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Draft  | Story | 4/29/2010

Crack of the Bat: Early Draft Projection

Patrick Ebert
We’re just over a month away from the draft, so I thought it was a good time to look at the draft order for the first round of this year’s selections and try to guess which players may end up with which teams based on recent history and preferences.
A month from now there will be a lot more insider information as teams start to narrow their focus on the players they truly are prepared to select heading into the month of June. So for now, this projection is based purely on my own educated guess.

1. Nationals - Bryce Harper, C, College of Southern Nevada
No surprises at the top spot for the second year in a row for the Nationals. They knew it would take a big investment to get Stephen Strasburg in the fold a year ago, and are prepared to go through similar negotiations with Harper.

2. Pirates - Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Ole Miss
The Pirates have an affinity, and some luck, with lefties, and they also have shown a preference toward college players in recent years. I don’t expect them to take a player that is likely to pose a signing headache, either.

3. Orioles - Jameson Taillon, RHP, The Woodlands HS (TX)
Adding Taillon to an already impressive stable of young arms would be quite the addition for the O’s. They may have a greater need for impact bats in their system, but with an increased emphasis on scouting and player development they should know better than to not pass on a talent like this.

4. Royals - Manny Machado, SS, Brito HS (FL)
Machado would fit in nicely following picks in recent years such as Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer. As shown with those two picks, as well as college arms such as Luke Hochevar and Aaron Crow, the Royals haven’t shied away from big-money draftees under Dayton Moore’s stead.

5. Indians - Chris Sale, LHP, Florida Gulf Coast
The 2001 draft marked the last time the Indians took a high school player with their first pick, as they quietly have loaded up on college players over the years. For the most part, they also have avoided potential signing headaches, and likely will play it safe here.

6. Diamondbacks - Karsten Whitson, RHP, Chipley HS (FL)
Arizona loaded up on bats with all of its early picks a year ago, and may reverse its focus this year given the wealth of arms available. Usually more focused on college players, Whitson is a premium talent from the prep side and too good to pass up.

7. Mets - Deck McGuire, RHP, Georgia Tech
You wouldn’t think the Mets are one of the most conservative teams when it comes to the draft. They tend to prefer college players, and those that have more polish than eye-popping tools/stuff. Deck McGuire fits what they typically look for perfectly.

8. Astros - Josh Sale, OF, Bishop Blanchet HS (WA)
Scouting Director Bobby Heck learned under Jack Zduriencik’s tutelage in Milwaukee the benefit of selecting the best player available, and the Astros need to inject as much talent into their system as possible without trying to get too cute about it. Adding Sale gives them one of the best pure bats available this year.

9. Padres - Christian Colon, SS, Cal State Fullerton
Despite selecting toolsy prep outfielder Donovan Tate with the third overall pick a year ago, the Padres have been known for several years now to focus on the eligible college talent. Shortstop is a position they’ve been trying to address for years, and may have a great, natural fit should Colon land in their laps.

10. Athletics - Zack Cox, 3B, Arkansas
I almost copied and pasted what I just wrote about the Padres here, minus the part about Tate. Should Cox fall here, he would seem to be a natural fit, and the A’s very well may have drafted three of their four future infielders in three consecutive years with Cox, Grant Green and Jemile Weeks.

11. Blue Jays - A.J. Cole, RHP, Oviedo HS (FL)
It won’t take all 50 of the Blue Jays’ amateur scouts to know that Cole has a pretty special right arm with a promising future. A re-commitment to scouting and player development likely means the Blue Jays won’t be as opposed to drafting prep players.

12. Reds - Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State
If Mike Leake’s aggressive big-league placement and the big-money investment in Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman are any indication of how anxious the Reds are to get their franchise back on track, they may be drawn to the pitcher with the most refined three-pitch repertoire available for this year’s draft.

13. White Sox - Brett Eibner, RHP, Arkansas
The White Sox are yet another team that somewhat surprisingly favors college players. They haven’t nabbed a prep player in the first round since plucking local talent Kris Honel in the first round in 2001. Kenny Williams loves good athletes, and few in the college game are as well-rounded as Eibner.

14. Brewers - Brandon Workman, RHP, Texas
In his first year as the Brewers’ scouting director, Bruce Seid did something former scouting boss Jack Zduriencik never did in his nine years in Milwaukee: Draft a college pitcher in the first round. More arms are needed, and Workman’s power one-two punch looks pretty good here.

15. Rangers - Anthony Ranaudo, RHP, LSU
Questions about Ranaudo’s health and his representation may cause him to slide a lot further than the teens this year. The Rangers aren’t afraid to select players who could be difficult to sign (as with Matt Purke last year), and are willing to take a gamble on health (Tanner Scheppers) to add such a talented pitcher to their system.

16. Cubs - Jesse Hahn, RHP, Virginia Tech
The Cubs love big, power arms, particularly from the college ranks, making Hahn a perfect fit. Even though he isn’t consistently throwing in the mid-to-upper 90s as he did last summer on the Cape as a reliever, he is showing better command and a broader repertoire as a starter.

17. Rays - Nick Castellanos, 3B, Archbishop McCarthy HS (FL)
For as good as the Rays’ pitching and overall talent depth is from the top to the bottom of their organization, they are lacking impact bats in their system. With two picks in the first round, I fully expect them to address that with at least one of them, and adding Castellanos would be an excellent start.

18. Angels - Dylan Covey, RHP, Marantha HS (CA)
Similar to the Rays, the Angels have multiple picks in the first round to play with, not to mention deep financial resources, meaning they may be able to sit back and take the best players that fall to them. That starts with Covey here, who could go much higher than this, but may draw some concerns about the health of his arm.

19. Astros - Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Barstow HS (CA)
Similar to Covey, Sanchez is another prep pitcher who could go higher than this come draft day. As noted with the Astros’ first selection, they need to add as much talent as possible, regardless of position and where that talent comes from.

20. Red Sox - Kaleb Cowart, RHP, Cook County HS (GA)
The Red Sox have shown a preference for versatile two-way talents with big arms in recent years, as shown by top prospects such as Ryan Kalish, Casey Kelly and David Renfroe. Cowart would continue that trend, a switch-hitting third baseman who may have the most electric arm of any pitcher available this year.

21. Twins - Justin O’Conner, SS, Cowan HS (IN)
Like the Red Sox, the Twins also value premium athletes with good overall tools. O’Conner put on a show in the home run derby at the PG National last June in the Metrodome, and may be doing the same in Target Field a few years from now.

22. Rangers - Bryce Brentz, OF, Middle Tennessee State
The Rangers boast one of the deepest systems in the game, so it’s not surprising that they don’t really show a strong drafting preference, instead often selecting the best player available. Here that would be Bryce Brentz, whose laid-back, southern style would make him a natural fit in Texas.

23. Marlins - Yasmani Grandal, C, Miami
The future looks bright for the Marlins with superstar Hanley Ramirez re-signed for years to come, an impressive stable of young arms and a new stadium on the way. With a deep system they may opt to address a need, and since Kyle Skipworth hasn’t panned out as quickly as they hoped, Grandal or LSU’s Micah Gibbs could get the call here.

24. Giants - Austin Wilson, OF, Harvard Westlake HS (CA)
Prep pitching certainly doesn’t scare the Giants, so if one of the premium arms falls I wouldn’t expect them to get past this pick. Otherwise they may be looking for a potential impact bat, although signing the academically inclined Wilson away from Stanford, located 30 miles southeast of AT&T Park, will be no easy task.

25. Cardinals - Michael Choice, OF, Texas-Arlington
Despite a questionable overall talent base, the Cardinals keep on winning, as they aren’t afraid to trade young talent in their system to acquire a player or two that just may put them over the top. They have shown a preference for polished bats and power arms from the college ranks in recent years, making Choice a logical candidate for their pick.

26. Rockies - Gary Brown, OF, Cal State Fullerton
Few teams have been able to build as successful of a franchise almost entirely from within as the Rockies. A deep system allows them to take a best-player-available approach. Brown’s game-changing speed would be a welcome addition in the spacious outfield at Coors Field.

27. Phillies - Asher Wojciehowski, RHP, The Citadel
Similar to the Cardinals, the Phillies haven’t been shy about using internal resources to trade for proven big-league talent in achieving their recent success. They seem to follow the old mantra of selecting high school hitters and college pitchers, making Wojciehowski the pick here.

28. Dodgers - Kevin Gausman, RHP, Grandview HS (CO)
I’m not sure if any other team in baseball values projectable high school pitching as much as the Dodgers do. Kevin Gausman would be a natural complement to talents such as Chris Withrow, Ethan Martin and Garrett Gould in the minors, not to mention Clayton Kershaw at the big-league level.

29. Angels - Rob Rasmussen, LHP, UCLA
The Angels have been able to follow Rasmussen and the talented UCLA staff from their backyard. Like Alex Wimmers, it may not take long for Rasmussen to ascend to the big-leagues, and the Angels may be looking for a relatively quick and easy sign with three first-round picks.

30. Angels - Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, Henderson HS (TX)
While someone like Rasmussen could be a relatively easy sign, Jenkins, who has college football aspirations as a premium quarterback recruit for Baylor, won’t be. Extra picks may allow the Angels, who value multi-tooled athletes, to take a shot at trying to sign Jenkins away from a promising two-sport college career.

31. Rays - Hunter Morris, 1B, Auburn
I’m sure the Rays would be ecstatic if they were able to land two of the draft’s premium sluggers with their two first-round selections. Morris doesn’t quite profile as the premium athlete that the Rays usually target, but would seem to be a natural replacement for Carlos Pena at first base a few years down the road.

32. Yankees - Stetson Allie - RHP, St. Edward HS (OH)
As good as the Yankees are at seemingly all things baseball, they take a surprisingly conservative approach to the draft. They tend to prefer more polished college players, but could end up being smitten by Allie’s arm strength and raw power at the plate, hoping they’ve found the real-life version of Steve Nebraska.
The thoughts and opinions listed here do not necessarily reflect those of Perfect Game USA. Patrick Ebert is affiliated with both Perfect Game USA and 5 Tool Talk, and can be contacted via email at pebert@5tooltalk.com.
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Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 6/26/2026

MLB Draft Reports: 1-99
Michael Albee
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2026 MLB Draft Reports: 100-299 | 200-299 | 300-399 | 400-500 1. Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA R-R, 6-2/202, Chandler, AZ Previously Drafted: Never Drafted   Roch Cholowsky has consistently ranked at the top of the class throughout the cycle due to the safety and upside of the profile. Defensively, he is a plus defender at shortstop with soft hands, consistent actions, and quality range. Not only should he stick at the position long term, he should excel there at the next level. Offensively, there is a strong mix of hit and power potential from the right side of the plate. The swing is a bit unorthodox with a shorter finish, but Cholowsky consistently finds the barrel and drives the ball with authority to all fields. He has strong bat to ball skills with impact. He has walked more than stuck out during his collegiate career, giving him a high on-base ability. The run tool is the...
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High School | General | 7/1/2026

PG High School All-Americans

Tyler Russo
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High School Top 50: Final Update With the High School season all wrapped up, today we take a look at our First, Second and Third Team All-Americans from around the country. Below you'll find three teams with stats that seem otherworldly from players who'll likely hear their names called in the coming week's MLB Draft. Within the "Notable Stats" section you'll see the individual award winners as well. First Team All-American Pos.  Name Class School State Commitment Notable Stats C Cole Prosek 2026 Magnolia Heights MS Ole Miss .595 BA, 18 HR, 79 RBI 1B Will Adams 2026 Hoover AL LSU .489, 13 HR, 52 RBI IF James Tronstein 2026 Harvard-Westlake CA Vanderbilt .531, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 21 XBH IF Grady Emerson 2026 Fort Worth Christian TX Texas .508, 8 HR, 56 RBI, 34/35 SB, National POY IF Jacob Lombard 2026 Gulliver Schools FL Miami .477, 10 HR, 52 R, 42 H, 14 SB OF Martin Shelar 2026 Marist GA...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

Performance Baseball Rolls On

Kinley Kitchens
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Championship teams often reveal themselves when the game isn’t going their way. Performance Baseball 2028/Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team did exactly that. Trailing Florida Burn 2028 Scout through four innings, the Brewers refused to panic. Instead, they relied on timely hitting, consistent pitching, and an unselfish approach at the plate, rallying a five-run fifth inning before pulling away for a 9-5 victory to clinch their spot in the semifinals. The comeback was fueled by contributions throughout the lineup. Six different players drove in runs, including two RBIs each from Aiden Capobianco and Cameron Massey, while Matthew Heredia, Parker Weston, Ethan Smith, and Aj Bonnette each added an RBI of their own. On the mound, Derek Wenzel set the tone with 3.2 solid innings before Ethan Smith shut the door in relief, helping preserve the comeback victory. Although the Brewers have had a...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/1/2026

JK Select Hawaii Tackles 14u West WS

Emily Hicks
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JK Select Hawaii capped off an impressive tournament run by defeating GBG Vegas 14u Red14-4 in the championship game on Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark, claiming the 14u West World Series title. From the opening pitch, JK Select controlled the pace of the game. The offense jumped out early, scoring 6 runs in the 1st inning after timely hits from MVP Sean Shindo and Kade Manarpaac. The early lead gave the pitching staff confidence as they worked efficiently through the opposing lineup. “I've worked hard to get better at my game for the past few months; it means a lot that I did well and performed in a tournament like this” said Shindo. Starting pitcher Maddox Prones turned in a strong performance, allowing 3 runs while striking out 5 batters over 3 innings. The defense backed the effort with great plays in the middle infield, preventing GBG Vegas from building momentum....
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Tournaments | Story | 7/1/2026

"Wow" Swings Catch Eyes at 16u Elite

Kinley Kitchens
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On the second day of the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, one swing turned heads across the ballpark. The next one brought everyone to a stop. With Wow Factor Nation 16U trailing midway through its matchup against Sandlot Scout Team 2028, Micheal O'Connor launched a solo home run to spark the offense. Just one batter later, Aaron Frink stepped into the box and sent another ball over the fence, delivering back-to-back home runs that quickly became one of the most talked about moments of the tournament’s opening days. Parents gathered along the nets, players from previous games stopped to watch, and college scouts turned their attention toward the action as the two towering swings energized the crowd and brought new life to the game. Although Wow Factor Nation ultimately lost 5-3 after a hard-fought performance, the back-to-back home runs served as a reminder of the...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Stacked Runs the Table at 17u WWBA

Will Dembo
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Following a jam-packed week of entertainment at the 17u WWBA Championships, the top nationally ranked program, USA Prime 17u National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, faced off against Stacked Baseball 17u (No. 80 nationally) in the highly anticipated championship matchup as both teams looked to earn one of the most prestigious titles in all of travel baseball. Each talented squad entered the finale undefeated, but Stacked Baseball continued their dominance throughout the tournament, defeating the Detroit Tigers Scout Team 10-2 in mercy rule fashion to become national champions behind explosive bats and impressive pitching. Stacked Baseball was the overwhelming top team throughout the week as the WWBA Champions outscored opponents by an absurd 117-12 during their 11-0 run. “We got some talented kids, but we played against a little bit of Goliath over there,” Stacked Head Coach Mike...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 7

Perfect Game Staff
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17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4  Day 5 | Day 6 Shea Corona (2027, Brooklyn, N.Y.) showcased some loud stuff out of the bullpen for MLB Breakthrough Series 2027. The New York native and primary shortstop topped out at 93 with the fastball, sitting comfortable in the 90-92 range. Corona paired it with a sharp and tight slider at 81-83, staying on the same plane until late. The pitch plays well already and the delivery is very athletic. The uncommitted right-hander went three scoreless and was in the zone plenty, striking out two while not allowing a walk. '27 SS Moises Gudino (FL) continues to stay red hot, working a long AB & cracking an oppo 2B on the 8th pitch. Really seeing ing well. #WWBA @Florida_PG https://t.co/OjNJ8Bmzao pic.twitter.com/WoDDp35EI1 — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 30, 2026 Moises Gudino (2027, Tampa, Fla.)...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

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Kinley Kitchens
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Every team hopes to start a tournament with momentum, but few make a statement quite like Texas Twelve Maroon 2028. Matched up against defending champion Excel Blue Wave National to kick off their debut in the 2026 Perfect Game National Elite Championship, Texas Twelve Maroon delivered a complete team performance, earning a hard-fought 3-2 victory and immediately establishing themselves as one of the top teams to watch this week. The win showcased the balance that has made Texas Twelve Maroon a powerful team. Strong pitching, timely hitting, and steady defense all played a role as the team held off one of the tournament’s premier programs. Right-hander Ty Antley turned in an outstanding performance on the mound, throwing a complete game while allowing only five hits and two walks over seven innings. The High Follow prospect worked consistently between 85-89 mph and mixed in a sharp...
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Alyssa Golden
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Flames Natty used timely hitting and a dominant start from Beau Collier to defeat NLB American 7-3 and capture the 18U BCS National Championship on Monday at Lee Health Sports Complex. Despite being assembled just hours before the tournament began, the Flames quickly developed chemistry throughout the tournament. “This team was put together 12 hours before this tournament, and they went on a crazy run,” head coach Adam Vasquez said. “These kids know each other locally, but they don’t play together. For them to come together last minute like that, it’s crazy. I’m proud of them for that.” The game opened as a pitchers’ duel, with David Acevedo recording the lone hit through the first two innings. NLB American starter Hayden Graham kept the Flames in check early, allowing just one hit while striking out one over 2.0 innings. The right-hander...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Ohio Valley BCS Champ. Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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‘28 C Keegan Sawyer (OH) showcased the toolshed in this one. A top player in the OH ‘28 class. LOUD (Hit & Defense) #OVBCS @KeeganSawyer10 Clip 1: 3-R 💣 to LF Clip 2: 2B to LC Clip 3: SEED, Caught Stealing @ 2B Name for August 1 @MidlandBasebal pic.twitter.com/FvIpEU7Llz — Jordan Gates (@JGatesPG) June 27, 2026 Keegan Sawyer (2028, Cleves, Ohio) The stock continues to go up and up for Keegan Sawyer. Fresh off a state championship for Bading High School, he has picked up where he has left off this spring. It seems that he gets bigger each time I see him, but the frame really works on both sides of the ball at 6-feet, 190-pounds. It’s athletic and the actions on both sides are extremely advanced. Sawyer took home MVP honors after finishing with nine hits, six going for extra bases including two home runs, nine RBIs and eight runs scored. It’s electric at...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/30/2026

Texas Region Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Austin Lyons (2028, Cibolo, Texas) put on a display for Canes Southwest Prime 16U. Went 7-14 at the plate with a pair of doubles and triples, while driving in 13 runs. He won Tournament MVP for his efforts. Physical left-handed frame with feel to hit to all fields. Utilizes the middle of the field as well as the opposite field efficiently. Should be a force to be reckoned with as he grows into some more power. Evan Rosales (2027, Houston, Texas) was dominant on the mound for HP 2027 Allen. Went five shutout innings over the weekend, surrendering just one hit and two walks while striking out ten. Fastball lives 83-87 with some carry. Curveball is a heavy 12/6 downer at 69-74. North-south approach with a super steep release. Showed some really good feel for the zone and sequenced effectively to keep hitters off balance. Tristan Wright (2028, Magnolia, Texas) put on a show for Banditos 2028...
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