THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,577 MLB PLAYERS | 16,376 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,577 MLB PLAYERS | 16,376 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
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. 
 
Give us your feedback
Draft | Story | 7/20/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Roster Challenge
Tyler Henninger
Article Image
With the 2026 MLB Draft complete, our own draft team put together a fun exercise. Using a snake style draft format, we each had to build a roster using players selected in the 2026 MLB Draft. There was one catch. Each team could select only one player from each of the first 10 rounds, plus one player from Rounds 11-20. You did not have to go in order of each round, meaning you could jump between rounds and pick which players you thought had the most value. Each team installed a different strategy, balancing between star power, positional value, and depth. You tell us, which team do you think has the most talent? Team Albee C: Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech (1st rd) 1B: Will Adams, Hoover HS (11th rd) MIF: Cole Prosek, Magnolia Heights HS (2nd rd) MIF: Eric Guevara, Auburn (7th rd) 3B: Robert Omidi, Fieldhouse Pirates (8th rd) OF: Kevin Roberts Jr, Jackson Prep HS (4th rd) OF: Alex...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/23/2026

A Look Ahead: 16U PG West WS

Emily Hicks
Article Image
Another exciting week of Perfect Game baseball is on the horizon as the 16U PG West World Series brings together some of the top travel baseball programs for a highly competitive tournament. Taking place July 23 - 26 at Riverview Complex in Mesa, AZ, the event will feature talented teams looking to make a statement as they compete for one of the summer's most prestigious titles. The tournament will welcome clubs from across the West, creating a talented field filled with nationally recognized organizations, rising contenders, and some of the top 16U prospects in the country. Throughout pool play and the championship bracket, every game will provide an opportunity for teams to showcase their talent while pursuing a World Series championship. With high-level competition expected throughout the week, fans can look forward to quality pitching, explosive offenses, and outstanding defensive...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/23/2026

Battle For The Midwest Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Gavin Johnson (2029, De Pere, Wisc.) handled the bat pretty well this weekend for his CBT Wolfpack 15u team that made a run into bracket play. Johnson is a left-handed hitting first baseman with a physical 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame, showing good physicality throughout the build. It’s a clean stroke from the left side, with feel to deliver the barrel on time and drive the ball working pull-side. He has a feel to rotate well, loading deep with the hands & turning well through contact to impact the baseball out in front. Johnson tallied four hits on the weekend, including 2 doubles and a triple. He plated 3 runs as well.   Devon Hester (2029, Chicago, Ill.) had a heck of a weekend for Chicago White Sox Ace 2029 Hunt. He showed out on both sides of the ball this past weekend, really getting it done at the plate. He finished the weekend 7-for-15, with a double and 4 RBI to...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/23/2026

UBC Midwest X Atlantic Notes: Part 2

Jordan Gates
Article Image
UBC Midwest X Atlantic Notes: Part 1 ‘27 RHP Alexander Kakach (MN) displayed present arm strength and some feel to spin. The #Creighton commit was up to 93 mph with the FB (89-93), while the SL showed two plane break at 79-84 mph. Mixed in CT at 84-86 with tight action in the zone. #UBCMW @MNIcemen @PG_WiscMinn pic.twitter.com/TlrOnNDIcd — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) July 18, 2026 Alexander Kakach (2027, Plymouth, Minn.) of MN Icemen 17U Gominsky displayed intriguing upside on the mound, striking out five over 4.0 innings while running the fastball up to 93 mph with ride. The 6-foot, 180-pound right-hander and Creighton commit paired the fastball with a low-80s slider that flashed two-plane break and a cutter that played well off the mix. Kakach worked with a loose, quick arm from a high three-quarter slot, creating quality movement across his mix while displaying...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/23/2026

15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 6

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 Brycen Orcutt (‘29, WV) was dominant to open his outing, tossing five innings of shutout ball thus far, striking out nine. Got the FB up to 85 w/ feel to land a tight + sharp two-plane BB. #WWBA @PG_VirginiaWV pic.twitter.com/Yjm2IbufqU — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 21, 2026 Brycen Orcutt (’29, South Charleston, WV) has put together a strong event on both sides of the ball, posting a 1.458 OPS at the plate thus far, including a pair of doubles and three driven in. On the mound, Orcutt has logged a pair of starts, totaling 11.1 innings of shutout ball, striking out 15. The West Virginia native operates from a medium right-handed frame with a bit of length and lower half strength. He starts above the belt, working into an over-the-head windup before utilizing a medium direct leg lift, firing down...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/22/2026

15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 5

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 Noah Rumley (‘29 NC) has been up to 90 so far in this start w/ 8 Ks in 4 innings of work. Really jumps out of the hand at foot strike w/ some ride to it; has also mixed in a SL w/ horizontal action. #WWBA @PG_Coastal pic.twitter.com/OcU57a3Syl — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 21, 2026 Noah Rumley (2029, Summerfield, N.C.) got the ball for GBC Lopez 2029 15u in their final game of pool play and dominated, going up against a tough lineup in the East Cobb Astros. The 6-foot-2 left-handed pitcher ended up going five innings, allowing only one hit and one run, while striking out nine. It’s premium stuff at the 15u level as he worked easily in the upper-80s, topping at 90 mph in the first. The breaking ball showed two-plane shape in the upper-70s as well. There’s a ton of things to like already and even...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/22/2026

Champions Named at Southwest Select

Emily Hicks
Article Image
Another week of Perfect Game baseball concluded as champions were crowned in the 15U, 16U, and 18U divisions of the Southwest Select Championship. After several days of pool play and championship bracket action, three teams rose above the competition to capture tournament titles following a week of high-level baseball. Throughout the tournament, teams from across the Southwest and beyond competed in closely contested matchups, producing standout pitching performances, timely offense, and memorable defensive plays. As the bracket narrowed, each division featured championship-caliber baseball before the final trophies were awarded. 15U Championship The 15U division title was claimed by AZ Prodigy, who defeated Nomadic 14U Premier by a score of 2-1 in the championship game. After putting together a strong tournament run, AZ Prodigy continued its momentum in the title game with contributions...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/23/2026

Battle for the Windy City Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Tyler Osmanski (2027, Frankfort, Ill.) a 5-foot-11 160-pound right-handed pitcher worked a 7 inning complete game shutout to start off Chicago Elite’s 6-0 weekend. On top of going the distance he allowed only three base runners and one hit. Osmanski has lots of athleticism in his delivery. He keeps his body under control while still being able to have good arm action and great hip to shoulder separation. He works from the third base side of the rubber with a high ¾ arm slot. His fastball was up to 84mph multiple times and sat 80-83mph. He used two offspeed pitches, a good 12-6 breaking ball 65-68mph, and a changeup in the low 70’s.     ‘27 RHP Brett Alkire (IL) punched out everyone across his 5.2 inning masterful outing. He struck out 13 batters and did it on 66% strikes. Has an active arm action and kept the ball on the corners. FB T92 early w/...
Read More
All American Game | Story | 7/22/2026

PG All-American Classic Roster Reveal

Article Image
  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME ANNOUNCES TEAM ROSTERS FOR 2026 DICK'S ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC AT CITIZENS BANK PARK   The rosters span 20 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Canada, with California leading the way Jersey City's Finnian O'Loughlin gives the host region a player in the spotlight Field includes sons of Hall of Famer Frank Thomas & MLB All-Star Brad Hawpe   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Wednesday, July 22, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the Team East and Team West rosters for the 2026 DICK'S All-American Classic, set for Sunday, August 16 at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. The 60-player field represents the top...
Read More
Tournaments | Championship | 7/22/2026

Florida Burn Cruise to 17U BCS Crown

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
Ranked fifth nationally entering the tournament, Florida Burn 2027 Scout left no doubt who the best team was at the 17U BCS National Championship. Burn finished a perfect 9-0 tournament, earning an 11-1 semifinal victory before defeating No. 86-ranked Original Florida Pokers 2027 National, 9-1, Tuesday afternoon at JetBlue Park. Burn seized control early and never looked back in a game that ended after the fifth inning per Perfect Game’s mercy rule. Burn carried its explosive offense into the championship game as Braedon Mackay launched a two-run home run in the first inning, giving his team an early 2-0 lead. Mackay’s home run sparked a five-run opening inning, setting the tone for the rest of the afternoon. The Florida commit later earned tournament MVP honors after helping lead Burn to an unbeaten championship run. “I was just trying to get something started,”...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 7/22/2026

17u BCS Scout Notes: Days 2-3

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
17u BCS Scout Notes: Day 1 Kenniel Nieves Medero (2027 SS, PR)  Nieves Medero put together another quality offensive showing, continuing the consistent production he displayed throughout the tournament. The 8.5 PG grade shortstop features quick hands and does an excellent job creating separation with strong hip rotation, allowing him to generate easy bat speed through the zone. The swing remains balanced and efficient with present feel for the barrel. A polished offensive profile with tools that continue to translate in game action.  Oscar Cambero (2027 3B, FL)  Cambero turned in an impressive offensive performance, smoking a triple into the gap while showcasing both speed and gap-to-gap power. The right-handed hitter generates quality bat speed and consistently impacts the baseball with authority. Plays with a high motor on both sides of the ball and competes with energy...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.