2026 DRAFT – FIRST ROUND – DEEP DIVE – TAKE A LISTEN
From The MWBL Sports Desk: 2026 Draft First Round Analysis
The first round of the 2026 Mid-West Baseball League Draft features a revealing mix of immediate-impact players and long-term investments. Below is a detailed look at the baseball skills of the top 26 selections, along with their specific projected arrival times based on league classification rules.
(Please note: The specific scouting reports regarding baseball skills below are drawn from general baseball knowledge as requested, while roster designations and ETAs are based on official MWBL records.)
1. Yucaipa Road Runners (Owner: Mark Garcia) Player: Max Clark (OF, Detroit Tigers) Selected by Mark Garcia, Clark is a quintessential five-tool talent. He possesses elite speed and a cannon for an arm in center field, paired with a hit tool advanced for his age. His ability to control the strike zone suggests immense upside as a future leadoff hitter. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
2. Prairie Falcons (Owner: John Ausec) Player: Cam Schlittler (P, New York Yankees) John Ausec adds a collegiate arm with a deep arsenal to the Falcons. Schlittler features a riding fastball and a deceptive changeup that generates swings and misses. His ability to command multiple pitches suggests he is ready to handle professional hitters immediately. Status: CARDED. ETA: Ready to contribute to the franchise immediately.
3. Motor City Muscle (Owner: Jim Craddock) Player: Payton Tolle (P, Boston Red Sox) Jim Craddock selects this imposing left-hander known for his unique delivery and high strikeout rates. Tolle’s fastball plays up significantly due to his extension, and his breaking ball is a legitimate weapon against both lefties and righties. Status: CARDED. ETA: Ready to contribute to the franchise immediately.
4. Coconut Creek Crushers (Owner: Cliff Miller) Player: Tatsuya Imai (P, Houston Astros) Cliff Miller brings in an international arm with electric stuff. Imai is known for a high-velocity fastball and a sharp slider that can disappear on hitters. While his control can sometimes be variable, his raw stuff is frontline starter quality. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
5. Long Beach Dirt Bags (Owner: Peter Kilmarx) Player: Kade Anderson (P, Seattle Mariners) Peter Kilmarx selects this polished left-hander who relies on command and a high-spin curveball rather than overpowering velocity. Anderson mixes pitches effectively to keep hitters off balance and limit hard contact. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
6. Dallas Cougars (Owner: Jarl Jackson) Player: Roch Cholowsky (SS, Collegiate) Jarl Jackson bets on high-end athleticism with this collegiate shortstop. Cholowsky is a defensive wizard with smooth hands and range, paired with a bat that has shown significant power potential as he has physically matured. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
7. Hollywood Werewolves (Owner: Steve Cutler) Player: Luis Pena (SS, Milwaukee Brewers) Steve Cutler adds a teenage shortstop with explosive tools. Pena generates impressive bat speed and has the natural actions to stick at shortstop long-term. His approach needs refinement, but the physical ceiling is incredibly high. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
8. Tampa Bay Expos (Owner: Troy Kuszmaul) Player: Eli Willits (SS, Washington Nationals) Troy Kuszmaul drafts a switch-hitting shortstop known for his contact skills and advanced approach at the plate. Willits offers defensive versatility and a high floor, making him a safe yet promising addition to the Expos’ infield depth. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
9. Gainesville Swamp Things (Owner: Brandon Hogan) Player: Parker Messick (P, Cleveland Guardians) Brandon Hogan picks a sturdy left-hander with a reputation for throwing strikes. Messick relies on a plus changeup and excellent command to dissect lineups, fitting the mold of a reliable mid-rotation starter who minimizes walks. Status: CARDED. ETA: Ready to contribute to the franchise immediately.
10. Southwest Detroit Fighting Chihuahuas (Owner: Brian “Miz” Mazurek) Player: Connelly Early (P, Boston Red Sox) Brian Mazurek selects a polished lefty from the Red Sox system. Early features a three-pitch mix with a fastball that plays well at the top of the zone and a solid changeup, providing immediate depth to the Chihuahuas’ pitching staff. Status: CARDED. ETA: Ready to contribute to the franchise immediately.
11. Baltimore Comets (Owner: Nigel Earhart) Player: Rainiel Rodriguez (C, St. Louis Cardinals) Nigel Earhart secures a power-hitting catcher with a strong arm behind the dish. Rodriguez has shown the ability to drive the ball for extra bases, a rare commodity at the catcher position, though his receiving skills continue to develop. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
12. Yucaipa Road Runners (Owner: Mark Garcia) Player: Troy Melton (P, Detroit Tigers) Mark Garcia’s second pick is a right-hander with a power fastball and a developing slider. Melton has transitioned well into professional ball, showing the ability to miss bats and limit walks, making him a valuable asset for the rotation or bullpen. Status: CARDED. ETA: Ready to contribute to the franchise immediately.
13. Titusville Super Sonics (Owner: Jacob Hornstein) Player: Liam Doyle (P, St. Louis Cardinals) Jacob Hornstein drafts a lefty with high strikeout metrics. Doyle possesses a high-spin fastball and a wipeout slider that can dominate hitters when he is in the zone, giving the Super Sonics a potential strikeout artist. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
14. Corktown Cycle (Owner: Chris DeMercurio) Player: Joshua Baez (OF, St. Louis Cardinals) Chris DeMercurio takes a swing on massive raw power. Baez has elite exit velocities and arm strength in the outfield, though his game comes with significant swing-and-miss concerns that he must iron out to reach his ceiling. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
15. Southwest Detroit Fighting Chihuahuas (Owner: Brian “Miz” Mazurek) Player: Edward Florentino (OF, Pittsburgh Pirates) Brian Mazurek adds an outfielder with a projectable frame and solid power potential. Florentino is an aggressive hitter who can drive the ball to all fields but will need to refine his plate discipline to succeed at higher levels. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
16. Alamo Defenders (Owner: Michael Lassman) Player: Ben Williamson (3B, Tampa Bay Rays) Michael Lassman selects a corner infielder renowned for his glove. Williamson is an elite defender at third base with a contact-oriented bat that produces consistent line drives, offering a high floor for the Defenders. Status: CARDED. ETA: Ready to contribute to the franchise immediately.
17. Selkirk Steelers (Owner: Ken Kuryliw) Player: Jett Williams (SS, Milwaukee Brewers) Ken Kuryliw picks a dynamic athlete with elite plate discipline and speed. Williams is a “sparkplug” type player who walks frequently and causes havoc on the basepaths, providing the Steelers with a future top-of-the-order threat. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
18. Prairie Falcons (Owner: John Ausec) Player: Gage Jump (P, Athletics) John Ausec adds a high-upside lefty with a powerful fastball-curveball combination. Jump is a smaller pitcher but generates tremendous velocity and spin, making him a legitimate strikeout threat as he climbs the ladder. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
19. Motor City Muscle (Owner: Jim Craddock) Player: Kaelen Culpepper (SS, Minnesota Twins) Jim Craddock selects a strong collegiate shortstop with power and a reliable glove. Culpepper has shown the ability to handle velocity and drive the ball with authority in the gaps, projecting as a solid, everyday regular. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
20. Prairie Falcons (Owner: John Ausec) Player: Seth Hernandez (P, Pittsburgh Pirates) John Ausec continues his pitching run with this prep right-hander. Hernandez has a smooth delivery and projects to add significant velocity to an already solid fastball and changeup mix, offering classic starter upside. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
21. Hollywood Werewolves (Owner: Steve Cutler) Player: Jarlin Susana (P, Washington Nationals) Steve Cutler acquires one of the hardest throwers in the minors. Susana regularly hits triple digits with his fastball, paired with a power slider. If he harnesses his command, he could be a dominant force. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
22. Chicago Mobsters (Owner: John “Stray” Corrado) Player: Kruz Schoolcraft (P, San Diego Padres) Stray Corrado selects a unique two-way talent with a massive frame. Schoolcraft offers intriguing upside as a lefty pitcher with velocity and power potential at the plate, making him a rare “unicorn” prospect. Status: UN-CARDED Player (Bonus Baby – 26B). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 4 years.
23. Cincinnati Skyliners (Owner: John Hamel) Player: Brody Hopkins (P, Tampa Bay Rays) John Hamel drafts an athletic right-hander with a background as a two-way player. Hopkins features a sinking fastball and a devastating slider, generating high ground-ball rates and strikeouts. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.
24. Tempe Tempers (Owner: Chris Douglass) Player: Chad Patrick (P, Milwaukee Brewers) Chris Douglass selects a control-artist right-hander. Patrick relies on precision and a deep repertoire rather than overwhelming stuff, consistently pitching deep into games and avoiding free passes. Status: CARDED. ETA: Ready to contribute to the franchise immediately.
25. Fremont Cannons (Owner: Casey Hoch) Player: Daylen Lile (OF, Washington Nationals) Casey Hoch adds a pure hitter with a sweet left-handed swing. Lile has shown a knack for contact and gap power, rebounding from early-career injuries to solidify his status as a legitimate hitting prospect. Status: CARDED. ETA: Ready to contribute to the franchise immediately.
26. Motor City Muscle (Owner: Jim Craddock) Player: Joe Mack (C, Miami Marlins) Jim Craddock closes the round with an athletic catcher who offers left-handed power. Mack has improved his defensive game significantly while maintaining the ability to punish fastballs, projecting as a two-way backstop. Status: UN-CARDED Player (26). ETA: Must reach the Major Leagues within 3 years.