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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 | 7/30/2026

2023 Draft: Late Round Georgia Look Back
Michael Albee
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I have a soft spot for the under the radar high school preps that go in the 11th-20th rounds and sign. It’s not only a nice story, but it’s a show of faith from an organization in their area scout who put the time in, scouted the player and got a feel for the makeup on a guy that wasn’t a consensus “dude”. 2023 was my first year going out to high school games for Perfect Game in Georgia, so I wanted to go back and highlight the late round guys from the ‘23 class that were popped and signed to pursue their dreams of becoming a professional baseball player right away. Here’s a review of those four players from what they were in high school, and where they are at currently in their careers.  Andrew Dunford (‘23 GA) throwing some gas, up to 95 & sitting 92-93 with heavy life (clip), shown comfort going to big sweeping SL; big...
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Press Release | Press Release | 8/4/2026

PG & Dick's Expand Partnership

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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 AND DICK’S EXPAND PARTNERSHIP, INCLUDE NAMING RIGHTS AT EAST COBB COMPLEX   Marietta, Georgia (Tuesday, August 4, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the renewal and expansion of its longstanding partnership with DICK’S Sporting Goods.   As part of the expanded agreement, the iconic East Cobb Complex in Georgia will officially be renamed DICK’S Sporting Goods Park at East Cobb, reinforcing the retailer’s long-term investment in youth sports and enhancing one of the most recognized destinations in all of amateur baseball. The announcement comes ahead of this weekend’s Perfect Game 11U...
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College | Story | 8/3/2026

Cape Cod League Notebook: August 3

Perfect Game Staff
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Angel Cervantes | RHP | UCLA | Chatham Anglers  Angel Cervantes has lived up to the hype since arriving at UCLA after turning down a second-round selection (50th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2025 MLB Draft. Following a strong freshman campaign that helped power the Bruins to the No. 1 ranking in the country for much of the season, Cervantes has taken another step forward this summer, emerging as arguably the Cape Cod League's top arm. Through 23.2 innings with the Chatham Anglers, he owns a 1.14 ERA with 24 strikeouts and just five walks. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound right-hander attacks hitters with a polished five-pitch mix featuring a low-90s fastball, an 86-88 mph cutter, a low-80s slider and changeup, and a 78-80 mph curveball. He pounds the strike zone, sequences his arsenal with advanced feel, and consistently keeps hitters off balance, giving him the profile of a...
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Tournaments | Story | 8/2/2026

Battle For The Midwest Scout Notes

Brayden Powell
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Bryce Urban (2027, Kaukauna, Wis.) An athletic 5-foot-9, 175-pound right-handed hitter, who handled the bat well throughout the weekend while showing feel for the barrel and quality bat speed. Stays balanced throughout the operation while showing direct hands to the baseball. There is feel to rotate through the zone and keep the barrel working for an extended period, helping him consistently produce hard-hit contact. He showed the ability to impact the baseball to all fields and remained productive throughout the event. Urban finished the weekend with five extra-base hits and continued to be a reliable offensive contributor whenever his club needed him. He is currently uncommitted.  Landon Clements (2027, McHenry, Ill.) University of Illinois-Chicago commit put together an outstanding weekend at the plate, finishing 10-for-15 while drawing five walks and consistently finding ways to...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/30/2026

16u South World Series Scout Notes

Jay Vossler
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Kai Anderson (2028, Missouri City, Texas) continued his breakout stretch over the past couple of weeks with 2028 South Texas Sliders 16U Pierce. Compiled a 7-15 week with two doubles, a triple, and two home runs, driving in nine runs. Parlayed that into winning Tournament MVP. Physical presence in the box that is starting to tap into a ton of juice offensively. Tight rotation on an uphill plane with loose actions in the barrel. Doing all of this with very little swing and miss while holding it down in center field. One of the louder stretches of the summer. Trent Costales (2028, San Antonio, Texas) was excellent this week for Texas Angels 2028 Libson. Went 4-11 with two doubles and a home run. Was one of the best run creators in the tournament, driving in ten. Extremely physical frame, projecting as a big time power bat. Coils the hips effectively and creates an uphill plane to maximize...
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Draft | Story | 7/30/2026

2026 MLB Draft Signing Deadline Recap

Tyler Henninger
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As of Monday at 5 p.m. ET, the 2026 MLB Draft is officially complete. The signing deadline has passed, meaning we now know every team’s finalized draft class and exactly how much each player signed for. Entering the draft, it was clear there was a distinct top tier consisting of Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson, and Vahn Lackey. That separation became even more evident once contracts were signed. Cholowsky became the first player in draft history to sign for more than $10 million, agreeing to a record-setting $10,347,500 bonus with the White Sox. Emerson set a new high school signing bonus record at $9,747,500, the second-largest bonus ever awarded to a draft pick. Lackey rounded out the trio with a $9,497,500 bonus, the third-largest signing bonus in MLB Draft history. Those weren’t the only records set. Teams combined to spend $402,481,143 in signing bonuses, surpassing last...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/30/2026

Blue Wave Battle & Prevail at 14u Classic

Kinley Kitchens
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For Excel Blue Wave, the summer was never about being perfect. It was about getting better. After a season filled with challenges, growth, and plenty of learning along the way, Excel Blue Wave put everything together when it mattered most, defeating SBG Sox Prime, Al 9-3 to capture the 2026 14U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship. For Excel Blue Wave Coach Forrest Heacock, watching the group celebrate with a championship trophy was especially meaningful because of everything it took to get there.  “It hasn’t been the easiest summer, and have battled a lot,” Coach Heacock said. “The kids have improved so much over the summer, and that is really what it’s all about at this age. It’s really just about improving at this age, and to see them be able to put it together, and just really compete together and play as a team, I couldn’t be...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/30/2026

Excel Leaves No Doubt at 15u Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens
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Excel Blue Wave National wasn’t leaving Hoover empty-handed.  At least, that was the message head coach Wes Henderson gave his team.  After a summer filled with strong performances but without a tournament title to show for them, Excel Blue Wave National entered the 2026 15U Perfect Game Hoover Classic with one more opportunity to finish the season the way they wanted.  This time, they left no doubt.  Excel Blue Wave National defeated East Coast Sox 2029 Victus, 12-0 in the championship game, combining a balanced offensive attack with a strong performance on the mound to secure their first tournament title of the summer.  “It’s been a special group,” Coach Henderson said. “They fought really hard, and they played really well this summer, and this is the first championship that we’ve been able to bring home. We typically...
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Tournaments | Championship | 7/29/2026

"Excel"ling Through the Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens
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After a long summer of baseball, Excel Blue Wave National had one final opportunity to end it the way every team hopes to.  Together, having fun, and as champions. Excel Blue Wave National closed their summer with a 13-9 victory over Excel Blue Wave American – Morrison to capture the 2026 16U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship. In a game that required contributions throughout the lineup and seven innings of competition, the Excel Blue Wave National relied on the same qualities and approach that had carried the group all summer. With talent, perseverance and a chemistry built far beyond the baseball field, they were unstoppable.  For head coach Brennan McCullough, there couldn’t have been a much better way for his players to finish their final weekend together .  “It’s great,” Coach McCullough said. “We’ve had a long...
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Tournaments | Story | 7/29/2026

16u West WS Scout Notes: Days 3-4

Quinton Hall
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16u West World Series Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Jason Lizotte (‘28 | NV) Smooth LHH, hunts pitches down in the zone he can rip to the middle & PS w/ a downhill & direct path. Some strength in the hands w/ feel for the barrel #PGWS pic.twitter.com/kbK5Ayvhd7 — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) July 27, 2026 Jason Lizotte (2028 | Las Vegas, NV) The 5-foot-9, 145-pound left-handed hitter and outfielder was a spark plug all weekend for MTBA Dawgs 2028, finishing with seven hits, eight runs scored, one double, one triple, four RBI, three stolen bases, and four walks without a strikeout. Lizotte refused to give away an at-bat, consistently working hitter’s counts before spraying line drives all over the field. The left-handed swing stays short and direct with plenty of feel for the barrel, and once he reached base, he immediately put pressure on the defense with...
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