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| 2,477 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,477 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Draft  | Mock Draft | 3/27/2026

2026 MLB Mock Draft: V 2.0

The spring season is well underway and the board is starting to take shape. Last week, the draft team put together the Top-300 and this week we take a stab at our first mid-season mock draft. While there still is plenty of time for things to shake out differently, here is how we see things shaping up at this point in the draft cycle. 

Pick Team Selection Position School
1 Chicago White Sox Roch Cholowsky SS UCLA
2 Tampa Bay Rays Justin Lebron SS Alabama
3 Minnesota Twins Grady Emerson SS Fort Worth Christian
4 San Francisco Giants Jackson Flora RHP UC Santa Barbara
5 Pittsburgh Pirates Vahn Lackey C Georgia Tech
6 Kansas City Royals Drew Burress OF Georgia Tech
7 Baltimore Orioles Ace Reese 3B Mississippi State
8 Athletics Jacob Lombard SS Gulliver Schools
9 Atlanta Braves Eric Booth Jr. OF Oak Grove
10 Colorado Rockies AJ Gracia OF Virginia
11 Washington Nationals Gio Rojas LHP Marjory Stoneman Douglas
12 Los Angeles Angels Cameron Flukey RHP Coastal Carolina
13 St. Louis Cardinals Sawyer Strosnider* OF TCU
14 Miami Marlins Chris Hacopian SS Texas A&M
15 Arizona Diamondbacks Tyler Bell* SS Kentucky
16 Texas Rangers Carson Bolemon LHP Southside Christian Schools
17 Houston Astros Caden Sorrell OF Texas A&M
18 Cincinnati Reds Liam Peterson RHP Florida
19 Cleveland Guardians Tegan Kuhns* RHP Tennessee
20 Boston Red Sox Eric Becker SS Virginia
21 San Diego Padres Logan Schmidt LHP Ganesha
22 Detroit Tigers Ryder Helfrick C Arkansas
23 Chicago Cubs Chris Rembert* IF/OF Auburn
24 Seattle Mariners Jensen Hirschkorn RHP Kingsburg
25 Milwaukee Brewers James Clark SS St. John Bosco
26 Atlanta Braves Tyler Spangler SS De La Salle
27 New York Mets Blake Bowen OF JSerra Catholic
28 Houston Astros Chase Brunson OF TCU
29 Cleveland Guardians Gabe Gaeckle RHP Arkansas
30 Kansas City Royals Will Brick  C Christian Brothers
31 Arizona Diamondbacks Cole Carlon LHP Arizona State
32 St. Louis Cardinals Kaden Waechter RHP Tampa Jesuit
33 Tampa Bay Rays Kevin Roberts Jr OF Jackson Preparatory
34 Pittsburgh Pirates Mason Edwards LHP USC
35 New York Yankees Jake Brown  OF LSU
36 Philadelphia Phillies Joseph Contreras RHP Blessed Trinity Catholic
37 Colorado Rockies Aiden Robbins OF Texas
38 Colorado Rockies Jack Radel RHP Notre Dame
39 Toronto Blue Jays Sean Duncan LHP Terry Fox Secondary School
40 Los Angeles Dodgers Trevor Condon OF Etowah


1) Chicago White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA



This comes as no surprise. Cholowsky has been the consensus No. 1 since last summer and has done nothing to relinquish that mantle. He’s currently slashing .352/.475/.747 with 10 home runs. The offensive profile is as good as it gets, paired with Gold Glove caliber defense at shortstop.

2) Tampa Bay Rays: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama

Lebron’s stock continues to rise, as he’s surged to #2 here in this mock. The athleticism and projection at shortstop plus the power upside is too much for the Rays to let slide. The hit tool will need to make strides, but you bank on the profile and makeup.

3) Minnesota Twins: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian

Emerson is the top prep player on our board and possesses arguably the best hit tool in the entire class. A smooth, left-handed swing features projectable power to go with strong defensive actions that should stick up the middle. 

4) San Francisco Giants: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

Has been the most consistently dominant right-handed arm in the country this year. Holds a 0.94 ERA in 38.1 innings with 51 strikeouts to just 10 walks. Checks basically every box from a frame, delivery, stuff, strikes and pitchability perspective. Hard to see SP1 dropping out of the Top 5 here and we think the Giants are a fit here. 

5) Pittsburgh Pirates: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech

Lackey needed to show more power this spring for his stock to rise, and that is exactly what has happened. A late bloomer physically, he is still growing into his body which gives scouts plenty of reason to dream on a significant ceiling. Athletic catcher that can stick behind the dish. He’s hitting .425 with nine home runs to this point.

6) Kansas City Royals: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech

Burress is one of the more decorated college bats in the class, putting together a monster career at Georgia Tech. The outfielder may be undersized, but possesses advanced pull side power and should stick in center field long term. 

7) Baltimore Orioles: Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State

You could argue Reese has the best college offensive profile in the class. He features elite barrel control with a smooth left-handed swing that produces easy plus power. Regardless of defensive questions, this profiles as a high-floor, high-ceiling bat.

8) Athletics: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Schools

Plenty of bloodlines here with his father & brother, and he’s got all the tools needed to be a high first round draft selection in his own right. Near top scale run with evaluators confident in his abilities to play and stick at shortstop long-term. He’s got power, and you bank on the hit tool refining in professional PD hands.

9) Atlanta Braves: Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove

Booth has been one of the biggest risers this spring and goes here at No. 9 overall. The left-handed hitting prep outfielder is a dynamic athlete with a mix of hit and power ability. 

10) Colorado Rockies: AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia

It’s tough to see Gracia falling beyond this range. He owns one of the prettiest left-handed swings in the class, with a well-rounded offensive skillset. He consistently stays in the strike zone and produces some of the loudest impact in college.

11) Washington Nationals: Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Rojas provides size, spin, strikes and physical projection while throwing with the left hand. He will pitch in the low to mid 90’s while holding velocity, can spin a slider with above average potential and has a quality change in the mix. Plenty of clay here and is a very good mover. 

12) Los Angeles Angels: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina

Flukey has only started one game this spring due to a rib injury, but should still go early on day one and could be a steal here at No. 12 overall. The right-hander possesses dominant stuff to go with high-end strike throwing ability. 

13) St. Louis Cardinals: Sawyer Strosnider*, OF, TCU

Strosnider may be the most toolsy and athletic college prospect in the class, and it’s difficult to envision him falling much further than #13. The power has fully shown up this spring, and he’s made notable approach adjustments, highlighted by a 13% increase in walk rate.

14) Miami Marlins: Chris Hacopian, SS, Texas A&M

Hacopian has been getting a ton of buzz this spring and for good reason… the hit/power tools are showing up in a loud way. The defensive home may be up in the air, but there is going to be conviction with the bat given the under the hood data and production at the SEC level.

15) Arizona Diamondbacks: Tyler Bell*, SS, Kentucky

Bell missed some time early in the year with a shoulder injury, but is back healthy and remains one of the top college bats in the class. A switch-hitter with a well-rounded skill set on both sides of the ball, Bell is a high-floor prospect that does a lot of things well. 

16) Texas Rangers: Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian Schools

Bolemon’s spring is just getting underway, but early returns are promising. Widely regarded as the top pitchability HS arm, as he rightfully earned that reputation on last year’s circuit. While “safe” is rarely used for prep arms he may offer one of the highest floors in the class.

17) Houston Astros: Caden Sorrell, OF, Texas A&M

Sorrell is another first rounder from that Aggies order. He offers a good glove in the outfield with power upside in the box… he consistently is hitting the baseball hard and getting it in the air to maximize his power output. Left-handed stick in the SEC that has been a producer going on three years now.

18) Cincinnati Reds: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida

Peterson possesses a sturdy 6-foot-5 frame to go with some of the best stuff in all of college baseball. An upper-90’s heater and the ability to spin two breaking balls well make for high-end start potential if he throws enough strikes. 

19) Cleveland Guardians: Tegan Kuhns*, RHP, Tennessee

While the surface-level performance numbers don’t jump off the page, there’s a lot to like through six starts, especially his stuff and strike-throwing ability. He currently holds a 31% strikeout rate with just a 4% walk rate. The fastball is elite, and his ability to spin the ball stands out.

20) Boston Red Sox: Eric Becker, SS, Virginia

It’s a bundle of major league average tools as a left-handed stick with some impact and some project an ability to stick up the middle long-term (likely 2B). It’s a pretty left-handed swing with good angles and he can do damage. The contact rates continue to improve as the power remains steady.

21) San Diego Padres: Logan Schmidt, LHP, Ganesha

The Padres going with a prep lefty makes sense, and Schmidt fits well here. He’s off to a strong spring, with a fastball sitting comfortably in the 93–95 mph range. His changeup, long been his calling card, remains a weapon and the slider has taken a step forward in both shape and execution. Factor in his age, and this feels like the right spot.

22) Detroit Tigers: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas

Helfrick is an easy first-round talent and could go even higher. Has been a consistent offensive performer in college and has improved both his walk and strikeout rates this season. Add in plus power and solid defensive ability behind the plate, and the profile becomes clear.

23) Chicago Cubs: Chris Rembert*, IF/OF, Auburn

Rembert has one of the quickest bats in college baseball with twitch in his hands and wrists. He’s got a bundle of major league average tools and is a sure fire second baseman at the professional level, with good actions and hands out front. Nice overall package and toolset.

24) Seattle Mariners: Jensen Hirschkorn, RHP, Kingsburg

Hirschkorn is a prep right-hander with high-end upside and a track record of performing.  There is tons of projection remaining to go with stuff that already stands out, showing a mid-90’s heater with a tight breaking ball and changeup. 

25) Milwaukee Brewers: James Clark, SS, St. John Bosco

Clark entered the spring with one of the top prep hit tools in the class and has done nothing to change that perception. Pair that with his high-end athleticism and ability to stick at a premium position, and it’s clearly a first-round profile.

26) Atlanta Braves: Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle

Tons of projection here with Spangler, as he offers a plus body and an easy left-handed swing for evaluators to fall in love with and dream on. The future home on the field is up in the air and a bit tied with the body, but the contact ability and feel to hit that is in place makes for a tantalizing offense upside once the man strength starts to show.

27) New York Mets: Blake Bowen, OF, JSerra Catholic

Bowen is an uber-physical prep bat with middle of the order potential. The power is arguably the best in the prep class and plays to all-fields with ease. 

28) Houston Astros: Chase Brunson, OF, TCU

It hasn’t been the loudest spring for Brunson, but we remain believers in the offensive profile. He brings some of the best all-around tools in the class, with a strong, physical build and athleticism that shows up on both sides of the ball.

29) Cleveland Guardians: Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, Arkansas

He possesses that lower launch delivery to pair with a riding fastball that he can command to the top rail in the mid to upper 90’s, something that teams covet these days. Gaeckle has a full arsenal of secondary offerings and has been a quality starter in the SEC with a track record to his name.

30) Kansas City Royals: Will Brick, C, Christian Brothers

Brick is the top prep catcher on the board with tools on both sides of the ball. There is physicality that results in quality power, along with strong catch and throw behind the plate. 

31) Arizona Diamondbacks: Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State

Carlon has made a strong case to be the top college left-hander this spring. He’s posted a 3.19 ERA over 31 innings with 48 strikeouts against quality competition. The stuff is high-end, featuring a mid-to-upper 90s fastball from a unique angle and two swing-and-miss breaking balls.

32) St. Louis Cardinals: Kaden Waechter, RHP, Tampa Jesuit

He’s a premium mover with a plus arm action and projectable command along with present velocity and stuff. There are big league bloodlines here as well. Prep right-handers are their own category, but Waechter is as enticing as it gets there.

33) Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Roberts Jr, OF, Jackson Preparatory

Roberts is an absolute tool shed with as much upside as anyone in the class. A premium athlete with massive power and arm strength, Roberts could be a steal if the hit tool develops enough. 

34) Pittsburgh Pirates: Mason Edwards, LHP, USC

Edwards may be the frontrunner for College Pitcher of the Year given his video game-like numbers. Currently holds a minuscule 0.25 ERA over 36 innings with 64 strikeouts. There’s a lot to like, from his smooth and athletic delivery to his low-to-mid 90s riding fastball and a big, downer breaking ball that generates ugly whiffs and buckled takes.

35) New York Yankees: Jake Brown, OF, LSU

Brown has been swinging his way up boards, catching real steam as of late and vaulting into first round discussions. More power is starting to show and the under the hood data in terms of swing decisions and contact rates look good. Intriguing arm talent too.

36) Philadelphia Phillies: Joseph Contreras, RHP, Blessed Trinity Catholic

Contreras has big league bloodline and potential big league stuff. The young right-hander can work up to 99 mph and has a changeup/forkball that can put hitters in a blender. Having played for Brazil in the WBC, Contreras has shown he can compete against top tier talent. 

37) Colorado Rockies: Aiden Robbins, OF, Texas

Robbins has been crushing the ball all spring and could easily rise if he sustains this performance throughout conference play. He’s tapping into plus power consistently, and his athleticism gives him a chance to handle all three outfield spots.

38) Colorado Rockies: Jack Radel, RHP, Notre Dame

Radel’s stock has surged, as he put on more weight that has translated to functional strength on the mound. He’s got a wipeout slider, the fastball is sitting mid 90’s deep into starts and missing bats and the change-up is now improved as well. Starter’s package and performing.

39) Toronto Blue Jays: Sean Duncan, LHP, Terry Fox Secondary School

Duncan is the top Canadian prep on the board and stays north of the border with the Blue Jays here at No. 39. Duncan is an athletic left-hander with a mid-90’s fastball, advanced feel for the changeup, and quality two-plane slider.  

40) Los Angeles Dodgers: Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah

It’s difficult to see Condon falling out of the top 40. He’s solidified himself as one of the top prep hit tools in the class, showcasing elite bat-to-ball skills with a beautiful left-handed swing where the barrel stays in the zone for a long time. There’s also quality impact in the bat, along with enough athleticism to project in CF.

Draft | Story | 6/4/2026

Pence Makes the Jump to 2027

Perfect Game Staff
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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 STANDOUT STRIKER PENCE RECLASSIFIES TO CLASS OF 2027, ACCELERATING PATH TO MLB DRAFT   Corona, California (Thursday, June 4, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that Perfect Game prospect Striker Pence, one of the most watched young prospects in amateur baseball, has officially reclassified from the Class of 2028 to the Class of 2027, making the 17-year-old eligible for the 2027 Major League Baseball Draft. Pence is currently the #2 ranked player on Perfect Game’s national rankings and the top-ranked right-handed pitcher. Pence, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound right-handed pitcher and left-handed hitting first...
Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

Road to the 2026 17U BCS Title

Emily Hicks
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This weekend, 11 teams will take the field for the 2026 17U BCS Challenge, a three-day event that brings together programs from across the country for a full slate of pool play and bracket action. With games beginning Friday and a champion crowned Sunday, the format leaves little room for slow starts, making every inning important from the opening pitch. The field features a mix of established programs and rising teams. With so many evenly matched rosters, there’s not much separation heading into the weekend, which puts importance on pitching depth, defensive consistency, and timely hitting. Pool play will quickly determine seeding, and even one loss can shift a team’s path heading into bracket play. One of the teams expected to be in the mix is Hawaii Elite 2G 17U National, a group that is 6-3 overall and ranked as “Honorable Mention” on the Perfect Games...
Tournaments | Story | 6/18/2026

Big Talent on Display at City of Palms

Alyssa Golden
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The fifth annual PG City of Palms Championship is set to take place in Fort Myers, Florida, from June 19-22, featuring teams from the 15U-18U age divisions. The four-day event will showcase some of the top talent in the state, including several nationally ranked prospects who have already made their presence felt this summer season. Before tournament play begins, here’s a look at some of the highest-ranked players expected to compete this weekend. Leading the group is catcher Nico Ayars in the 16U division. Ayars enters the weekend as the No. 135 player nationally, the No. 3 catcher in Florida and the No. 20 catcher in the country. Through 22 games this summer with Turn 2 Garcia, the right-handed hitter owns a .887 OPS while batting .306 with a .438 OBP and a .449 SLG. Ayars has collected 15 hits while driving in 12 runs and scoring 13 times. Ayars’ teammate, right-handed...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/17/2026

Perfect Game Softball Route 66 Summer Showcase

Dave Durbala
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SPRINGFIELD, IL - Perfect Game Softball Route 66 Summer Showcase, June 13-14, 2026. Twenty-Seven teams, representing the 14u and High School Divisions, arrived at the newly opened all turfed Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe, for the opportunity to showcase their talent in a five game guarantee format. As with anytime we bring a group of players together for competition, there will be those players that rise to the challenge and turn in performances that earn them a place on our Top Performers list.  Below are some of the players, from both divisions, that were recognized as top performers. 14U Division Kinley Abrams (2030 Bloomington, IL) is a RHH for Texas Glory IL-2030 (Wyatt). Setting up in a slightly wide parallel stance, into her back leg, Abrams gains separation with a  push back to transfer weight, and then utilizes a small stride to launch her swing. Abrams works a...
Tournaments | Story | 6/18/2026

150 Teams Set to Battle at SE Select

Will Dembo
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As summer travel season continues to ramp up, more than 150 teams from 13-17u from all over the nation will meet in East Cobb as they look to showcase their talents and compete for a trophy in the PG Southeast Select Championship. The tournament will kick off with pool play on Thursday, June 18th, and champions will be crowned following bracket play on Monday, June 22nd. The 13u division will host 23 teams from four different states in the major style tournament. The East Cobb Astros and Ninth Inning Royals will share the spotlight as the only nationally ranked teams in the field as the Astros enter the weekend as the No. 45 ranked squad and Ninth Inning falls at the No. 31 spot. 14u will also play as a major tournament for the weekend and contains 31 teams looking to compete for a trophy. Although there are currently no nationally recognized teams in the pool, PFA Regional will be a...
Tournaments | Story | 6/17/2026

UBC Midwest Scout Notes

Blaine Peterson
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Braydon McMillen (2029, Downers Grove, IL) an athletic MIF with a top of the order skill set at the plate. Reached base in all 5 games played at UBC this week. Including a 3 hit game in bracket play. Shows a balanced and compact swing at the plate with quick wrists and the ability to get the barrel to the baseball regularly. A quick first step defensively with clean glove actions and a quick release from the shortstop position. Made several athletic plays defensively this past week. Lot of promising impact traits and a real skill set to build on.  Paris Head | IF/OF/RHP | 2029 | IL@WhitesoxAce FB: 86-90 | CB: 73-75 SL: 77-79 | CH: 78-82 One of the best pitching performances of the tournament so far. High level athlete with an advanced pitch mix for the age. #UBC @PG_Scouting | @WhitesoxAce https://t.co/V3leWaCBSM pic.twitter.com/EDBvjpgI3p — Perfect Game Illinois...
Tournaments | Story | 6/17/2026

Windy City Elite Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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28 LHP/OF Rex Johnson (CO) was impressive on the mound today. Quality FB/SL mix. FB(80-85) showed heavy arm side run, generating s/m. Good feel to spin, landing the low-70s SL for strikes, while keeping hitters off balance. 5.0IP, 9K, 3H #WCElite @PG_FourCorners pic.twitter.com/q459oPmXzW — Perfect Game Illinois (@PG_Illinois) June 14, 2026 Rex Johnson (2028, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) turned in one of the more impressive outings of the weekend for Canes Denver South 2028 Gold. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound left-hander worked 5.0 innings, striking out 9 while allowing just 3 hits and no earned runs. The fastball worked 80-85 with arm-side run and got on hitters quickly, generating both swing-and-miss and weak contact. He mixed in a slider with sharp action and showed feel to land it for strikes. Currently ranked the No. 5 outfielder and No. 8 overall prospect in Colorado, Johnson displayed...
Tournaments | Story | 6/17/2026

UBC South Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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Jonell Rodriguez (2027, Spring, Texas) continued his absolute tear this weekend with Banditos 2027 Scout. The Houston commit finished the weekend 7-12 with three triples and two doubles, reaching base a staggering eleven times over the course of the tournament. Super twitchy athlete who is starting to tap into more power this summer. Has always been extremely productive but seems to have leveled up. He has an argument for being the most dynamic player in the state with his 2026 performances. William Bishop (2028, San Antonio, Texas) was a breakout star this weekend for Texas Angels 2028 Lisbon. Was an impossible out this weekend, going 10-14 with five doubles, a triple, and a home run, while driving in eight runs. Uber physical lower half that rotates easily, not a ton of wasted movement in the swing process. Was such a tough matchup for every single arm he faced at UBC. Will Rainer...
Tournaments | Championship | 6/17/2026

Braves Capture WWBA East Title

Kinley Kitchens
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By the end of championship Monday, the Atlanta Braves Scout Team had done much more than win a title. They had validated everything they believed they could become. After an undefeated run through the 2026 PG East WWBA Championship, the Braves captured the 15U championship with an 8-2 victory, finishing off a dominant weekend that featured elite pitching, explosive offense, and contributions throughout the roster. For coach Jed Douglas, the championship represented the results of months of practice, preparation, and a vision that finally came together. “This is our first championship with this group,” Douglas said. “We finally brought it together and for the first time, everything seemed to work just as we designed it when we were building the team, and it was just beautiful this way.” The Braves backed up that vision with one of the most impressive offensive...
Tournaments | Story | 6/16/2026

PG Summer Showdown Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Mason Kennerly (2028, Decatur, Ga.) hit .429 with a .667 OBP, five walks and three RBI in four games last week. He’s already showing the tools to be a big-time power bat in his class, and standing at 6’2 with an athletic frame, he’s one of the more projectable players we saw this weekend. His mechanics play into his size well, creating good hand separation from body on his load, using a medium-high leg kick, and getting a wide base when going into his launch. He uses every bit of his size and natural strength to create a violent swing. He’s got the makings of a really solid prospect, and as he develops and his approach matures, he’ll become a guy that college coaches keep at the top of their radar.  ‘27 Grant Barden (GA) up to 90 mph on the hill. Loose on the mound, whippy arm action. Four pitch mix; FB 87-90, CB 71-72, SL 76-78, CH 79-81. Mixed...
General | Blog | 6/16/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 66

Ron Wolforth
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  The Number That Just Killed MLB Expansion: 1,217   USA Today's Bob Nightengale dropped a bomb shell recently that the baseball world is still digesting. Major League Baseball wants to expand to 32 teams. Team executives are quietly opposing it and the reason has nothing to do with cities or money.   They cannot find enough healthy pitchers.   Between 2020 and 2024, professional baseball performed 1,026 Tommy John surgeries at the minor-league level alone. Another 191 at the Major League level. More than twelve hundred elbow reconstructions in five years on the best young pitchers in the world.   That is not bad luck. That is a system reporting a verdict on itself.   For fifteen years, the youth-baseball industry has chased one number: velocity significantly more than projectability and arm care.    Recruiters scout by it.    Social...
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