AL East Teams Evaluate 2026 Draft Classes, Highlighting Upside Picks and Reach Selections
Analyst reviews of the 2026 MLB draft show the Orioles focusing on high-upside athletes, the Red Sox taking a reach at shortstop, and the Rays and Blue Jays emphasizing power and pitching depth.
The 2026 MLB draft has been analyzed for each American League East club, with attention on the first ten rounds that affect each team’s bonus pool. Selections after round ten are limited to $150,000 bonuses and rarely result in signings.
The Baltimore Orioles used the No. 7 overall pick on Mississippi high-schooler Eric Booth Jr., a speed-first outfielder who projects as a plus defender in center field. Other notable picks include NC State outfielder Ty Head, noted for his plate discipline, and right-hander Dominic Voegele, who possesses a strong arm but may be better suited for a bullpen role.
The Boston Red Sox selected UNC shortstop Jake Schaffner with their first pick, a move the analyst described as a reach given his lower defensive rating at shortstop and the need for elite hitting to justify the selection. Additional picks emphasized bat-to-ball skills, such as Wisconsin shortstop Jace Mataczynski and Florida Atlantic left-hander Kide Adetuyi, who showed a breakout strikeout rate after returning from Tommy John surgery.
The New York Yankees, penalized ten picks for luxury-tax violations, chose Arkansas left-hander Hunter Dietz at No. 35, noting his high velocity and improved control after recovering from an elbow stress fracture. Their subsequent selections included Canadian left-hander Sean Duncan and versatile catcher/outfielder Brendan Brock, both viewed as high-upside projects.
The Tampa Bay Rays, holding the second overall pick, took high-school shortstop Grady Emerson, praised for his advanced hitting and projected power. Their draft also featured a mix of pitchers and power hitters, such as Liberty right-hander Ben Blair and high-school outfielder Collin Bland, who brings notable raw power.
The Toronto Blue Jays, also facing a ten-pick penalty, selected Arizona State left-hander Cole Carlon in the first round, seeing him as a potential mid-rotation starter. Their later picks included shortstop Ryan Cooney and high-school catcher Will Brick, the latter expected to consume a large portion of the team’s bonus pool.
Overall, the analyst refrained from assigning letter grades, focusing instead on individual player evaluations and the strategic fit of each selection within the teams’ broader scouting objectives.