DiamondCentric

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Kyle Jones at pick No. 102 in the 2026 MLB Draft. Jones is a right-handed-hitting outfielder from the University of Florida. The slot value for the 102nd pick is $770,600. Jones was ranked No. 111 overall on our MLB Draft Consensus Board. In 2026, Jones slashed .317/.417/.478 with six home runs, 46 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. Here's what Jamie Cameron, curator of our MLB Draft Consensus Board, said about Jones: Jones had one of the better collegiate seasons in the country in 2024 for Stetson, before transferring to Florida ahead of his sophomore campaign. Unfortunately, hamstring and shoulder injuries slowed him down, and he missed most of the season. Back in the Gators lineup with consistency in 2026, he's been a steady late riser on industry boards. Offensively, there's a solid all-around profile here. Jones has good bat-to-ball skill, backed by a good approach and solid swing decisions during his plate appearances. While it's been more doubles and gap power than over-the-fence power, Jones has some projection in a frame that's listed at 6'3, 180 pounds. Jones has strong supplementary tools, too. He's an above-average to plus runner who takes solid routes in the outfield that should allow him a shot to stick in center as a pro. He ended 2026 with a .317/.418/.478 line with 6 home runs (23 XBH), a 12% walk rate, a 16.4% strikeout rate (105 wRC+), and 17 steals in 21 attempts. What do you think of the pick? Add your thoughts in the comments! View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Ryan Cooney at #103rd overall in the 2026 MLB Draft. Ryan Cooney is a shortstop at Oregon. The slot value for the pick is $762,900. Ryan Cooney was not ranked on our MLB Draft Consensus Board. Here’s what the write-up of Ryan Cooney by MLB Pipeline said: "Hailing from a Jesuit High School program in Oregon that produced first-round arms Mick Abel and Noble Meyer, Cooney headed south from his Portland area school to attend the University of Oregon for college ball. He was the only true freshman to start on opening day for the Ducks in what turned out to be an up-and-down first collegiate season for the infielder. Things clicked as a sophomore for Cooney, who earned All Big Ten first-team honors while leading Oregon in hitting and stolen bases. It’s been more of the same as the Ducks’ top bat during his junior campaign. If you get just one look at Cooney, he might not jump off the page because he doesn’t possess overly loud individual tools. Watch him for a while, though, and you can’t help but leave liking what he can do. There is some definite bat talent from the right side of the plate, with a good feel for the barrel and an advanced approach that has led to him walking as much as he’s striking out. He has a definite hit-over-power profile, but he has been getting to more damage this year and has been really locked in during conference play. Cooney has above-average speed and knows how to steal a base. He plays with an edge in a Dustin Pedroia kind of way, an aggressiveness scouts like. He initially lost his starting job at short to teammate Maddox Molony, then worked his way back into the starting lineup at second base. He’s a solid defender there, with some evaluators thinking he could still handle the left side of the infield at the next level." What do you think of the pick? Add your thoughts in the comments. View the full article

After going undrafted out of high school, right-handed starter Ryan Lynch bolstered his profile high enough for the San Diego Padres to select him in the third round (97th overall pick) in the 2026 MLB Draft. Lynch finished his junior season as part of North Carolina's starting rotation, posting a 4.21 ERA with 36 walks and 89 strikeouts over 98⅓ innings in 19 games, all but one a start. Lynch has a tremendous sinker that has reached 98 mph and sits at 94-96 mph. He also has a 83-85 mph slider that shows good depth. He also has a changeup that needs more development. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he has an excellent frame, yet didn't have big strikeout numbers this year. He did excel in a relief role as a freshman and some see him more in that role than as a starter, with the potential of being a closer if he goes to the bullpen. The 97th pick has a bonus slotted at $808,100. DiamondCentric's Jamie Cameron had this to say about Lynch, who was 95th on his big board: "Lynch is a young for the class college pitcher who will turn 21 a month before the draft. He's occupied a number of roles in his two years for the Tar Heels, beginning as a reliever, before transitioning into a starting role in 2026. It's a frame with ingredients for starting. Lynch stands 6'3, 235 pounds and can maintain his velocity into his outings. There's some interesting release traits too, as Lynch gets good extension and throws from a low release height. There's interesting stuff, too. His best pitch is a power sinker with a ton of run. It typically sits 94 mph but has been up to 97 mph. Lynch frequently mixes in a slider with some depth and sweep, a curveball, and a changeup, although he relies on his sinker/slider combo. Results have been mixed as a full time starter in 2026 and there's some reliever risk here until Lynch can more consistently tap into a more diverse arsenal with regularity and effectiveness. Lynch ended 2026 with a 4.88 FIP in 98.1 innings of work, striking out 20.3% of hitters and walking 8.2%." He has delivery of more of a slinger, which helps with deception on his pitches and could also lead to some of his control issues. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs have selected Carson Jasa the with No. 98 overall pick in the MLB draft. Slot value for the selection is $800,000. Jasa went 10-2 with a 3.59 ERA across 87 2/3 innings pitched for Nebraska last season. He limited opponents to just a .204 average last season and posted a 30.4% strikeout rate. Jasa used his fastball just 28% of the time last season, but that was because opponents struggled mightily against his off-speed pitches last season, managing just six hits and punching out 81 times against his curveball. His player profile from MLB.com says the following about his talents. "Jasa averages 96 mph and reaches 98 with his fastball, but it lacks life and command and tends to get hit harder than would be expected, so he has used it just 28 percent of the time this spring. He leans much more on a tight upper-80s slider that tops out at 91 and plays well off his best pitch, a downer 78-82 mph curveball. Opponents went 6-for-111 (.054) with 81 strikeouts against his curve in 2026. Though he doesn't employ his low-80s changeup very often and has difficulty landing it for strikes, it shows promising tumble and fade at its best. Jasa has much better feel for his breaking balls than his dead-zone fastball, and while his control has improved, it's still below average. That means he comes with a good deal of reliever risk, though he also has huge upside as a starter if a team can help him improve his ability to shape and locate his heater. He's athletic and has improved tremendously in college, leading to hope he can continue to do so at the next level." More to come... View the full article

The Red Sox selected Jace Mataczynski with the No. 96 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Jace Mataczynski is a shortstop at Hudson High School in Wisconsin. The slot value for the pick is $815,700. He was ranked 108 on our MLB Draft Consensus Board. Here’s what our write-up of Jace Mataczynski by Jamie Cameron has to say: "Jace Mataczynski, like many cold-weather prospects, exploded onto the scene in a hurry and has remained in the cross hairs of the scouting community ever since. The Auburn commit out of Wisconsin displays premium athleticism and twitch, present in both his offensive and defensive profiles. At the plate, it’s a right handed swing that could still stand to add a touch more refinement. He starts in a wide base with a higher handset, close to his ear. From there it’s a drift back into his load before a small jabbing step into his swing. Mataczynski’s wide base helps him get into his legs well and there’s plenty of present bat speed. I’d envision some of the mechanical rawness working itself out via his impressive athleticism. Defensively, he has a good chance to stick at short. He’s a fluid mover with smooth actions and a decisive first step. His hands are soft and there’s a really quick arm there, too (he’s been clocked up to 98 mph in the infield). This is the type of talent, and twitch that can end up looking like a draft steal. If Mataczynski’s offensive game continues to trend in the right direction, he’ll check most of the boxes you’re looking for in a projection-reliant shortstop profile." More to come... View the full article

Maxx Yehl thrived out of West Virginia's bullpen as a 2023 freshman and again in 2024, but Tommy John surgery cost him 2025. Back in 2026, the 6-foot-6 lefty seized his first shot at starting, became the Friday night ace, won Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, and clinched the Mountaineers' first College World Series berth. His fastball has hit 96-97 mph, backed by an above-average slider up to 87. Late-season fatigue is understandable post-surgery. A strong strike-thrower and competitor with limited starting experience, he could stick in a rotation—or fall back on his fastball-slider combo in relief. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins have selected Ethan Wachsmann with the No. 79 overall pick in the MLB Draft. Slot value for the No. 79 pick is $1,052,700. Wachsman, a Wake Forest signee, may garner over slot value, according to the MLB Draft experts. The right-hander had an outstanding senior season at Grandview High School, posting a 6-2 record with a 2.10 ERA and 66 strikeouts across 36 2/3 innings. Here's what our draft expert Jamie Cameron had to say about Wachsman. "Wachsmann is a sharp riser on the draft board this spring. A CO prep arm hailing from the same high school program as Kevin Gausman, it's a fascinating blend of size and stuff, with plenty of rawness still present. Wachsman's fastball has touched triple digits already; it'll more routinely sit in the 94-96 mph range in the middle innings. He's added a cutter that sits in the high 80s this season as a bridge to the rest of his arsenal. While the velocity is excellent, there's work to do on both the control and command of his arsenal, which are currently fringe-average. Wachsman will fire off a breaking ball that can be slurvy but exhibits good spin rates. There's a changeup that he sells well with good arm speed and velocity separation from his fastball. It'll be worth monitoring the strike-throwing if a team can pry him away from his Wake Forest commitment, but if he can round out his arsenal with better breaking pitch shapes, he'll be a tough look for hitters." View the full article

In the Competitive B round, the Minnesota Twins select right-handed pitcher Brett Renfrow for the 74th pick. Renfrow is a Junior at Virginia Tech and was ranked consistently in the top 100 college prospects. In 2026, Renfrow registered a 27.7% strikeout rate, flashing a massive uptick in his ability to miss bats as he racked up 88 punchouts over just 73.2 frames. Here is more info on Renfrow from our draft expert, Jamie Cameron. Renfrow has slowly ticked up his strikeout rate while reducing his walk rate, exactly what you want to see. In terms of stuff, the fastball is good. It sits at 94 mph and has been up to 97 mph, playing well at the top of the zone. There's a slider/cutter hybrid he throws in the upper 80s, a curveball with plenty of depth that sits in the low 80s, and a changeup with good horizontal action. Renfrow is a pitcher you can see making significant strides in a pro organization. There are plenty of starter traits here. In 73.2 innings in 2026, Renfrow managed a 4.67 FIP, while striking out 27.7% of hitters and walking just 7.9%. Compared to the flashier, high-velocity pitchers in the 2026 draft, Brett Renfrow stands out as a highly durable, low-risk college starter. His elite 7.9% walk rate against top-tier ACC competition gives him a much safer floor than his peers, offering the Minnesota Twins a reliable, workhorse arm who is highly likely to remain a starting pitcher in professional baseball. Ultimately, selecting Renfrow at #74 overall is a calculated, high-value move for the Minnesota Twins. By securing a durable, strike-throwing right-hander with a proven ACC pedigree, the front office adds an immediate safety net of pitching depth to complement their high-ceiling offensive picks. If the Twins' celebrated pitching lab can successfully unlock a bit more swing-and-miss capability from his secondary stuff, Renfrow has all the traits of a reliable, fast-rising major league rotation piece. https://x.com/Twins/status/2076053929767452839?s=20 View the full article

The Chicago Cubs selected Myles Bailey with the 75th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft Saturday afternoon. Bailey is a first baseman, formerly of the University of Florida State. The slot value for the pick in the MLB draft is $1,120,900. The Cubs were awarded the 75th pick in the draft for losing Kyle Tucker to the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency. Last year, Bailey hit .363 with 13 home runs. He was ranked #83 on MLB Pipeline, unranked (given a 40 FV) on Eric Logenhagen of FanGraphs' "The Board", and #67 according to Baseball America. Using Jamie Cameron's consensus board, he was our No. 96th-ranked prospect. Jamie had this to say about him: "Bailey has the best raw power in the entire class. His average EV and EV90 are top of the scale. He was torching non-conference play to the tune of 13 home runs (a .913 SLG) in his first 26 games before a serious ankle injury resulted in surgery and the end of his season. Raw power isn't Bailey's only asset. He's a good athlete and has an excellent approach. He followed up a 13.7 BB% in 2025 with a 28.7 BB% in 2026. Additionally, he just doesn't expand the strike zone, with a 98th percentile chase rate. The profile does come with serious swing and miss concerns, however. Bailey registered a K% over 30% in 2025 and has some of the worst whiff and in-zone whiff percentages in D1 baseball. He's likely destined to stick at 1B in pro ball. He has an unusually diverse range of outcomes for a college prospect, but the power upside is huge." This is a developing story and more information is to come. View the full article

Box Score SP: Joe Ryan - 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K (94 pitches, 61 strikes (64.9% strikes)) Home Runs: Royce Lewis (10) Top 3 WPA (via Fangraphs): Royce Lewis (0.25), Joe Ryan (0.19), Victor Caratini (0.16) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) After dropping Friday night's opener to the Angels, the Twins needed a response before heading into the All-Star break. They got one. Powered by another big afternoon from Royce Lewis and six steady innings from Joe Ryan, Minnesota knocked off Los Angeles 5-3 to even the series and set up a rubber match on Sunday. The afternoon started with a celebration as longtime Twins television voice Dick Bremer was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame before first pitch. Once the game got underway, Joe Ryan had to work around immediate trouble. The Angels put two runners aboard in the opening inning, but Ryan stranded both and never let the early traffic snowball. The Twins wasted little time providing him with some run support. Kody Clemens drew a four-pitch walk to open the second inning, bringing Royce Lewis to the plate. One pitch later, Lewis launched his 10th home run of the season, giving Minnesota an early 2-0 lead. Luke Keaschall added another run later in the inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Victor Caratini, extending the lead to 3-0. Luke Keaschall added another run later in the inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Victor Caratini, extending the lead to 3-0. The Angels answered in the third when Jorge Soler ripped an RBI double to cut the deficit to one, but Ryan settled right back in. Over his final three innings, Ryan allowed just two baserunners while continuing to attack the strike zone. It wasn't his most overpowering outing, but it was another example of why he's been one of the American League's most dependable starters this season. The only blemish after Ryan departed came in the seventh. Making his Twins debut after arriving from Toronto earlier this week, Tommy Nance surrendered a two-out RBI single to Nolan Schanuel after Zach Neto stole second, allowing the Angels to tie the game at three. Nance also recorded a pair of strikeouts in the inning. The tie lasted only a few minutes. Royce Lewis opened the bottom of the seventh with a double before Victor Caratini followed with another double into the gap, putting the Twins back in front 4-3. Alan Roden kept the line moving with an RBI single one batter later, giving Minnesota an important insurance run. That was all the bullpen needed. Woo-Suk Go handled the eighth, and Yoendrys Gómez closed things out in the ninth for his 11th save of the season and 10th since joining the Twins. One number that stood out when the afternoon ended: 11. That's how many runners the Angels left on base. Ryan and the bullpen bent more than a few times, but they consistently made pitches when traffic mounted. That's often the difference between winning and losing games like this. What's Next? The Twins will try to secure the series win Sunday before the All-Star break. Taj Bradley (8-3, 3.67 ERA) gets the ball for Minnesota against José Soriano (8-5, 3.40 ERA). Bradley enters the finale throwing some of his best baseball of the season. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four consecutive starts and is coming off a dominant seven-inning, 10-strikeout performance against Cleveland. After Sunday's finale, Joe Ryan and Byron Buxton will head to Philadelphia for the All-Star Game while the rest of the Twins get a much-needed breather before opening the second half with a road series against Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs. {C}%3C!%2D%2Dbr%20%7Bmso-data-placement%3Asame-cell%3B%7D%2D%2D%3E--> TUE WED THU FRI SAT TOT Rojas 0 0 47 0 0 47 Morris 13 0 0 25 0 38 Rogers 17 15 0 0 0 32 Adams 0 20 0 12 0 32 Funderburk 0 20 10 0 0 30 Gómez 3 19 0 0 18 40 Go 0 0 18 0 21 18 Nance 0 0 0 0 27 27 View the full article

With the 67th overall pick in the draft, the Boston Red Sox selected Owen Hull. Hull is a sharp riser on the college side of the draft after an impressive postseason run as part of North Carolina’s CWS squad. After spending his first two collegiate seasons at George Mason, the 6’4 outfielder made the transition to the ACC look seamless and has set himself up as a likely day one pick as a result. Hull hits from the left side and has a bit of an unorthodox-looking swing. There is some swing and miss in the profile, but the damage on contact is impressive. He controls his at-bats well and takes plenty of walks, rarely expanding the zone in collegiate ball. Hull has a chance to stick in center field with plus speed. It’s a fringe-average arm, but the range and glove will play in center, at least during the onset of his professional career. Hull hit .393/.500/.615 with 9 home runs (38 extra base hits), a 14.8 BB%, a 15.1 K%, and a 146 wRC+ in 2026. As a player, Hull is viewed as having one of the best combinations of physicality and athleticism as he stands 6-foot-4 and weights 215 pounds. Hull spent his first two seasons in college with George Mason before transferring to North Carolina. Appearing in 69 games with North Carolina, the left-handed hitter slashed .393/.500/.615 showing an ability to get on base along with great bat-to-ball skills. He flashed some power, hitting 27 doubles, two triples and nine home runs all while driving in 87 runs. Thanks to a combination of great baserunning and speed, he swiped 18 bases. The outfielder also showed an understanding of the strike zone, walking 48 times while striking out in 49 at-bats. During his time with UNC, he finished second in Division I in hits (103), and RBIs and third in doubles Despite that, there is some concern from scouts in regards to his swing. At times it gets rigid and his bat speed could be better, something the Red Sox could target with their bat speed program. Despite the less than ideal bat speed, he makes hard contact easily and with his raw power could be a 15 to 20 home run hitter at his best. Defensively he mainly played right field prior to joining UNC where he shifted to center field. Despite still learning the position, he has the speed to remain and his arm shouldn’t be a concern there. View the full article

With the 67th overall pick in the draft, the Boston Red Sox selected Owen Hull. Hull is a sharp riser on the college side after an impressive postseason run as part of North Carolina’s CWS squad. After spending his first two collegiate seasons at George Mason, the 6’4" outfielder made the transition to the ACC look seamless and set himself up as a day one pick. Hull hits from the left side and has a bit of an unorthodox-looking swing. There is some swing and miss in the profile, but the damage on contact is impressive. He controls his at-bats well and takes plenty of walks, rarely expanding the zone in collegiate ball. Hull has a chance to stick in center field with plus speed. It’s a fringe-average arm, but the range and glove will play in center, at least during the onset of his professional career. Hull hit .393/.500/.615 with 9 home runs (38 extra base hits), a 14.8 BB%, a 15.1 K%, and a 146 wRC+ in 2026. Hull spent his first two seasons in college with George Mason before transferring to North Carolina. Appearing in 69 games with UNC, the left-handed hitter showed an ability to get on base along with great bat-to-ball skills. He flashed some power, hitting 27 doubles, two triples and nine home runs all while driving in 87 runs. Thanks to a combination of great baserunning and speed, he swiped 18 bases. The outfielder also showed an understanding of the strike zone, walking 48 times while striking out in 49 at-bats. During his time with UNC, he finished second in Division I in hits (103), and RBIs and third in doubles Despite that, there is some concern from scouts in regards to his swing. At times it gets rigid and his bat speed could be better, something the Red Sox could target with their bat speed program. Despite that, he makes hard contact easily and with his raw power could be a 20 home run hitter at his best. Defensively, he mainly played right field prior to joining UNC, where he shifted to center field. Despite still learning the position, he has the speed to remain and his arm shouldn’t be a concern there. View the full article

If you want a prospect who bridges the enormous ceiling of some prep prospects with the current skill and productivity of many first-round college players, Sawyer Strosnider might be the player for you. Strosnider was a multi-sport athlete in high school (basketball, track), and the athleticism you'd expect translates beautifully to the diamond. A twitchy, powerful left-handed swing, Strosnider has massive raw power. On his way to winning Big 12 freshman of the year in 2025, he hit 11 home runs, 13 doubles, and 10 triples, an indicator of the power/speed blend on offer. Entering 2026, Strosnider's offensive focus centered on reigning in an overly aggressive approach at the plate. Strosnider accomplished this, increasing his walk rate from 8% to 18.4%, while posting a matching 18.4% strikeout rate. Unfortunately, his hitting took a half-step back, as he hit .273 (down from .350). There's plenty of supplementary tools here. Strosnider has plus speed and a good arm, a combination that will give him a chance to stick in centerfield as a pro. View the full article

With the No. 62 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Chicago Cubs have selected Caden Sorrell. Sorrell was a good prep prospect in 2023 but opted to attend Texas A&M. Fast-forward three years and he's got some first-round caliber tools.. Sorrell's offensive skillset is geared towards damage and loft, a potent combination. It's excellent bat speed from the left side of the plate, as he was a productive hitter in both of his first two collegiate seasons, despite being derailed by some nagging injuries. There are some weaknesses to exploit, though, offensively. Sorrell does have some bat-to-ball issues, which, when combined with his propensity to chase, can lead to him wracking up significant strikeout totals. He has a plus arm and is an above-average runner. It's likely a corner outfield profile long term, but with those additional tools, he has a chance to be a plus right fielder. In 56 games in 2026, Sorrell managed a .341/.434/.743 line with 23 home runs (44 XBH), a 12.5 BB%, a 23 K%, and a 149 wRC+. More to come... View the full article

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Sawyer Strosnider with the No. 66 overall pick in the MLB Draft. Slot value for that pick is $1,353,100. Strosnider was ranked as high as 15th on some draft boards, making his slide all the way down to No. 66 puzzling to mot but fortunate for Milwaukee. The two-year starter at TCU posted a .314 average across two seasons while slugging an impressive .641 in those two seasons. A late season slump may have played a role in his slide down draft boards, but he still showcased his impressive power during the MLB Combine, posting several exit velocities upward of 105mph. Here's what our draft expert Jamie Cameron had to say about Strosnider. "If you want a prospect who bridges the enormous ceiling of some prep prospects with the current skill and productivity of many first-round college players, Sawyer Strosnider might be the player for you. Strosnider was a multi-sport athlete in high school (basketball, track), and the athleticism you'd expect translates beautifully to the diamond. A twitchy, powerful left-handed swing, Strosnider has massive raw power. On his way to winning Big 12 freshman of the year in 2025, he hit 11 home runs, 13 doubles, and 10 triples, an indicator of the power/speed blend on offer. Entering 2026, Strosnider's offensive focus centered on reigning in an overly aggressive approach at the plate. Strosnider accomplished this, increasing his walk rate from 8% to 18.4%, while posting a matching 18.4% strikeout rate. Unfortunately, his hitting took a half-step back, as he hit .273 (down from .350). There's plenty of supplementary tools here. Strosnider has plus speed and a good arm, a combination that will give him a chance to stick in centerfield as a pro." Strosnider will likely enter Milwaukee's system as its No. 2 or No. 3 outfield prospect, either trailing or just ahead of current No. 6 prospect Josh Adamczewski. The Brewers do have a loaded outfield with Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, Luis Lara and others, so a path to the majors may be a lengthy process for Strosnider. View the full article

Sticking with the high school path, the San Diego Padres selected Canadian shortstop Elliot Lascelles with their second-round pick, the 60th overall in the 2026 MLB Draft. A 6-foot-2, 195-pound left-handed hitter, the 18-year-old is committed to Yale. In addition to having good size for a shortstop, Lascelles makes good contact and doesn't chase much. As such, he doesn't show as much power at this point. The bonus allotment for the 60th pick is $1,561,000. DiamondCentric's Jamie Cameron had this to say about Lascelles, who was 89th on his big board: "Lascelles is a Yale commit who is the best position player prospect out of Canada in the 2026 class. At 6'2, 190, he's grown and added size and strength in the last twelve months to a profile that has started to be more heavily scrutinized by scouts. Lascelles hits left handed, with some pre-swing waggle in his stance and a slightly unorthodox look. His swing isn't the smoothest, and it doesn't look like Lascelles gets into his lower half as much as he might, potentially limiting his power output. What there's plenty of, is bat-to-ball skills. Lascelles has exceptional hand-eye coordination and almost never strikes out, a tendency he combined with a ton of discipline in his at-bats. While he may move off shortstop long term due to a fringy arm, Lascelles should stick in the dirt, possibly at second base. He's a plus runner and a threat on the base paths. If he's to add more power, there's some swing work to do, but Lascelles has the most important tool in his bag." More to come... View the full article

Jack Slightom is a cold-weather arm out of Illinois, currently committed to Cincinnati, who has surged up draft boards towards the end of the cycle. A projectable righty at 6'4, 200 pounds, he's made strides in the last 12 months and should flourish in a pro system after splitting time between baseball and football in high school. Slightom has some interesting release traits with a lower arm slot and above-average extension. It's a run and ride fastball that has been as high as 98 mph, but will likely sit in the 93-95 mph range, a significant step forward from his junior year. Slightom's primary breaking pitch is a sweeping slider that could use more firmness. He's also shown capacity for a changeup with tumble and fade. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins selected Carson Tinney 43rd overall in the 2026 MLB Draft. Tinney played for Notre Dame and the University of Texas at Austin. He was ranked 61st in our mock draft, slashing .326/.483/.688 offensively for the Aggies. Here is a summary of Tinney written by our draft expert, Jamie Cameron. Notre Dame transfer Carson Tinney is a different profile of player, with more whiff in his offensive profile and more defensive uncertainty. Despite this, it's an incredibly impressive production after transferring to Texas and facing SEC competition his junior season. Tinney has significant swing-and-miss issues with his hit tool, but it's legitimate 70-grade raw power. He's posted exit velocities north of 115 mph in 2026, in addition to 22 home runs in 61 games. While he strikes out a lot (23.1%), his hit tool concerns are somewhat mitigated by a walk rate of 19.2%.. Defensively, it's huge arm strength. Like many other large-framed catchers, Tinney struggles with some of the nimbleness and adaptability of movement behind the plate. Outside of controlling the running game, the whole defensive package needs work. Even so, it's 30 home run potential that could find a home at first base if the catching doesn't stick. The Minnesota Twins secured a major organizational upgrade by selecting Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with the No. 3 overall pick and Texas catcher Carson Tinney at No. 43 overall. This strategic emphasis on premium backstops injects high-impact depth, defensive versatility, and immense power into the franchise's pipeline. Drafting premium catching talent is always a high-risk, high-reward strategy, but the Twins have focused - intentionally or not - on acquiring catcher depth since the 2025 trade deadline. If even one of these prospects hits their ceiling, the Twins have secured a foundational piece for their next championship window. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals selected Jack Slightom with the No. 56 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. The slot value for that selection is $1,721,700. Slightom is a Cincinnati Bearcat signee but is likely to sign with Kansas City rather than taking the college route. A three-sport athlete, Slightom wasn't serious about full-time baseball until his senior season. He certainly locked in and showed his potential, posting a 7-0 record with a 0.38 ERA, the best in all of Illinois high school baseball. Here is what our draft expert Jamie Cameron had to say about Slightom. "Jack Slightom is a cold-weather arm out of Illinois, currently committed to Cincinnati, who has surged up draft boards towards the end of the cycle. A projectable righty at 6'4, 200 pounds, he's made strides in the last 12 months and should flourish in a pro system after splitting time between baseball and football in high school. Slightom has some interesting release traits with a lower arm slot and above-average extension. It's a run and ride fastball that has been as high as 98 mph, but will likely sit in the 93-95 mph range, a significant step forward from his junior year. Slightom's primary breaking pitch is a sweeping slider that could use more firmness. He's also shown capacity for a changeup with tumble and fade." Slightom is the second pitcher selected by Kansas City in the first round of the draft, joining Ole Miss right-hander Taylor Rabe. Slightom will join a top prospect list that already contains 17 of its top 30 as starting pitchers. If the fastball velocity can be paired with the offseason command, Slightom has a chance to rival the success that the Royals front office expects Rabe to have. View the full article

The 14th overall pick in the MLB Draft, shortstop Jacob Lombard discusses joining the Marlins organization and the critical support he has received from his family.View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Cole Carlon at #39in the 2026 MLB Draft. Cole Carlon is a starting pitcher at Arizona State University. The slot value for the pick is $2,571,700. Cole Carlon was ranked #20 on our MLB Draft Consensus Board. Here’s what our write-up of Cole Carlon by Jamie Cameron from our MLB Draft Consensus Board said of Cole Carlon. Carlon is one of the fastest-rising college arms in 2026 in a demographic that has suffered from injuries and inconsistent performance. After contributing to the Sun Devils immediately as a freshman bullpen arm, Carlon improved his sophomore season significantly, cutting his ERA in half and flashing far more dominant stuff. It's a good-looking delivery from Carlon. While there aren't outlier release traits, he hides the ball well during his delivery and has an ideal pitcher's frame at 6'5, 220 pounds. He's moved from the bullpen to a starting role in 2026. The results have been spectacular. Carlon had a 4.30 FIP through 83.2 innings of work this season while striking out 38% of hitters. The stuff is as explosive as ever, his fastball sits 94-96 mph, but he's run it up to 100 mph. His slider is one of the best in the class, a mid-80s gyro offering that generates a ton of swing and miss. Carlon mixes in a curveball and a changeup, too. There's still some refinement needed to the strike throwing, but Carlon's walk rate has improved from 11.3% in 2025 to 8.9% in 2026. Carlon is looking like a first-round prospect with starter traits who should move quickly as a pro. View the full article

Fish On First staffers react to who the Miami Marlins selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Saturday's show was hosted by Alex Carver and featured panelists Ely Sussman, Hector Rodriguez, Sean McCormack, Kevin Barral, Nate Karzmer and Jeremiah Geiger. You can find Fish Unfiltered and Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. Widely projected to be taken within the draft's first 10 picks, Lombard is an extremely toolsy shortstop who just so happens to be a South Florida native. He's likely to require an overslot deal from the Fish (slot value is $5,444,900). View the full article

Jack Anderson became available when the Red Sox DFAd him earlier in the week. He debuted for Boston in mid-April and pitched in three big-league games. He had two walks and six strikeouts, along with three earned runs over eight innings. At Triple-A Worcester, he was 2-4 with a 4.81 ERA this year. In 58 innings, he walked 21 and had 51 strikeouts. Anderson grew up in Tampa. He was the 16th round pick of the Detroit Tigers in 2021 after playing at Florida State. He spent four seasons with the Tigers organization and the 2025 and 2026 seasons with the Red Sox. Fun Fact: He pitched three innings in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for the team from Great Britain. He struck out three batters and gave up one run over three innings. He will start by being optioned to the Saints. Lefty Anthony Banda was moved to the 60-Day Injured List to make room for Anderson on the 40-man roster. Banda had surgery recently on his left lat. Very likely to miss the remainder of the season. Anderson throws five pitches. He throws a four-seam fastball 36.3% of the time. It averages just 90.4 mph. He throws a split finger (22.6%, 81.4 mph) and a slider (21%, 82.6mph). He also throws a sweeper (12.1%, 78.1 mph) and a curveball (8.1% 77.2mph). View the full article

Taylor Rabe is a 6’5, right-handed pitcher for Ole’ Miss, who has been a significant late riser on draft boards down the stretch of the 2026 season. After blowing out his elbow in his senior year of high school, he made it to campus and spent his 2024 season recovering from TJ surgery. Rabe transitioned into a starting role in 2026, after functioning primarily as a reliever his sophomore season. He logged a career high 76 innings in 2026, posting a strikeout rate of 34.2%, while managing a 3.75 FIP, an excellent mark given the quality of the competition he faced regularly. Rabe has an excellent fastball that sits 95-97 mph but has touched triple digits. It’s primarily complemented by a cutter (86 mph), a slider (82 mph), and a changeup (87 mph), giving Rabe a solid four-pitch mix with which to transition into pro ball. There’s excellent strike throwing here. Rabe walked just 4.9% of hitters in 2026. That’s actually up from 2025 (2.5%), and he gets good extension down the mound. There’s a ton of starter traits here, and I like Rabe a ton to polish up his arsenal and optimize his approach with an offseason in a pro system under his belt. The arrow is firmly up here. View the full article

Trey Ebel is the younger brother of Brady Ebel, drafted 32nd overall by the Brewers in 2025, and the son of Dino Ebel, the Dodgers' long-time third base coach. Ebel will be 17 years old on draft day, a face likely to make him pop on organizational models. Ebel is a right-handed hitter with what's currently a hit-over-power profile. He has an excellent approach and rarely chases pitches out of the zone. In the summer of 2025, he put together some of the best contact and approach numbers of any player on the summer circuit. In the last 12 months, Ebel has grown into more bat speed. That has translated to in-game, pull-side power, which can likely further develop to solid average power in time. Defensively, there are good infield actions and a solid arm. He's a high baseball IQ player whose intelligence and feel for the game will likely help him outperform his physical tools. Ebel is committed to Texas A&M and is one of the sharpest risers on the prep side of the draft in the last few months leading up to day one. View the full article