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Draft  | Story | 7/12/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Day One Recap

Tyler Henninger
Storylines

Heavy College Run Early



We came into the day knowing that there were a lot of talented college players at the top of the board, more specifically college bats. That came to light very early in the day, as we saw just two prep players selected within the first ten picks. The college preference lasted throughout most of the entire first round. Nearly 75% of the first 40 selections were college players. It is clear teams want players at the top of the draft that can quickly get through the system and help the big league club as soon as possible.

Underslot Strategy

Throughout this cycle, we knew that once you get past the first handful of picks the difference in value you were getting for let say pick ten was not that difference compared to pick 30. Because there was a large collection of players that are relatively close in value, teams were looking to get creative. We saw this right away with the Royals taking Zion Rose, who was No. 35 on our final board, with the 6th selection overall. It came into play again at the Red Sox pick at No. 20, selecting North Carolina shortstop Jake Schaffner, who was No. 68 on the final board. A handful of other teams went this route in the first round, knowing they can try to manipulate their pool and get some talented players down the line. 

Surprising Moves

Bold Top-10 Selections

As mentioned above Zion Rose going to the Royal at No. 6 overall was the first “shock” of the day. The Louisville outfielder was being mentioned as a potential first round pick, but had not been mocked in the Top-10. Not quite on the level of Rose, the Pirates pick at No. 5 was a bit of a surprise. LSU outfielder Derek Curiel was mentioned as a potential Top-10 pick, but seemed to fit better in the early teens. Nevertheless, the Pirates pulled the trigger and took one of the better hit tools in the class. 

Late First Round Shockers

In any given year, the back half of the first round can get a little wonky. We can see teams make deals that result in players getting selected higher than we expected. This year we had a pair of big surprises with the Brewers and Mets. The Brewers took the 112th player on our board in Trey Ebel. It marks the second year in a row that an Ebel goes to Milwaukee late in the first round and while we knew Ebel was probably going to go higher than expected, No. 25 overall was a bit of a shock.

As for the Mets, their pick was even more shocking. They took Arkansas right-hander Carson Wiggins, who ranked 234th on our board. It is not even that he is ranked as low as he is, but more the fact that the right-hander has thrown just 14 career innings in college, including zero this spring. The upside was shown at the combine and obviously intrigued the Mets enough to make the pick. 

Dynamic Backstop Pairing

This year was one of the deeper catching classes that we have had in a while. We knew Vahn Lackey was going to be the first backstop off the board and had expected him to get to Minnesota at No. 3 overall. We did not expect the Twins to be able to say that they landed two of the top three catchers on the board. Carson Tinney was selected with the Twins second round pick, giving them a pair of backstops with big upside. 

Day 1 Winners 

Chicago White Sox

It is easy to come away a winner when you have the first overall selection and are able to select a player like Roch Cholowsky. But what makes the White Sox a day one winner in my book is what they were able to do with their other four picks. Landon Thome and Cole Prosek are two prep left-handed bats with a legit hit tool. Georgia right-hander Joey Volchko has some of the biggest upside if it all clicks and Oregon State right-hander Eric Segura adds a collegiate performer to the group. 

Cleveland Guardians

Cleveland was able to grab two pitchers with their first two selections in Florida right-hander Liam Peterson and California prep lefty Logan Schmidt. Both those arms have big upside that should benefit greatly from the Guardians’ pitching development. They round out the day with a pair of college bats. Outfielder Tre Broussard is an athletic center field and Wake Forest’s Kade Lewis provides quality power from the left side.  

Atlanta Braves

The Braves selected a pair of college outfielders with their first two picks in AJ Gracia and Carter Beck. Both those moves were made with the idea of being able to pay a prep strongly later in the draft and that strategy paid off. Atlanta was able to grab Vermont prep right-hander Kaiden McCarthy and Jensen Hirschkorn, a prep right-hander out of California who ranked No. 37 on our board, in the second and third round respectively. They capped off the day with another upside prep arm in Cole Dennis out of Florida. Overall, it's a fun group of prep arms with big upside. 

Athletics

The Athletics strictly stuck to college players on day one and it looks like it has a strong chance to pay off. They get one of the most productive college hitters at No. 7 overall in Drew Burress, followed by a trio of college arms that all have big stuff. Left-handed Mason Edwards put up video game numbers with room to get even better. Right-hander Gabe Gaeckle has supreme upside with some of the best stuff in the class. Meanwhile, Jacob Dudan showed intriguing stuff during his transition to a starters role this spring before running into injury. The Athletics rounded out the day with the selection of Roman Martin out of UCLA. The infielder provides plus defense with the ability to contribute with the bat. 

Potential Steals

No. 14 Miami Marlins: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Schools (FL)

Lombard ranked No. 4 overall on our board and the Marlins were able to grab him with the 14th overall selection. The Florida prep gets to stay home and could become a massive steal if the hit tool comes around. Lombard is a supreme athlete with big right-handed power. 

No. 16 Texas Rangers: Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas (FL)

The top prep arm on the board fell into the mid-teens before the Rangers were able to grab him. Rojas ranked No. 10 on our final board and has as much upside as any arm in the class. It is advanced athleticism on the bump with big velocity and feel to spin. The components are all there to make this pick look very good in a few years. 

No. 89 Texas Rangers: Brody Bumila, LHP, Bishop Feehan (MA)

News broke earlier this week that Bumila had hurt his elbow for the second time in three years. That gives this pick major risk, but the upside sure is intriguing. Texas is able to grab the No. 45 player on the board in the third round. It is triple digit velocity with ridiculous metrics and upside. This will be a long term play, but the payoff could be massive. 

No. 92 New York Mets: Aiden Robbins, OF, Texas

There were talks that the Mets liked Robbins with their first selection at No. 27, but they went a different route. They managed to stay patient and still get the Texas outfielder with their 3rd round selection. Robbins was a consistent performer this spring with power at the plate, which is why he ranked No. 23 on our board. 

No. 131 Toronto Blue Jays: Will Brick, C, Chrsitian Brothers (TN)

Will Brick was the No. 47 player on our board and one of the top prep catchers available. The Blue Jays were able to float him to the 4th round and now could come away with the best player taken late in the day. Brick is a legit defender behind the dish with upside with the bat. 
 
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Draft | Story | 8/17/2026

2026 MLB Draft Report Cards: NL Central
Tyler Henninger
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2026 MLB Draft Report Cards: AL West | NL West | AL Central With the 2026 MLB Draft officially in the books, it’s time to evaluate how each team performed. Every draft class was graded using the standard 20-80 scouting scale with risk factor assigned. While these grades won’t be proven right or wrong for years, they reflect the overall talent, value, and upside each organization added to its system. NL Central Chicago Cubs  Grade: 40 Risk: Medium Notable Selections: RHP Cade Townsend (1st rd) | OF Caden Sorrell (2nd rd) | 1B Myles Bailey (2C)   RHP Cade Townsend (@OleMissBSB) sat 95-96 T97 w/ riding FB from fast arm. Nasty cutter at 88-91 is the go-to, showed biting 2 pln SL. Low-80s top to bottom CB & CH ~ 1300 RPM to round out mix. Has had a great spring & risen up boards. Soph./'26 elig. @PG_Draft pic.twitter.com/TAFbM37f5j — PG College...
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Press Release | Press Release | 8/18/2026

Perfect Game & Delano Partner Up

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  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME NAMES DELANO BAT COMPANY OFFICIAL WOOD COMPOSITE BAT PARTNER, LAUNCHES LIMITED-EDITION BAT SERIES   Delano Bats will serve as the Official Game Bat of the 13U Select Festival, taking place this coming weekend in East Cobb, Georgia   Sanford, Florida (Tuesday, August 18, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new partnership with Delano Bat Company, LLC, naming the company an Official Wood Composite Bat Partner of Perfect Game. The partnership will feature three exclusive limited-edition bat releases, which began with the Original Glory American Flag Bat in celebration of the United States' 250th birthday, that...
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Draft | Story | 8/17/2026

2026 MLB Draft Report Cards: AL Central

Joey Cohen
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2026 MLB Draft Report Cards: AL West | NL West With the 2026 MLB Draft officially in the books, it’s time to evaluate how each team performed. Every draft class was graded using the standard 20-80 scouting scale with risk factor assigned. While these grades won’t be proven right or wrong for years, they reflect the overall talent, value, and upside each organization added to its system. AL Central Cleveland Guardians  Grade: 45 Risk: Moderate  Notable Selections: RHP Liam Peterson (1st rd) | Tre Broussard OF (3rd rd) | RHP Savion Sims (7th rd)  Liam Peterson (@GatorsBB) has been pure power stuff through the first 3.0 IP in his start vs Bama…imposing his will on hitters with a fastball that has grabbed 100 mph a few times, backed up by his power slider and curveball @PG_Draft pic.twitter.com/RVThNrdMTn — PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) May 21,...
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High School | General | 8/17/2026

Scott Wins MVP Two Ways

Jim Salisbury
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PHILADELPHIA – When the folks at Perfect Game reached out to invite him to pitch in the 2026 PG All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors, Cullen Scott had one request. “You mind if I get a couple of at-bats, too?” Along with his dad, Scott traveled from the family’s home in Texas to Citizens Bank Park. The trip proved to be a huge success as he starred on the mound and at the plate and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Scott, 16, pitched a scoreless first inning and struck out two. In the fourth inning, he belted a grand slam six rows up into the left-field seats to lead the National team’s 6-1 win over the American team. “He showed us why he’s here as a pitcher and a hitter,” said Greg Sabers, PG’s vice president of scouting and showcases. "He’s one of the top pitchers here, but he’s too good a...
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All American Game | Story | 8/16/2026

Romero Slams His Way to Classic MVP

Jim Salisbury
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PHILADELPHIA – Sunday’s DICK’s Perfect Game All-American Classic was a pitching-dominated affair until the bottom of the eighth inning when the rain started to fall at Citizens Bank Park and Koa Romero stepped to the plate and did his best impression of Kyle Schwarber. Romero wears No. 12, just like Schwarber. He bats left-handed, just like Schwarber. He’s got big power, just like Schwarber. And at 5-10 and a rock-solid 225 pounds, he’s even built like Schwarber. Needless to say, Schwarber is Romero’s favorite player. So, it was all kind of storybook when Romero belted a grand slam to dead center to cap off the scoring in the West team’s 8-3 win over the East club in the 24th annual Classic. “This is a dream come true,” said Romero, who was named MVP of the game. “It’s amazing to be able to put a ball like that out of a...
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All American Game | Story | 8/15/2026

A Philly Dream for Steingall

Jim Salisbury
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PHILADELPHIA – Carson Steingall had been to Citizens Bank Park many times over the years. After all, he hails from Nazareth, Pa., about 90 minutes up the road from the home of the Philadelphia Phillies and he counts himself as a big fan of the team. Zack Wheeler is his favorite. Steingall realized a dream when he pitched from the same mound that Wheeler does in Perfect Game’s fourth annual All-Star Game for rising sophomores and juniors on Friday. The dream got even better when Steingall, a 16-year-old right-hander, was named Most Valuable Pitcher after striking out the side in the third inning of the National team’s 6-1 victory over the American team. “It’s just an honor to be here,” Steingall said after receiving his trophy. “This event is the best of the best. It’s really cool to win something like this.” Steingall, who’ll...
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Showcase | Story | 8/13/2026

PG Honors Pat Gillick With Philly Showcase

Perfect Game Staff
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Perfect Game to honor Pat Gillick in new Philadelphia Showcase  By Maya Heyman Perfect Game is bringing its elite showcase experience to Philadelphia’s FDR Park for the inaugural Philly Stars/Pat Gillick Showcase this weekend, honoring one of the greatest executives in MLB history in the city where he constructed his final of three World Series winners. The event will take place on Sunday, the same day as the DICK’S All-American Classic, taking place just across the street at Citizens Bank Park.  The showcase will allow Philadelphia-area players to gain exposure and will also honor Gillick, who has been a tremendous influence in both professional and amateur baseball.   Jered Goodwin, Vice President of Scouting Operations for Perfect Game, said the idea came naturally.  “Going to Philly made a lot of sense to honor Pat Gillick, who's been a...
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General | General | 8/13/2026

PG All-Star Game Heads to Philly

Jheremy Brown
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For the fourth time since its inception in 2023, two rosters comprised of the best rising juniors (and a handful of rising sophomores) will step out onto the field Friday afternoon, kicking off the All-American weekend. While the Perfect Game All-American Classic is slated for a 1:35 first pitch at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, 36 future hopefuls of the Classic will go up against one another in an American vs National clash at 11 AM Eastern, Friday morning.  With 36 players from across the country descending on Philadelphia, there will be plenty of familiar names in attendance as 24 of the 36 played in at least one PG Select Festival and all 36 attended either the he Sophomore National, Junior National, or the PG Underclass All-American Games this summer. Leading the charge are a pair of No. 1s in 2028 dynamic talent Dexter McCleon Jr and 2029 Macgraw VanWormer, a do-it-all...
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Tournaments | Championship | 8/12/2026

Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title

Alyssa Golden
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Pokers Rally to Capture 16U BCS Title A hot afternoon at JetBlue Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida ended in a 9-1 victory for the Original Florida Pokers 2028 National, defeating SBA Bolts Florida 2028 National on Monday to capture the 16U BCS National Championship. A pitchers’ duel kept the game scoreless through four innings before the Pokers broke it open with a five-run fifth inning. The title marked the Pokers’ second 16U BCS Championship, adding to the championship they won in 2022. Despite a slow start to the summer, the Pokers found their stride at the right time. “We struggled a lot early in the summer, but the past few tournaments we really started turning it on,” Pokers head coach Will McCrimon said. “I’m just so proud of these kids.” Max Maynes started the game on the mound for the Pokers. The left-hander allowed three hits and two walks...
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Draft | Story | 8/11/2026

Realistic Expectations of a 1:1 Pick

Tyler Henninger
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Over the 2026 draft cycle, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky was the projected No. 1 pick throughout the entire cycle. White Sox fans began #RochWatch and were already talking about when he will make it to Chicago. Now that he has been selected, Cholowsky has immediately become a Top-10 prospect in all of baseball. There is no denying the hype, and the pressure, for Chowlosky to get to the big leagues and produce at a high level.  But how realistic is that? Let’s take a look back at past 1:1 selections and see what you can expect from a No. 1 overall selection.  For this exercise, we’ll look at No. 1 overall picks from the bonus pool era, excluding Eli Willits from 2025 since this is his first full year of pro ball. That gives us 13 players selected from 2012 through 2024.  Almost All Become Big Leaguers The first thing that stands out is how successful No. 1 picks...
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