MLB Pipeline analysts highlight top picks from first ten rounds of 2026 draft
Analysts Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo identified what they consider the most valuable selections from the first ten rounds of the 2026 MLB Draft, noting several prospects who exceeded their draft positions.
On the latest episode of the Pipeline Podcast, MLB prospects analysts Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo reviewed the 2026 draft, focusing on the first ten rounds and the players they view as the best values. They highlighted Rangers left-hander Gio Rojas, taken 16th overall and ranked eighth, as the top high-school arm in the class. In the compensation round, the Yankees selected left-hander Hunter Dietz at 35th overall, who had limited college innings due to injury but was regarded as the best college left-hander available.
In the second round, the Cardinals chose shortstop Rocco Maniscalco at 50th, praised for his defensive skills and potential as a first-round talent. The Angels’ third-round pick, third-baseman Gavin Grahovac (81st), was noted for his power and recovery from a shoulder injury. The Blue Jays added catcher Will Brick in the fourth round (131st), described as the class’s top high-school catcher with power and defensive ability.
The Phillies selected outfielder Will Gasparino in the fifth round (161st), a 6-foot-6 player with raw power and athleticism. The Rays took left-hander Kyle Johnson in the sixth round (174th), a two-way athlete with strong raw tools despite modest college numbers. Guardians’ seventh-round pick, right-hander Savion Sims (213th), was highlighted for his size and 100-mph fastball.
In the eighth round, the Orioles chose shortstop Will Plunkett (230th), noted for his power potential and athletic profile. The Red Sox selected outfielder Martin Shelar in the ninth round (274th), recognized for high-school power, including a 470-foot hit at the Combine. Finally, the Cardinals drafted right-hander Nick Bonn in the tenth round (294th); he led Division I pitchers with 17 saves and possesses a fastball that can reach the mid-90s with occasional triple-digit velocity.
Both analysts emphasized that several of these players appear to offer talent well beyond the rounds in which they were selected, suggesting potential future impact for their organizations.