-rounded player.

Righthander Eli Herst is a prototypical projection arm. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Herst has a fast arm with room to continue to fill out. His fastball has been up to 93 mph, but it plays up thanks to his plus extension. He rounds out his three-pitch mix with a slider and changeup, and it’s easy to envision his entire arsenal taking a sizable step forward, both in velocity and dynamism, as he continues to add strength to his frame.

Canadian southpaw Sean Duncan impressed this fall in Jupiter, and it’s easy to see why he has a chance to be selected inside the first two or three rounds. At 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, Duncan has a lean, high-waisted frame with plenty of projection remaining. He has a loose, repeatable delivery and attacks out of a three-quarters slot with an appealing ease to his operation. Duncan’s fastball has been up to 95 mph, and plays particularly well in the top half of the zone thanks to its riding life. His moneymaker is a low-80s slider that has no-doubt plus potential. Not only is there a lot to like now with Duncan, but there’s just as much to dream on.

2. LSU

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 4

LSU is one of very few programs in the country that has it “figured out” across all facets. Coach Jay Johnson and his staff are experts at navigating the transfer portal, though they also know how to recruit and develop their homegrown talent at as high a level as anyone. Most importantly, the entire program embodies what it means to be a winner. The Tigers have captured two of the last three national championships and show no signs of slowing down.

The Tigers’ 2026 class is headlined by the one-two punch of lefthander Logan Schmidt and righthander Jensen Hirschkorn. Schmidt is a 6-foot-4 southpaw who will still be just 17 years old on draft day. He has a repeatable delivery and features a fastball that’s been up to 97 mph to go along with a slurvy high-70s-to-low-80s breaking ball. Schmidt uses it almost exclusively against righthanded hitters. His changeup is an intriguing offering with above-average upside. It sits in the mid-to-upper-80s, and it’s a pitch he throws with conviction.

Hirschkorn was a recent pickup for LSU, and his draft stock seems to improve with each passing day. This summer at the Area Code Games, Hirschkorn was flat-out untouchable and fired three perfect innings in which all nine outs came by way of the strikeout. At 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, he has an ideal pitcher’s frame with ample projection remaining. His fastball has been up to 96 mph, and both of his breaking balls—a low-80s slider and a mid-to-upper-80s changeup—are viable swing-and-miss pitches. Hirschkorn falls into a number of positive buckets. He possesses a blend of strikes, stuff and projection, and he looks the part of a potential future first-round pick.

Not to be outdone, 6-foot-5 righthander Cooper Sides also has a lot to dream on. Sides has a whippy arm stroke and attacks out of a low three-quarters slot. His fastball this summer was up to 95 mph, and he pairs it with a low-80s slider that flashes late teeth and a mid-80s changeup.

LSU’s group of position players is headlined by outfielder Malachi Washington. Washington is one of the best pure athletes in the class, and he has a chance to be a plus defender in center field. A plus runner with a plus arm, he also has a quick first step and tons of range in all directions. In the box, Washington has above-average bat speed and some present strength below the elbows, but his hit tool could use a coat or two of polish. 

3. Tennessee

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 4

The last two months have been perhaps the most eventful stretch in Tennessee baseball history thanks to the departure of Tony Vitello. However, the Volunteers, due in large part to naming former recruiting coordinator Josh Elander their next head coach, were able to keep their immensely talented 2026 class entirely intact.

The straw that stirs the drink—both within this year’s Tennessee’s class and on every team he’s a part of—is outfielder Trevor Condon. I was familiar with Condon before this year’s WWBA World Championship, but I became enamored with him after my impressive in-person look. A sparkplug in every sense of the word, Condon has an athletic frame with strength and impact—particularly to the pull side—packed into it. He is a prototypical top-of-the-order tablesetter who has an explosive and twitchy operation in the box with no-doubt plus bat speed to go along with a feel for the barrel and high-level bat-to-ball skills.

Condon’s tantalizing combination of speed and athleticism translates well to center field. He has plenty of gap-to-gap range and can really go and get the baseball. If he can shore up his routes by taking more efficient and crisp paths to the baseball, he has a chance to become an impact defender. As a nice cherry on top, Condon’s on-field makeup is outstanding. His baseball sense is advanced, and he plays the game with his hair on fire. Condon has an unbelievably high motor and does not take a single pitch off. It feels like he’s always involved in some capacity.

Texas native Cole Koeninger is one of the top two-way players in the class. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, he has an athletic, pro body. In the box, he’s an aggressive hitter with present bat speed who has shown the ability to generate quality contact on a regular basis. He’s also a plus runner with a plus arm at shortstop. On the mound, Koeninger’s fastball has been up to 97 mph to go along with a sharp, low-80s curveball that he spins well.

The son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome, shortstop Landon Thome is one of the better pure hitters in the class. Landon has a loose, easy swing from the left side with—you guessed it—plus power to the pull side. His power as a whole grades out above-average. On the dirt, his defensive skillset could profile better at second or third base professionally. Thome has been a consistent performer on the summer circuit, headlined by a loud showing at the 2025 Area Code Games.

Standing at an imposing 6-foot-8 and 210 pounds, righthander Gary Morse features a fastball that sits in the mid 90s and has been up to 97 mph. It plays particularly well and generates the vast majority of its swing-and-miss when located in the top half of the zone. Morse primarily pairs his heater with a mid-80s changeup that flashes both tumble and fade. It’s rather easy to envision it evolving into an eventual plus pitch. However, Morse will need to develop a viable third pitch. He’ll flash an upper-70s curveball, though it lacks teeth and putaway traits. In what is the case with anyone his size, Morse will need to work to keep his long limbs in-sync throughout his operation.

4. Texas

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 3

The Longhorns put together the top 2025 recruiting class, and their 2026 class is not far behind. Coach Jim Schlossnagle and his staff have hit the ground running in Austin, and it feels like Texas will be dog-piling in Omaha before long.

The crown jewel of this year’s class is prized shortstop Grady Emerson. The top-ranked high school player in the country, Emerson is in the conversation to be selected first overall this July. A 6-foot-2, 180-pound lefthanded-hitting shortstop, Emerson has a well-rounded set of tools and emphatically checks almost every box. He’s an advanced pure hitter with an advanced approach and a quick, smooth swing. He doesn’t get too jumpy or trigger happy, and he’s comfortable using the entire field. Emerson already has present bat speed, and he figures to grow into more over-the-fence power as he continues to fill out. Defensively, Emerson profiles as a slam dunk to stick at shortstop long term. He’s a plus runner with sound actions, an advanced internal clock and more than enough arm strength to handle the position.

Righthander Trey Rangel is a high-level athlete with high-octane stuff. There’s some effort in his delivery, but he has no-doubt plus arm speed and features a fastball that’s been up to 98 mph with both run and ride through the zone. Rangel also features a banger slider that sits in the low 80s. Routinely eclipsing 3,000 rpms, it’s a comfortably-plus pitch that generates whiffs against both righthanded and lefthanded hitters. He completes his arsenal with a firm changeup that’s a rather distant third offering at this point. There’s some reliever risk with Rangel due to the effort in his delivery and spotty command, but his fastball-slider combination is one of the more dynamic one-two punches in the class.

Corner infielder Beau Peterson stands out for his power, and it’s a tool he doesn’t need to sell out to get to. He has a strong, physical build and has shown the ability to drive the baseball with authority to all fields. However, he’ll need to hit enough to be able to get to his power consistently on a game-to-game basis. Peterson’s defensive profile is a little bit more murky. He has an above-average arm at third base, but his actions likely translate best either at first or in a corner outfield spot professionally.

5. Florida

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 3

It’s no secret that it’s been a tumultuous last few weeks in Gainesville. On Oct. 22, it was announced that Gators coach Kevin O’Sullivan would be taking a leave of absence. A little over a week later, news broke that former associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Chuck Jeroloman would be taking the same role at Tennessee. Nonetheless, the Gators still boast a top five recruiting class heading into National Signing Day.

Outfielder Brady Harris has a number of impact tools and has shown the ability to play a premium position at a high level. He has no shortage of bat speed and raw power, though he’ll need to refine his pitch recognition skills and general hittability. There’s a lot of swing-and-miss in his game, and he’ll need to show he can put the ball in play on a consistent enough basis to generate quality contact in-game. In center field, Harris is a plus runner with a plus arm who has ample gap-to-gap range.

Fellow outfielder Kevin Roberts Jr. is one of the youngest players in the class and has a frame to dream on. With Roberts’ bat speed and physical projection, it’s easy to project on him growing into comfortably-plus raw power. However, Roberts Jr. struggles to pick up spin out of the hand and has some hit tool questions. Nonetheless, he’s a plus runner with a plus arm and at least plus raw power.

Six-foot-eight righthander Denton Lord has loads of upside, and the towering righthander has already run his fastball up to 97 mph. Lord has present arm speed, and his fastball figures to continue to tick up. He supplements his heater with a mid-to-upper-70s curveball that flashes downward bite and rounds out his arsenal with a seldom-used changeup.

6. Miami

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 2

Miami’s recruiting class fits into the “quality over quantity” bucket, and there’s no shortage of high-end talent at the top of the Hurricanes’ class.

Shortstop Jacob Lombard has long been viewed as a premier player in the class, and he’s one of the best pure athletes in this year’s draft. The 6-foot-3 Lombard is a double-plus runner who’s also flashed plus raw power, but he’ll need to shore up his hit tool to be able to tap into it regularly. There were serious swing-and-miss issues this summer, and his profile is accompanied by some concern about what the quality of his hit tool will end up being. Lombard shines at shortstop, where his elite athleticism jumps off the page. He has quick feet with more than enough arm strength to stick at the position, and he looks like a slam dunk to play there professionally. Lombard’s ceiling is sky-high, and he very well could be picked in the top half of the first round this year.

Southpaw Gio Rojas is one of the best prep pitchers in the class and could be one of the first few arms off the board this July. At 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, Rojas has a prototypical pitcher’s frame with projection remaining, and he features an easy, repeatable delivery with tremendous arm speed. Rojas’ fastball is his go-to offering and has been up to 98 mph, and he also features a high-spin low-80s slider that has plus potential and a low-80s changeup.

To supplement Lombard on the dirt, fellow shortstop Rookie Shepard has top-five-round upside in this year’s draft. Over the last calendar year, Shepard has grown into more pullside power. It was accompanied by an uptick in swing-and-miss, but he has advanced hand-eye coordination and has shown the ability to pepper all parts of the field with line drives. Shepard has a sound defensive skillset at shortstop, but he could slide over to second base as he progresses through pro ball.

7. Wake Forest

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 3

Despite former pitching coach Corey Muscara leaving to take over as head coach at Duke, coach Tom Walter and his staff still managed to put together a top-notch recruiting class.

The class is led by lefthander Carson Bolemon, who’s one of the best prep pitchers in this year’s draft. A southpaw that fits into the “strikes and stuff” bucket, Bolemon features a fastball that’s been up to 96 mph, as well as a pair of distinct breaking balls. His upper-70s-to-low-80s curveball flashes impressive depth, while his low-80s slider flashes sharp two-plane tilt. He has an advanced feel for his entire arsenal and certainly looks the part of a potential future first-round pick.

Catcher Andrew Costello is old for the class and turns 19 in January, but he would be quite the get for the Demon Deacons should he make it to campus. Costello has a compact, physical build with a quick swing from the right side. He has plenty of strength in his wrists and forearms, his barrel accelerates through the hitting zone and his highest quality of contact comes to the pull side. Behind the plate, Costello has compact footwork with an above-average arm and advanced catch-and-throw skills. What is perhaps a separator with Costello is his mighty advanced feel for the game. He doesn’t take a pitch off, and his baseball IQ stands out.

Six-foot-two shortstop Ethan Bass is one of the more highly-regarded hitters in the Midwest. He has a smooth swing and a pull-oriented approach, and he’s shown the ability to get his barrel to higher-end velocity. Bass’ power and defense have both taken steps in the right direction, and the trend is most definitely his friend heading into the spring.

8. Mississippi State

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 3

While he is yet to officially coach a game in Starkville, Brian O’Connor has already begun to make his mark. After netting the No. 2 newcomer class, O’Connor and his staff have put together a top 10 recruiting class.

Their class received a significant boost when Will Brick announced he would be reclassifying, and he is currently the Bulldogs’ top recruit. Previously the top-ranked catcher in the 2027 class, he has the tools to be an impact player on both sides of the baseball. Brick has present bat speed and raw power, though he also has an advanced approach and can drive the baseball from gap-to-gap. Behind the dish, Brick is an advanced receiver with a plus arm and high-level catch-and-throw skills.

On the bump, 6-foot-4 righthander Wilson Andersen has plenty of arm speed and features a fastball that has been into the mid-to-upper 90s as well as a low-to-mid-80s changeup, a mid-80s slider and a high-70s-to-low-80s curveball. Andersen’s changeup plays well off his fastball, but his breaking balls are more of a work in progress. Both his slider and curveball have shown positive flashes, and it will be interesting to see if one separates itself as a viable third option. With projection remaining, Andersen is not yet a finished product, and his entire arsenal should only get more dynamic.

Speaking of 2027 players who reclassed, shortstop Rocco Maniscalco jumped into the 2026 class and won’t turn 18 until May 2027. A 6-foot-2, 185-pound switch-hitter, Maniscalco has present physicality with bat speed from both the right- and left-hand side of the plate. He defends well at shortstop, where he certainly has a chance to stick long term.

9. Stanford

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 2

As it pertains to getting its high-level recruits to campus, Stanford has the most impressive track record of any school in the country. Since 2015, the Cardinal have lost just one player—righthander Michael Mercado—to the draft.

However, that will certainly be put to the test this year, as shortstop Tyler Spangler is one of the top players in the class and could hear his name called within the first 10 picks. Spangler has a lean 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame with an advanced feel for the barrel. He has high-level bat-to-ball skills with quick hands and an easy swing that routinely yields quality contact. Between his bat speed and projection remaining, Spangler should only grow into more power as he continues to mature physically. At shortstop, Spangler moves well in either direction and boasts smooth actions and a strong arm.

Archer Horn is a real two-way player who has the ability to impact the game on either side of the baseball. At the plate, Horn has present bat speed and could eventually grow into above-average power, while on the dirt he has a plus arm that profiles well on the left side of the infield. As a pitcher, Horn’s fastball has been up to 95 mph to go along with a changeup that flashes both tumble and fade. To round out his arsenal, Horn deploys a mid-70s curveball that is a fine third offering.

Connecticut native Bryce Hill has run his fastball up to 99 mph, and the 6-foot-5 righthander has ascended up draft boards over the last several months. The command for his heater will waver, but it’s at its best when located in the top half of the zone. He will need to develop a couple of viable secondaries, though he’s shown a curveball and heavy changeup. Both are more of a work in progress right now, and he’ll lower his slot at times when delivering his curveball. Nonetheless, there are exciting traits to work with here.

10. Oklahoma

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 2

The Sooners’ class is headlined by 6-foot-8 righthander Savion Sims. Sims has serious arm strength, and he features a fastball that sits in the mid-to-upper-90s and has already topped out at 100. He has plenty of arm speed, and he supplements his heater with a mid-to-upper-80s slider that will vary in shape. While he relies heavily on his fastball-slider combination, Sims will occasionally mix in an upper-80s changeup. His command can be scattershot, and he’ll need to refine his secondaries, but he is an ultra-exciting ball of clay to mold.

Shortstop Jason Amalbert has been a steady riser in the class, and he finished up his summer with a standout performance at the Area Code Games in which he went 6-for-11. He’s a well-rounded player who flashes present thump to the pull side and a polished approach. At shortstop, Amalbert has an above-average arm, and his defensive skillset gives him a chance to stick at the position.

Six-foot-four third baseman Anthony Del Angel has a bit of a unique swing, but he has solid hand-eye coordination to go along with quickness in his hands. Del Angel has exciting power potential and is also an above-average runner with an above-average arm that profiles well at either third base or in a corner outfield spot.

11. Auburn

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 2

After a bit of a down year in 2024, Auburn coach Butch Thompson righted the ship in 2025 and led the Tigers to their second 40-win season and third super regional appearance since 2018. Thompson and his staff received key contributions from the freshman trio of Chase Fralick, Chris Rembert and Bub Terrell, and it should be an encouraging sign to recruits that their future coaching staff is not hesitant to play freshmen, should they earn the opportunity.

Righthander Coleman Borthwick is a 6-foot-6, 255-pound workhorse who boasts a fastball that’s been into the upper 90s to go along with a sharp mid-80s slider that has plus potential and a seldom-used mid-80s changeup. Borthwick moves rather well for someone of his size, and he’s a consistent strike-thrower with a repeatable delivery.

Jace Mataczynski is an outstanding athlete who generated tons of buzz after a standout showing in Jupiter. His swing is very much a work in progress, but there’s real power upside. He’s a plus runner whose glove work at shortstop has also earned high grades thanks to his plus arm and graceful actions. Mataczynski’s swing will certainly need to be ironed out, but his combination of athleticism and upside is hard to ignore. 

Catcher John Stowers is young for the class and has a prototypical catcher’s frame. He has present physicality and a rather compact build, and he’s an advanced receiver who has a knack for stealing strikes. Stowers does a nice job of corralling balls in the dirt, and while his arm is average, his quick transfers help compensate a bit for his lack of a plus arm. At the plate, Stowers has a smooth lefthanded swing and takes a direct path to contact.

Infielder Deacon Nelson has a smooth stroke from the left side and has been a consistent in-game performer, while on the dirt he’s a plus runner with an average arm and solid actions and good hands. It’s yet to be seen if Nelson will stick at shortstop long-term, but regardless he’s a safe bet to stick somewhere on the infield.

12. Clemson

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 1

Though Clemson is still looking to break down the door to Omaha for the first time since 2010, the Tigers in 2025 won 40-plus games for the third-straight season. Coach Erik Bakich has established himself as an excellent recruiter, and it’s a quality that’s reflected in each of Clemson’s recent classes.

The big fish in Clemson’s 2026 class is righthander Blake Bryant. Standing at 6-foot-5 with plenty of projection remaining, Bryant has plus arm speed and features a fastball that’s been up to 96 mph. He also uses a low-80s slider that has flashed at times, an upper-70s curveball and a mid-80s changeup. Bryant’s best offering is undoubtedly his heater, but his entire four-pitch mix should only get more dynamic as he continues to get more physical.

Six-foot-four outfielder Jaxon Matthews has exciting power potential from the left side, and he features thunderous bat speed with strength in both his hands and forearms. There is some effort in Matthews’ operation that leads to swing-and-miss, but his plus power potential and plus arm profile nicely in right field.

Fellow outfielder Sterling Coaxum is an excellent athlete who’s a 70-grade runner with good instincts in center field. While his arm is below-average, Coaxum’s speed, athleticism and first step help compensate for it and give him a chance to stick at the position. Coaxum has added strength which has led to an increase in bat speed, though he’ll need to reduce his swing-and-miss.

13. Virginia

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: None

Like Brian O’Connor at Mississippi State, Virginia coach Chris Pollard and his staff have also wasted no time making an immediate impact in Charlottesville.

Initially committed to Duke, shortstop Bryant James is an ultra-twitchy athlete who showed well in Jupiter. He’s a double-plus runner with an above-average arm at shortstop to go along with plenty of bat speed. There’s a little bit of crudeness to his offensive profile in that he’ll need to refine his hit tool, but James’ tools and upside make him an intriguing follow in this year’s draft cycle.

While we’re on the topic of projection and upside, lefthander Sean Loggie fits the description to a tee. A 6-foot-6 southpaw, Loggie has plenty of room to add physicality. His fastball has already been up to 93 mph with some gloveside cut, and he’ll also flash a low-to-mid-80s slider that he uses as a swing-and-miss pitch against both righthanded and lefthanded hitters. He rounds out his arsenal with a seldom-used changeup, though it doesn’t get much separation off his heater.

Righthander Pierce Quinn has dynamic pure stuff, though he’s still learning how to harness it. The 6-foot-2 Quinn features a high-spin heater that’s eclipsed 2,800 rpms and has been up to 94, which is a pitch he pairs with a sharp, banger curveball that has generated spin upwards of 3,000 rpms. Like many arms, the biggest key for Quinn will be throwing quality strikes and competing in and around the zone. When he does, his fastball-curveball combination is difficult for opposing hitters to barrel up. However, there’s some effort in his delivery and his command will evade him at times which leads to some reliever risk.

14. Arkansas

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: None

It’s hard to come up with a more gut-wrenching end to the season than what Arkansas experienced, but the Razorbacks head into 2026 with their sights set on a return trip to Omaha. A couple of freshmen are already on their way to impactful roles, and coach Dave Van Horn is not hesitant to play his newcomers.

The son of former NFL fullback Jorvorskie Lane Sr., Jorvorskie Lane Jr. is a big-time athlete who has explosive hand and bat speed. Lane Jr.’s swing can get long, and he’ll struggle against spin at times, but he has some of the more impressive raw power in the 2026 class. Lane is a power-over-hit profile whose arm strength projects well both behind the plate and in the outfield. However, it’s unclear where he projects long-term.

Six-foot-five outfielder Judah Ota has a frame to dream on and enticing offensive upside. He has a rhythmic swing from the left side, and while there’s swing-and-miss in his profile, Ota has cut down on some of the movement in his operation. Given his size and projection remaining, Ota has a chance to develop plus raw power.

Infielder Spencer Browning has a physical build and is a double-plus runner whose defensive skillset profiles best on the left side of the infield. Browning has present bat speed and extra-base hit power, but there are some hit-ability questions. Like Lane Jr., he’s a power-over-hit profile.

15. Georgia

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: None

Georgia coach Wes Johnson has won 86 games in his first two years at the helm, and he has the Bulldogs well-positioned for a sustained period of success. Johnson is a fan of the transfer portal, but he also has a strong knack for developing homegrown talent.

Unsurprisingly, the strength of Georgia’s 2026 class is its pitching. Righthander Landon Schutte has some effort in his delivery, but he’s a sound strike-thrower and features a fastball that’s been into the mid 90s to go along with a curveball and a slider that he spins reasonably well. Schutte’s breaking balls need refining, but his ability to spin the baseball is a solid building block.

Fellow righthander Matthew Sharman relies heavily on his fastball-changeup combination. The former has touched 94 mph with run and sink out of Sharman’s low three-quarters slot, while the latter is a no-doubt plus pitch that gets big-time separation off his heater and flashes ample fade with late tumble. It’s a pitch for which he has an advanced feel. Sharman completes his three-pitch mix with a slider that lags behind his changeup and fastball.

Southpaw Connor Langdon has some funk in his delivery and deploys a low-90s fastball that’s been up to 95 mph with natural arm side run. His slider is arguably his best pitch, and it flashes effective lateral life that helps to generate empty swings. Langdon’s changeup profiles as a solid third pitch against righthanded hitters.

16. Florida State

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 1

In what’s become the norm under coach Link Jarrett, Florida State again boasts a strong recruiting class.

Righthander Kaden Waechter is the crown jewel of the class. The 6-foot-3 righthander has an under-control delivery and an appealing blend of strikes and stuff. He’s run his fastball up to 96 mph with life through the zone, while his mid-80s slider consistently generates empty swings. Waechter’s fastball and slider are undoubtedly his best offerings, though he’s also shown a mid-80s changeup.

Fellow righthander Brayden Harris has an effortful delivery, but he consistently competes in and around the strike zone. His fastball has been up to 95 mph, but his bread-and-butter pitch is a low-80s slider that flashes some sharpness and is his most reliable swing-and-miss offering. His changeup gets solid separation off his heater.

Six-foot-six outfielder Genson Veras is trending up, and he has a litany of exciting tools to go along with his big league body.

17. Texas A&M

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 1

While 2025 was wildly disappointing, Aggies coach Michael Earley has the necessary pieces in place to right the ship. His 2026 roster is capable of making a regional and then some, but there are also a few exciting pieces who could help contribute to the future success of Texas A&M baseball.

Infielder Connor Comeau has a long, lanky frame—with particular length in his lower half—and plenty of physical projection remaining. He stands fairly tall in the box with a slightly-open front side and shoulder-high handset. He has a simple operation without a whole lot of moving parts, and he deploys a small leg lift that gives way to a normal stride. Comeau’s a bit lacking in the physicality department, but he still has solid bat speed and is able to generate quality contact on a regular basis. He has present power, but it’s not all that difficult to envision him growing into above-average or plus game power. His power upside is tantalizing, but Comeau also has a feel to hit.

Comeau’s defensive profile is somewhat murky. He’s played both corner infield spots and got some run at shortstop over the summer, but his overall defensive skillset figures to profile best in a corner outfield spot when all is said and done. His movement profile and level of athleticism likely bodes better on the grass than it does on the dirt. Comeau will still only be 17 at the draft, and he has an exciting blend of a body to dream on, present tools and plenty of upside.

Outfielder Ryan Harwood has a physical build and has been a consistent performer on the summer circuit. Harwood has an efficient swing with above-average bat speed and intriguing power upside, while his above-average arm profiles well in a corner outfield spot.

Shortstop Trey Ebel is the son of Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel and the brother of No. 32 overall 2025 pick Brady Ebel. His strength gains over the last calendar year have led to more quality contact. Ebel’s instincts and overall defensive skillset make him a sure bet to stick on the dirt, it’s just a matter of where.

18. Ole Miss

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 1

2025 was somewhat of a “put up or shut up” season in Oxford, and coach Mike Bianco and his Rebels more than rose to the occasion. They did an outstanding job of blocking out the outside noise and collected 43 wins en route to hosting a regional. Throughout his storied career, Bianco has established an impressive track record of development that is reflected in each of his recruiting classes.

Shortstop Cole Prosek is certainly a risk to get drafted and sign, but for now, he’s one of the more advanced prep hitters in the class. He has a simple swing from the left side to go along with an advanced feel for the barrel and an all-fields approach. Prosek has present home run power, but his in-game power figures to become more prolific over time. While he’ll likely move off of shortstop professionally, Prosek’s hit-power combination is tantalizing.

Fellow infielder Christian Doty has a quick swing without much wasted movement, and he projects as a hit-over-power profile with a knack for moving the baseball. Unlike Prosek, Doty is a slightly above-average runner whose arm strength gives him a chance to stick on the left side of the field.

19. Kentucky

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 1

Kentucky coach Nick Mingione has shown that a freshman is more than capable of arriving on campus and earning a high-leverage role from the get-go. In 2025, it was Tyler Bell, while in 2026 it could be Owen Jenkins.

There’s no telling how this year’s draft will go, but shortstop Matt Ponatoski could make an immediate impact if he makes it to campus. The quarterback of his high school football team and Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year, Ponatoski is committed to play both baseball and football for the Wildcats. Ponatoski is an excellent pure athlete who has advanced hand-eye coordination with a good feel for the strike zone and polished approach. He has both bat and hand speed and routinely generates quality contact. While he’s an outstanding pure athlete, Ponatoski is a fringey runner who will likely move off of shortstop in pro ball. However, he has a comfortably double-plus arm and has also run his fastball into the mid 90s on the mound.

Outfielder Rob Czarniecki has an intriguing toolset, headlined by his power-speed combination. Czarniecki has no shortage of bat speed to go along with pullside thump. He’s also a plus runner who has a chance to stick in center field.

20. Oregon State

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 1

Outfielder Blake Bowen almost singlehandedly propelled the Beavers into the top 20, and for good reason. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound outfielder looks like an NFL free safety, and he was one of the best performers on the 2025 summer circuit. Bowen has a tantalizing combination of bat speed and raw power, and this summer his swing decisions took a step in the right direction. All Bowen did this summer was hit, and he routinely generated quality contact in-game and against all pitch types. Bowen is a physical specimen, but he moves well for his size. While he’s an above-average runner with a plus arm, he figures to rove right field in pro ball.

Not to be outdone, Julian Sabourin is an arm on which to keep close tabs. A native of Ontario, Canada, Sabourin won’t turn 18 until after the draft. He has a smooth delivery and has already been up to 92 mph with his fastball, while his low-80s slider has flashed sharpness and profiles as the most reliable swing-and-miss offering in his arsenal. Sabourin will need to develop a consistent third offering, but his changeup projects as exactly that.

21. Alabama

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 0

For the second time in as many seasons at the helm, coach Rob Vaughn guided Alabama to a regional. As everyone’s focus begins to shift towards 2026, the Crimson Tide again look like a team to be reckoned with.

Though he’s slightly undersized, righthander Shawn Sullivan has blistering arm speed to power a dynamic fastball that’s been up to 97 mph. He’s also flashed an upper-70s curveball and a mid-to-high-80s slider. The former looks like the more reliable bat-misser of the two, though Sullivan will need to add a coat of polish to both. Sullivan rounds out his arsenal with a changeup, though it’s more of a show pitch than anything else right now. There’s plenty of effort in Sullivan’s delivery and his command is erratic, which leads some to believe he may profile best as a reliever long term. Regardless, Sullivan’s pure stuff is exciting and making strides in the pitchability department would serve him well.

A 6-foot-4 righthander with a slender, high-waisted frame, Hudson DeVaughan operates exclusively out of the stretch and features an easy, under-control operation in which he attacks hitters out of a high three-quarters slot. His fastball has been up to 96 mph and is most effective up in the zone. He pairs it with an upper-70s-to-low-80s curveball that he spins reasonably well. Like Sullivan, DeVaughan’s changeup is also a show pitch. He has a more prototypical starter look than Sullivan, but DeVaughan will also need to develop into a more consistent strike-thrower.

22. Cincinnati

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: None

Cincinnati is fresh off its first tournament appearance since 2019, and 2025 looks like it will be the new standard for Bearcat baseball so long as coach Jordan Bischel is at the helm. The Bearcats appear to be well-positioned to be competitive year in and year out. Their current talent is a key reason why, but their future recruiting classes are also a factor.

As it pertains to Cincinnati’s 2026 class, outfielder Jamir Johnson has a 6-foot-3 frame to dream on. He already has above-average bat speed with pullside power, and it should only become more prolific as he fills out his high-waisted frame. Johnson has a fine feel for the strike zone, but he looks the part of a future power-over-hit profile. Defensively, he moves well on the grass with an above-average arm and will likely get the chance to prove he can stick in center field.

In addition to Johnson, infielder Dylan Fairchild was able to parlay his solid showing at East Coast Pro into a strong week in Jupiter. The “how he does it” with Fairchild is unorthodox: He drops his hands a considerable amount in his load and sits a bit deeper in his base, but he’s able to make it work. Fairchild moves well both in the box and on the dirt, and he’s a Midwest name on which to keep tabs this spring.

23. TCU

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: None

TCU has made the tournament in five of the last six full seasons—including a College World Series appearance in 2023—and the 2026 Horned Frogs have Omaha upside. It’s always dangerous to look ahead, but it’s hard to not be bullish on the future of TCU baseball.

TCU’s 2026 recruiting class is also impressive, and it’s led by righthander Logan Georges. Georges had Tommy John surgery in April 2024, but he returned last spring and looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. His fastball sits in the low 90s and has been up to 95 mph with big-time carry through the zone. He accompanies his heater with a low-80s slider that will, at times, flash effective gloveside break. Georges completes his arsenal with a changeup that projects as a true third pitch capable of generating empty swings. It flashes both tumble and fade and is most effective against lefthanded hitters.

The son of former big leaguer and Rangers manager Skip Schumaker, it’s not hard to tell that Brody Schumaker grew up around the game. He has a contact-oriented approach with a simple swing from the left side and advanced bat-to-ball skills. He peppers the entire field with line drives, and he’s also a plus runner whose defensive tools project best at second base.

Also on the dirt, Marcus Greis is a solid defender at shortstop with good hands and enough arm strength to handle the position. Offensively, Greis has a present feel to hit with some thump to his pull side, though he’s a hit-over-power profile. 

24. Louisville

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: 1

The centerpiece of Louisville’s 2026 class is outfielder Dominic Santarelli, who currently ranks inside the top 100 on our 2026 draft rankings. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound outfielder is plenty physical with thunderous raw power, and he has legitimate over-the-fence power to all fields. While there is some swing-and-miss to his game, he flashed a better feel for the barrel towards the end of the 2025 summer circuit. Santarelli’s power is game-changing and could be the reason he hears his name called within the first 3-5 rounds this July. 

On the hill, keep an eye on Parker Van Engelenhoven. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Van Engelenhoven has a projectable build with room to continue to fill out. His fastball has been up to 93 mph, but it’s feasible to envision further velocity gains. The most valuable weapon in his arsenal is his low-80s slider. He spins the pitch well, and it routinely flashes sharp, lateral break with bat-missing traits. He pitches predominantly off of his fastball and slider, but he’ll also show a mid-80s changeup. If he makes it to campus, Van Engelenhoven will be a fun arm to watch develop.

25. Oklahoma State

• 2026 Top 100 Draft Prospects: None

For as long as coach Josh Holliday has been at the helm, Oklahoma State has consistently inked quality recruiting classes.

The Cowboys’ 2026 class is par for the course, and it’s led by Rock Arnold. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Arnold has a lean, athletic frame with some length in his lower half and present strength. He has present bat and hand speed to go along with a slightly-uphill swing path that’s geared towards lifting the baseball. There’s a degree of adjustability in Arnold’s swing, and he’s shown the ability to drop his back knee to help create leverage. While there’s some swing-and-miss to his game, particularly against secondaries, he’s shown he can impact the baseball, especially to the pull side.

Arnold’s athleticism is evident both in the box and on the dirt. He has an above-average arm on the left side of the infield with solid carry across the diamond. He didn’t display the quickest first step on the play I saw him attempt to make in Jupiter, though he showed comfort attacking the baseball. When bucketing players out, Arnold fits into a handful of them: He’s an athletic, lefthanded-hitting shortstop with present power and potentially more on the way.

Jeffrey-Todd Darden is a premier athlete with an intriguing toolset. He’s a double-plus runner whose speed and athleticism give him a chance to stick in center field, while in the box he has plus bat speed and has demonstrated the ability to generate quality contact. While Darden’s offensive game lacks polish, and his contact skills will need to take a pretty substantial step forward, his athleticism jumps off the page.

Like Arnold, infielder Dylan Bowen is also old for the class, but he has some strength packed into his compact frame and runs well with solid arm strength on the left side of the infield. Bowen has quickness in his hands and looks the part of someone who will make it to campus.

Checking In On LSU

Most things are easier to manage the second time around. That has been the case for LSU coach Jay Johnson, who again finds himself tasked with balancing celebration and preparation in the months following a national championship.

LSU won its second title in three years in June, placing Johnson in rare company among the 16 other coaches with multiple national crowns. The Tigers have since visited the White House, the governor’s mansion and participated in ring ceremonies and in-game celebrations across campus.

“Those guys deserved to be celebrated and we absolutely celebrated,” Johnson told Baseball America.

But each week removed from the championship, LSU moves one week closer to 2026. Johnson believes his team is capable of chasing glory again, and the fall season is a critical starting point.

“When we’re on the field, we’re on the field,” Johnson said. “And there’s nothing to celebrate there anymore. We’re solely focused on what’s in front of us.”

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The Tigers are further along than the 2024 group that followed the program’s previous title. The returning talent is stronger this time, including multiple players with first-round potential across the next three draft classes. 

At the same time, LSU once again enters a fall with significant pitching roles to define. The staff lost two of the most productive starters in college baseball in College Pitcher of the Year Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, who ranked first and third in the nation in strikeouts. Replacing that level of impact is formidable, but LSU has already identified a group of arms that could help carry the load.

The most prominent candidate is sophomore righty Casan Evans, who served as a multi-inning, high-leverage reliever last season and earned Freshman All-America honors after posting a 2.05 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 19 walks in 52.2 innings. Evans works with a mid-to-upper-90s fastball and two strong secondaries in a mid-80s slider and a split-changeup in a similar velocity range. Both offspeed pitches produced whiff rates above 45% last year and were effective chase pitches. LSU has eased Evans into fall activity after his heavy usage last spring, but his fastball has sat near 97 mph in short work while the secondaries remain sharp.

Sophomore lefty Cooper Williams has taken a noticeable step forward and recently logged three scoreless innings against Samford. Johnson expects Williams to take on a significant role, whether in the rotation or bullpen.

There are several more notable pitching developments. Sophomore righty William Schmidt has run his fastball up to 99 mph with a quality slider. Righty Mavrick Rizy has shown a more complete arsenal and stronger command. Kansas transfer Cooper Moore has been “as advertised” in Johnson’s view, providing a deep pitch mix and consistent strike throwing. A freshman group featuring Marcos Paz, Reagan Ricken and Zion Theophilus has also broken through. Paz, in particular, was described by Johnson as “absolutely electric” with a fastball up to 99 and a slider in the low 90s.

Marcos Paz had one of the most anticipated bullpens of the MLB Draft Combine.

The LSU commit was up to 95 and spun a slider close to 3,000 rpms

He's one of 10 day two notable performers: https://t.co/d1OIW1dR7z pic.twitter.com/vX2QhBmX61

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 19, 2025

Righty Deven Sheerin, who did not pitch in 2025 due to a knee injury, is back and has shown upper-90s velocity with strikes. Righty Grant Fontenot, who pitched sparingly last year, has also reached the upper 90s. Oregon transfer Santiago Garcia and Division II Angelo State transfer Dax Dathe have impressed as potential bullpen contributors.

LSU’s positional group is equally deep. Sophomore center fielder Derek Curiel, a 2026 first-round candidate, and sophomore catcher Cade Arrambide rank first and second in the program’s internal at-bat quality metric, respectively. Curiel has settled naturally into center field, where he will start, and Arrambide has taken control of the catching position with the expectation he becomes the primary backstop.

Chris Stanfield and Jake Brown have both produced this fall, with Stanfield showing more consistent impact through harder contact. Johnson said he views shortstop Steven Milam as one of the top players in the nation and added that he’s found more rhythm in his swing while bringing excellent contact skills, which he put on display last year. Grand Canyon transfer Zach Yorke has delivered quality swings with natural power. Oregon State transfer Trent Caraway has stood out defensively and is working through swing adjustments to enhance his offensive output.

Freshmen Mason Braun and Omar Serna have performed well early and appear positioned to contribute immediately. Both homered in a scrimmage against Samford.

LSU does not lack for depth, talent or competitive urgency. The Tigers are again managing the balance between the afterglow of a championship and the start of another trophy pursuit. Johnson’s message is clear: The celebration phase is now over. The work of attempting to win a third title in four seasons has begun.

Arkansas Reloads As Pursuit Of First Title Continues

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn led the Razorbacks to their eighth College World Series appearance since 2003 last year, continuing a two-decade run of sustained excellence. But as the team enters its 24th season under Van Horn, Arkansas is still in search of its first national championship.

The Razorbacks will do so with a roster built to compete deep into June once again. This year’s group blends top-end recruiting from both the high school and transfer ranks, even while Arkansas works to replace a considerable amount of departed talent.

The Razorbacks lost a nation-leading 10 players in the first 10 rounds of the draft, including four who came off the board within the first 45 picks: Gage Wood, Wehiwa Aloy, Zach Root and Charles Davalan. Managing that level of turnover requires both developmental continuity and portal success, and Arkansas has worked to build both.

Van Horn and his staff have strategically limited several core arms this fall to manage workloads, including Gabe Gaeckle, who opened last season in the rotation before emerging as the team’s top reliever. Gaeckle has focused on strength and conditioning while slowly building his arm back up, and there is confidence he can hold a rotation role this spring.

Few portal additions in the country drew more attention than Vanderbilt transfer Ethan McElvain, who has validated the hype with strong fall outings. Van Horn noted his impressive poise and presence with a fastball in the mid 90s and improved control.

“He has a veteran presence about him,” Van Horn said. 

A long list of arms has positioned Arkansas to maintain one of the deepest staffs in the SEC. 

Oklahoma transfer Jackson Kircher brings a large frame and an upper-90s fastball while working to refine his offspeeds. Steele Eaves has been described as “rubber-armed” with a mid-90s sinker and quality slider. Tate McGuire has shown meaningful progress after uneven early results, while Cole Gibler may emerge as the team’s top bullpen arm. Colin Fisher and Hunter Dietz are both healthy again, with Dietz running his fastball 95-100 mph alongside a sharp breaking ball. Freshman Mark Brissey has been a headline newcomer, sitting 96-99 with advanced pitch feel and early impact potential.

There is also plenty of potential impact at the plate. Portal additions Maika Niu (Marshall) and TJ Pompey (Texas Tech) are expected to play key roles, with Pompey likely to factor at shortstop or third. Freshman Carson Brumbaugh is pushing Pompey at short and has shown loud contact skills and a big arm, which also plays on the mound with upper 90s velocity. Returners Cam Kozeal and Reese Robinett have also performed well this fall.

The standout, however, has been catcher Ryder Helfrick, who Van Horn believes has first-round ability.

“There’s nothing he can’t do on the field,” Van Horn said. “He calls his own game, he hits for power, he doesn’t swing and miss. We couldn’t get him out. I’ve had plenty of first-rounders here. I know what they look like. He’s as good as any of them. We haven’t had a player look this good in the fall since Heston (Kjerstad), and he went pretty good.”

Nolan Souza is on track after missing most of 2025 and has begun facing live pitching again. Kuhio Aloy missed most of the fall due to illness and lost significant weight, but he still homered in a fall game against Dallas Baptist and is expected to play both outfield and DH this spring.

Arkansas once again has the ingredients of an Omaha-caliber roster—rotation upside, bullpen depth, everyday lineup athleticism and multiple high-end draft talents. The pursuit of that first national title continues with a group capable of making another run.

Texas A&M Looking To Rebound After Falling Flat In 2025

The Aggies last year became the first preseason No. 1 team since Arizona State in the early 1990s to miss the NCAA Tournament entirely and the only team in the current postseason format to do so. The harsh face-plant led to immediate public scrutiny of first-year head coach Michael Earley, with a vocal portion of the fanbase calling for change. The administration, however, chose stability. Earley was retained for a second season, and his mission now is singular: prove they were right to trust him.

The first major move was staff reconstruction. Earley hired former Dallas Baptist assistant and program alum Cliff Pennington to oversee infield and baserunning, a move Earley described to Baseball America as already having a strong, program-wide impact.

Texas A&M then attacked the transfer portal with urgency and precision. The headliner is former Maryland shortstop Chris Hacopian, who was one of the most coveted players available. Hacopian produced standout contact and power metrics last season, including a 93 mph average exit velocity, 18% chase rate and 89% overall contact rate. Earley said he has brought advanced bat control and “effortless damage” to College Station in addition to great makeup and competitiveness. Ben Royo returns and freshman Boston Kellner has also pushed for playing time on the left side of the infield.

In the outfield, Caden Sorrell returns fully healthy after a hamstring injury limited a breakout sophomore season last year. He hit .337/.430/.789 with 12 home runs and five doubles in 26 games and now has his speed back at full strength. Third baseman Gavin Grahovac is also back after suffering a season-ending injury in early 2025. He has been cleared to hit in games with only sliding and diving currently restricted out of an abundance of caution.

Bear Harrison is expected to take a step forward after producing a 90 mph average exit velocity, 49% hard-hit rate and 20% chase rate last season. Baylor transfer Wesley Jordan and Florida Atlantic transfer Jake Duer have impressed with consistent line drive contact, and freshman Nico Partida has drawn immediate praise. Earley called him one of the best freshmen he has coached and expects him to play early and often. Arkansas transfer catcher Zane Becker has also played his way into a contributing role, with Earley noting he may be one of the most valuable under-the-radar additions to his team of the offseason.

Progress on the mound has been encouraging. Weston Moss and Shane Sdao headline the returning group, each moving from bullpen roles into likely rotation spots. Righty Clayton Freshcorn is “trending up” in Earley’s assessment. Tennessee Tech transfer Juan Vargas has shown a riding fastball and strong early feel.

After a season defined by frustration and scrutiny, Texas A&M enters 2026 with urgency, renewed leadership and measurable roster improvement. The path forward is clear. Now the Aggies must deliver.

More Fall Ball Notes

• Arizona State lefthander Cole Carlon, the program’s expected ace, has impressed after a slower build-up early in the fall. ASU coach Willie Bloomquist told Baseball America that Carlon’s fastball regularly bumped 98 mph in an outing last week. Carlon also throws a slider with plus potential and is viewed by evaluators as a prominent draft prospect entering the season. He is not expected to pitch in ASU’s scrimmage at Cal Baptist on Nov. 8 but could see the mound the following week when the Sun Devils host Grand Canyon.
  
• UC Irvine ace Ricky Ojeda has been working through arsenal refinements in fall training. Anteaters coach Ben Orloff told Baseball America that Ojeda has experimented with higher slider usage in bullpen work and has also been developing a splitter. Orloff noted that it’s still unclear which adjustments will become staples, but the ongoing experimentation is noteworthy for the Anteaters’ top draft prospect.