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Draft  | Story | 7/20/2026

2026 MLB Draft: Roster Challenge

Tyler Henninger
Michael Albee
Joey Cohen
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 Weingartner, St. Augustine Prep HS (6th rd)
OF: Martin Shelar, Marist HS (9th rd)
DH: Ben Ziegler-Namoa, Hawaii (10th rd)
RHP: Jensen Hirschkorn, Kingsburg HS (3rd rd)
LHP: Ryan Marohn, North Carolina State (5th rd)

This was a fun exercise that required some thinking power late in the process, but it was made much easier given that we did not have to factor in the bonus pool money to our fantasy draft. There was still a pinch for me late in the process, however, and that is how I landed with fifth year graduate student Ben Ziegler-Namoa at DH. He was a huge money saver late for the Braves ($500 bonus, not a typo) and played a similar role for me here. Ziegler-Namoa was a steady contributor for Hawaii over four years, showing more of an on-base archetype with less juice as a first baseman. 

I had the 1:1 overall selection here, and I used that on Vahn Lackey. Some of it was probably biased, given that I saw Lackey when he was an uncommitted senior looking for a home in the middle of his senior spring season. Regardless, he has blossomed over the last three years into becoming what is in my eyes a 5 tool prospect. He brings versatility defensively and could be an MLB average defender at various positions with above average arm strength. The hit/power here is self explanatory (performer, future projection), and I think there is even more impact to come as he fills out the body. He’s an above average runner as well. All the way in on this athlete and profile.

The infield is going to be home to a lot of prep talent. Defense is secondary with this unit, especially up the middle, but I am in on the ability for this group to really hit. Looking at the corners, I nabbed Will Adams and Robert Omidi. Adams has a controlled, smooth left-handed swing with projectable all-fields power and real feel to hit. I saw this in person on multiple occasions this spring at the High School showdown, and he was one of the best pure hitters I got eyes on at the event. He got some run in the outfield as well and by all reports he was serviceable, but I think he lands at first base long-term and provides good defense there. He is committed to LSU and may be a tough sign, but we aren’t too worried about that in this scenario. I am simply a believer in the zone control and bat to ball. In a similar vein, Robert Omidi was entered as a third baseman. I am not sold on his ability to stay there long-term, but we can let Team Albee PD iron out the kinks with the glove. The bat has performed stateside in essentially every look our staff has gotten, and he has handled professional arms on the backfields in the south better than just about anybody in his country outside of 2nd rounder Lascelles. This is a hit reliant profile with average to fringe tools elsewhere, but the bat gives him a path to the major leagues.

Here is where the aforementioned defense issues come into play, as I have Cole Prosek and Eric Guevara slotted to handle 2B and SS. If I had to choose, it would be Guevara at short and Prosek at second. Guevara was just a steady eddy performer at Auburn for three years, showing more juice this past spring than he had ever tapped into before without sacrificing the on base ability. There isn’t a tool here that is going to project as more than MLB average in my eyes, but there is a nice grouping of tools to carry this profile to the big leagues. I had him pegged as a mid day 2 interest type in my college report earlier this year, but his strong surge to end the year catapulted him into the 7th round. Prosek is just a hitter, and there really doesn’t have to be too much more said there. It’s a sound left-handed swing and he can adjust the barrel to any part of the zone. This is an easy plus hit tool projection. He played some catcher this spring and bounced around elsewhere on the diamond, but that will figure itself out in time. For now, he is my second baseman.

I went with three high ceiling preps that would never all get their fair share of pool money if taken by the same team in the real draft. Alex Weingartner, Martin Shelar and Kevin Roberts Jr are going to be the trio I roll with here. All three of these names kind of fall under the same umbrella… explosive athletes, lots of juice potential and hit tool concerns. We’ll trust Team Albee PD to develop these guys into even just below average (40) hitters so that their other tools can show at the big league level on a daily basis. 

Rounding things off, I went with two arms on totally different ends of the spectrum: prep right-hander and college left-hander. Jensen Hirschkorn already got paid by Atlanta ($4m), and it’s not too hard to see why. He has the size and ease of operation you look for paired with what is already plus velocity on his fastball with more to come. He has the capacity to spin the slider that has proved to be a bat miss offering, and there is feel for a change-up in the mix too. You can’t teach 6’7/205 and athletic. For my left-hander, I felt like I found some value in the fifth with Ryan Marohn. He’s a classic pitchability southpaw that pours strikes in the zone, competes with four pitches and gets outs. It’s a nice floor and one that I project out to being a backend of the rotation starter at the professional level. Last year for NC State, he would pitch to a 3.18 ERA over 8 starts (45.1 IP) with 62 striekouts and a .204 average allowed.

All in all, this was a fun challenge and I like how the team ended up. I leaned upside and ceiling over safer floors for the most part, but there’s a solid blend of both I think when you break it down in its totality. 


Team Joey

C: Will Brick, Christian Brothers HS, (4th rd)
1B: Brady Ballinger, University of Kansas, (7th rd)
MIF: Elliot Lascelles, Upper Canada College, (2nd rd)
MIF: Aaron Piasecki, Troy (8th rd)
3B: Tre Phelps, Georgia (9th rd)
OF: Will Gasparino, UCLA  (5th rd)
OF: Aiden Robins, Texas (3rd rd)
OF: Braden Holcomb, Vanderbilt (12th rd)
DH: Matthew Bucciero, Fairfield (10th rd)
RHP: Jackson Flora, UCSB (1st rd)
LHP: Justin LeGuernic, Clemson (6th rd)

As I built out my roster the goal was clear, prioritize impact talent at premium defensive positions while targeting players with present offensive skill but with big upside. I wanted a blend of high-floor contributors and high-ceiling bets, specifically guys who not only project to contribute but have legitimate big league impact in their outcomes. I feel like this group strikes that balance well.

I started with Jackson Flora because locking in a true ace-caliber arm early was a priority. To me, Flora stood alone at the top of this ‘26 pitching class as he simply checks every box. The combination of size, present stuff, velocity and projection gives him the type of profile you anchor a rotation around. It’s frontline upside with a strong foundation.

From there, I went to Elliot Lascelles, one of the more complete and polished prep bats available. I wanted a hitter I could trust at a premium position, and Lascelles brings that with athleticism, defensive reliability and a mature offensive approach. The barrel feel stands out, and while the present power isn’t overwhelming there’s clear room for more as he continues to add strength. It’s a hit-first profile with real offensive value.

After that, I doubled back into the prep pool for another upside swing in Will Brick. It’s a rare combination of defensive chops behind the plate, real athleticism, plus arm strength and legitimate offensive upside. That kind of catcher profile is hard to come by, especially at the prep level and the ceiling here is substantial.

On the college side, I wanted to inject some serious athleticism and impact which led me to Will Gasparino and Braden Holcomb. Gasparino is a true outlier physically as he’s a 6-foot-6 center fielder with real power and defensive ability which is a tough combination to find. There’s some swing-and-miss to monitor, but the upside is loud and worth the bet. Holcomb brings a different type of impact with elite raw power and physicality. He’s capable of producing some of the loudest contact in the class. There’s risk tied to the hit tool and defensive profile, but the offensive ceiling is undeniable.

Once that core was in place, I shifted toward proven production to round out the lineup. Aiden Robbins was a clear target given his track record and ability to impact the game in multiple ways offensively. He’s shown he can hit, drive the baseball, and handle quality competition. There are still questions about how the approach holds against premium arms but the offensive floor here is appealing. Tre Phelps fits a similar mold as a consistently productive bat. There are some questions surrounding the defensive home and overall approach, but the bat has shown it plays, and there’s impact in it.

I mixed in Justin LeGuernic among that group to add a different look on the mound. The slightly lower slot from the left side, above avg. velocity, and a swing-and-miss breaking ball give him a chance to develop into a serious bullpen weapon. It’s a profile that could move quickly.

Brady Ballinger was more of a conviction pick for me. I still believe in what he showed in 2025, even with a down 2026. The underlying offensive traits and big power are still in there, and I’m betting on a rebound. Matthew Bucciero fit nicely into a DH role as there’s some sneaky value in the swing decisions and power combination that flew under the radar in the MAAC. Aaron Piasecki rounds things out with versatility and reliability. He can handle the middle infield and brings a contact-oriented offensive approach that adds balance to the overall group.

Overall, this roster is built on a foundation of upside and long-term value. There’s a potential frontline arm at the top, strength up the middle defensively, a high-upside catcher, and multiple bats that project for middle-of-the-order impact. There’s some risk baked in, but that’s intentional. I’m betting on talent, athleticism, and projection. When it all comes together, I think this group stacks up as the strongest of the three.

Team Henni

C: Jack Natili, Cincinnati (3rd rd)
1B: Rintaro Sasaki, Stanford (8th rd)
MIF: Roch Cholowsky, UCLA (1st rd)
MIF: Nu'u Contrades, Arizona State (6th rd)
3B: Alex Hernandez, Georgia Tech (4th rd)
OF: Rylan Lujo, Georgia (4th rd)
OF: Matthew Thomas, CSUN (13th rd)
OF: Kyeler Thompson, Texas Tech (9th rd)
DH: Augie Lopez, USC (10th rd)
RHP: Savion Sims, Prestonwood Christian (7th rd)
LHP: Mason Edwards, USC (2nd rd) 

It is hard not to come away excited with your team when you are able to select the best player in the draft. I used my first pick on UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky. He is a plus defender at a premium position with a feel to hit and power potential. It’s both a safe floor and high ceiling and there was just no way I could pass on him as the last person to have a pick in this exercise. 

Cholowsky leads a college heavy roster that I feel is loaded with plenty of talent. I feel really good about my selection behind the plate. In a loaded catcher class, Jack Natili is one of the better ones and feels like great value as a 3rd round pick. He can provide sound swing decisions and power at the plate. Defensively, there is plus arm strength and actions that continue to get better. 

I had a few different directions I could have gone at the hot corner but wound up with Alex Hernandez from Georgia Tech. I like the thump he can provide with run-producing ability. As for my first baseman, I ran into a little trouble at the end. By the time I got around to filling my first base spot, I only could pick players from the 4th round, 8th round, or 10th round. This limited my available options, but I feel good with the selection of Rintaro Sasaki. I know there are some concerns with the hit tool, but the raw power is some of the best in the class. 

After spending my higher value picks on other positions, I had to get a little creative for my outfield group. I went with Matthew Thomas out of my CSUN with my 11th-20th round pick and that feels like a steal. I used my available 9th round player on Kyeler Thompson. He is an athletic center fielder that gives the roster some athleticism. After both Albee and Joey had already picked players from the 4th round early in the process, I was able to loop back around and grab Rylan Lujo with my last selection. He put together a monster sprint and I like the upside there. 

On the mound, I love the upside I was able to grab. I used my second pick on my second round player in USC left-hander Mason Edwards. He is arguably the best left-hander in the class with big time upside. Right-handed Savion Sims is the only prep on my roster and may have the biggest upside. He has the potential to be the hardest thrower in the entire draft and is supremely valuable after being selected in the 7th round. 

Overall, I feel really good taking my team over the other two. There is athleticism up the middle and big thumpers on the corner. I would argue I have the best collection of arms out of the three teams selected. This group feels like it has a mix of star power, a safe floor, and quality upside.
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Draft | Mock Draft | 7/13/2026

2027 Mock Draft: Way Too Early Ediition
Vincent Cervino
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With the 2026 MLB Draft officially complete, let's quickly turn our eyes to the 2027 group and do a way too early mock draft. Leading the way is shortstop Brendan Lawson out of the University of Florida, setting the trend as three of the top four names all call shortstop home with Dylan Seward and Carter Hadnot. If shortstops aren't your thing for any which reason, maybe hard throwing left-handers tickle your fancy whether it be prep Connor Salerno, Tomas Valincius from Mississippi State or Dylan Volantis, a dominant arm from the University of Texas.  Pick Team Name Pos. School 1 Los Angeles Angels Brendan Lawson SS Florida 2 Kansas City Royals Dylan Seward SS Norco (Calif.) 3 Colorado Rockies Landon Hairston OF Arizona State 4 New York Mets Carter Hadnot SS Aquinas (Calif.) 5 Athletics Connor Salerno LHP Sun Valley (N.C.) 6 Cincinnati Reds Tomas Valincius LHP Mississippi State 7...
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PG Select Baseball Festival | General | 7/21/2026

13u Select Festival Roster Reveal

Jheremy Brown
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With the completion of the 2026 13u National Showcase, an event that featured some of the best talent the age group has to offer, 42 players came out with the label of "Festivaler" as they received a phone call shortly after the event concluded. Moving back to the University of Tennessee after a two year stay at the University of Virginia, Ole Rocky Top will see a mixed bag of returners; three-timers, new faces and a couple who bridged the gap from the 11u game into the 13u iteration.  Of the 42 players, 9 players call Florida their home base which is the most of any state while Texas (8), California (7) and Georgia (5) are all close behind nearly three-quarters of the players selected. In total 17 different states are represented, from Hawaii to Arkansas, Washington to Maryland and everywhere in between.  Quick roster breakdown: Three-time Select Festival: 13 players ...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/21/2026

16U BCS Rolls into Fort Myers

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The 21st annual 16U BCS National Championship returns to Fort Myers, Florida from July 23-27, bringing together many of the nation’s top 2028 graduates. The tournament features 44 teams, including six nationally ranked clubs, competing for a national title across five days of high-level competition. Year after year, the event has served as a proving ground for elite talent. Defending champion Showtime Select National 16U returns after capturing last year’s championship, while a talented field from across the country will look to add its name to the event’s prestigious history. One of the premier prospects in the field, shortstop Gabriel Coupet enters as the highest-ranked player in attendance, checking in at No. 49 overall in the Class of 2028 and No. 8 player in Florida. The Boynton Beach, Fla., native has established himself as one of the country’s most talented...
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College | Story | 7/21/2026

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John Coppolella
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The amateur players in the Cape Cod Baseball League are the future stars of the 2027 MLB Draft. The league runs from June 13th through August 2nd. Games are played at historic stadiums in Old New England towns. It’s beautiful and charming. Hollywood even made a movie about the Cape Cod League ~25 years ago called Summer Catch. It scored an 8% (!) on Rotten Tomatoes, but, on the plus side, it featured 2001 Jessica Biel in a starring role.  It was so much fun writing Coppy’s Column this spring. My hope is to highlight a pitcher and position player each week from the Cape. And, who knows, maybe somewhere out there Jessica Biel is reading it.    Player of the Week: Coen Niclai – Wareham Gatemen  The Internet tells me that 12 MLB players have come from Alaska, 10 of whom were from Anchorage, and the best of which is Curt Schilling. Niclai, who is also...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/20/2026

FTB National Completes Elite Run

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Championships are never won in a single game. For FTB National 2027, this one has been in the making for years. An 8-0 victory over Team Elite 17U Scout capped off an unforgettable week at the 2026 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship, but according to those inside the dugout, the championship was a product of friendships formed long before the tournament ever began. FTB took their first national elite win in team history, giving one of the nation’s top 2027 teams an elite ending to their 17U summer. “This is a homegrown group,” head coach Will Haynie said. “This team has been together for the last four or five years, and I think a lot of them have been together since the Little League World Series when they were 12. It’s been fun, and a nice little cap off to their 17U summer, especially after winning a big event like this.” That chemistry...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/20/2026

16u World Series Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Perfect Game Staff
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16u World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Lucas Sullivan (2027, Winder, GA) absolutely shoved in the first round of the playoffs. He racked up a total of 13 strikeouts across his seven inning, complete game shutout performance. Sullivan worked three pitches for strikes with lots of comfort and only allowed two hits. Ran the fastball up to 86 and he got lots of swing and miss on the 11-5 curveball. Mixes speeds well and was electric to watch. Landon King (2028, San Mateo, CA) was just one of the best players on the field the first two rounds of the playoffs. Totaled four hits, two of those were for extra bases and scored three times. Has lightning quick hands in the left-handed batter's box and produced loud contact constantly. Top of the class barrel skills with twitch in the turn.  Jacob Piles (2028, Cape Coral, FL) is hitting an astounding .615 with a pair of doubles in the...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/20/2026

15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 3

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15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 ‘29 RHP Bryson Auten (NJ) comes out throwing absolute flames to get out of a jam. Sitting 92-94 & does it with ease. Comes out of the hand well & challenging hitters with the FB. #WWBA @PGMidAtlantic pic.twitter.com/Tf18Rdk4mx — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 19, 2026 Bryson Auten (2029, Flemington, N.J.) came in out of the bullpen in a brutal spot and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to get out of it. He would then register another pair of strikeouts in his second inning of work, ending the game going 1 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. The fastball was electric, working at 92-94 and does it super easy, coming out of the hand great. Command was excellent in this outing as well, throwing 70% strikes. It’s a power type arm with advanced arm talent for the age and any time you see 92-94 at a 15u event, it’s notable...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/20/2026

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Emily Hicks
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After five days of competitive baseball, Legion Baseball emerged as champions at the Perfect Game WWBA Championship, completing an impressive tournament run with a victory over ‘28 San DIego Ghost 10-3 in the championship game at Surprise Stadium.  The tournament brought together talented programs from across the West and beyond, with teams competing in the 15U and 16U divisions. Throughout the week, players showcased their skills in front of coaches, teammates, and families while battling through pool play and the championship bracket for the opportunity to hoist the trophy.  From the opening day of competition, Legion established itself as one of the tournament's top contenders. The club relied on hitting, quality pitching, and consistent defense to navigate a challenging field and earn its place in the championship game.  In the title matchup, Legion received key...
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Press Release | Press Release | 7/20/2026

LGND Becomes Official Glove of PG

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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 PARTNERS WITH MLB SUPERSTAR MOOKIE BETTS, NAMING LGND OFFICIAL GLOVE OF PERFECT GAME   Partnership Officially Kicks Off with LGND Block Party on July 27 in Fullerton, California   Los Angeles, California (Monday, July 20, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a landmark partnership with Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star and 6-time Gold Glove Award winner Mookie Betts, naming recently-announced LGND Glove the Official Glove of Perfect Game. The collaboration establishes a first-of-its-kind relationship between baseball’s most influential amateur ecosystem and an active MLB superstar at the height of his career. The...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/19/2026

17u WWBA North Champ. Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Ty Teske (2027, Merrill, WI) worked a complete-game seven-inning shutout while striking out 12 and never allowed the game to speed up on him. The fastball sat 79-81 and touched 83, consistently working to both sides of the plate and getting him into favorable counts. Repeats the delivery exceptionally well and maintained command throughout all seven innings. Mixed in a 69-71 curveball with depth that he showed confidence landing for strikes early or using to finish at-bats. Did an excellent job changing eye levels and preventing hitters from sitting on one pitch.   Landon Sanderson (2027, Lake Crystal, MN) attacked hitters with an 85-87 fastball that reached 89 and showed quality arm-side movement through the zone. The ball comes out with some jump and continued to play throughout the outing. Stayed on the attack from the first inning, consistently getting ahead and forcing...
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