Each fall, the influx of freshmen reshapes college baseball’s landscape, and the 2026 season is no different.
This year’s class is stacked with players who turned down the draft for the chance to develop on campus, and many are talented enough to impact lineups and rotations right away. To identify the names most likely to break through, we spoke with coaches and scouts who’ve tracked these players throughout their prep careers and, for some, into summer ball.
What emerged is a group defined by projection and polish in equal measure—lefthanders with frontline traits, catchers with professional tools, versatile infielders and athletic outfielders whose ceilings rival anyone in the country. Some—like Mississippi State’s Jack Bauer and LSU’s Marcos Paz—enter with the kind of upside that could anchor a weekend staff. Others, such as UCLA’s Dominic Cadiz and Loyola Marymount’s Andrew Mhoon, bring bats mature enough to carve out lineup roles in crowded rosters. In sum, they form one of the most intriguing freshman crops in recent memory.
Below, you’ll find 15 incoming freshmen to watch for in 2026. Players are listed alphabetically:
Cameron Appenzeller, LHP, Tennessee
Appenzeller is a projectable lefthander with a lean, 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame and the athleticism to repeat a clean, low three-quarters delivery. His stuff hasn’t fully ticked forward yet, in part because he’s split time with basketball, but the raw ingredients remain strong.
His fastball currently sits 88–92 mph, touching 94 with lively finish through the zone, and he shows the ability to spot it with confidence. His best breaking ball is a slider in the upper 70s/low 80s that flashes bite and two-plane sweep. It has a chance to become a future plus pitch as he learns to stay behind it more consistently. He also owns a mid-80s changeup with fading action that plays well against righthanders.
The key for Appenzeller moving forward will be physical development. With added strength, evaluators expect his velocity to climb and his slider to sharpen. Already throwing strikes with three pitches, Appenzeller offers the foundational traits of a starter and considerable upside once his frame matures.
Jack Bauer, LHP, Mississippi State
Bauer redefined what’s possible for a prep lefthander in 2025, becoming the first to touch 102 mph. He’d already flashed 95 the summer before, but his leap to triple digits stunned evaluators and instantly put him in rare territory.
At 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Bauer’s lean frame leaves plenty of room for added strength. He generates elite velocity with shocking ease, sitting upper 90s deep into outings. His fastball grades at the very top of the scale and pairs with a low-80s slider that can flash plus and spins around 3,000 rpm with sharp bite. A changeup in the low 80s lags behind but shows promise.
Bauer’s flaw is control, as he walked more hitters than he struck out on the 2024 circuit. While his control improved in the spring, it remained erratic. Even so, bypassing the draft to attend Mississippi State makes him college baseball’s premier fastball arm with true frontline upside.
It might make sense for Bauer to open his Mississippi State career in the bullpen, but his potential is so massive, the staff could push him into a starting role quickly.
Dominic Cadiz, 3B, UCLA
Cadiz turned down pro ball after being selected in the 15th round, choosing instead to bring his power bat to Westwood. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound righthanded hitter showcased his offensive upside in the West Coast League, where he slashed .345/.454/.628 with nine home runs, 14 doubles and nearly as many walks as strikeouts. His compact stroke generates easy bat speed and damage to all fields, leading evaluators to see his power as a tool that should translate quickly to the college game.
Defensively, Cadiz has a chance to stick at third base thanks to a strong arm and solid actions, though a move across the diamond to first or into an outfield corner remains possible as he matures.
Cadiz’s immediate challenge will be carving out at-bats on a UCLA roster flush with older, experienced hitters. That depth may keep him in more of a reserve role as a freshman, but his combination of polish and impact ability could allow him to seize a regular lineup spot as early as his sophomore year if not sooner.
Angel Cervantes, RHP, UCLA
Cervantes was among the youngest arms in the 2025 class, as he didn’t turn 18 until after the draft. Even so, he already shows one of the most advanced pitch mixes of any freshman in the country.
At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, he repeats a smooth delivery with a quick three-quarters release that gives him both deception and strike-throwing consistency. His fastball lives in the low 90s and reaches 94–95 mph with the command to spot it on both sides of the plate.
His most polished weapon is a low-80s changeup thrown with fastball intent that dives late and profiles as a true plus offering. He also spins a pair of high-upside breakers—a slider in the low 80s and a curveball in the upper 70s. The two offerings sometimes overlap, but both project as above-average with refinement.
Now at UCLA, Cervantes joins one of the nation’s deepest staffs on a title contender. It’s a situation that should allow for patient development, but it won’t prevent him from earning early innings if he proves ready.
Uli Fernsler, LHP, TCU
Few pitchers in the 2025 class created more uncomfortable at-bats than Fernsler, a 6-foot-4 lefthander whose unusual angle and crossfire delivery made him a nightmare for hitters. His fastball isn’t overpowering—often in the upper 80s and occasionally sneaking into the low 90s—but the way it arrives flat through the zone and hides until the last instant gives it surprising life. Scouts consistently noted how advanced his feel was for using the pitch, moving it in and out with precision.
Fernsler complements his heater with two quality secondaries—a firm changeup and a late-biting slider, both in the low 80s and both flashing above-average potential depending on the day. He’ll also flip in a slower curveball as a change of pace.
What separates Fernsler, though, is his command. Evaluators project him as a future plus strike-thrower—a rare label for a prep southpaw. That reputation, combined with TCU’s tendency to trust polished arms, makes him a strong candidate for early innings on a roster aiming to make noise in 2026.
Lucas Franco, SS, TCU
Franco enters TCU as a projectable, lefthanded-hitting shortstop with polish in all phases of the game and the frame to grow into more impact. At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, he’s lean and high-waisted with clear room to add strength.
Franco’s offensive foundation is built around a smooth, balanced swing that stays on plane. He controls the strike zone with maturity, showing advanced pitch recognition and patient decisions, though his current bat speed and impact are modest. More strength should unlock average power down the line, but he’ll need to tighten against breaking stuff and manage the swing length created by his levers.
Defensively, Franco is fluid and fundamentally sound. He has reliable hands, good footwork and an above-average arm that allows him to throw from multiple angles, even on the move. His below-average speed and limited lateral quickness could eventually push him off shortstop, but his actions suggest he’ll find a home somewhere on the dirt.
Gabe Graulau, OF, South Florida
Graulau is one of the most exciting players headed to the mid-major ranks in 2026.
At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, the righthanded-hitting center fielder looks like he could step into a pro uniform today with the frame to add even more strength as he matures. He’s a premium athlete who combines top-end speed with power potential, making for an enticing blend that had some clubs considering him inside the top three rounds of the draft.
Graulau already produces exit velocities close to 110 mph—evidence of the raw juice in his swing—and he projects for plus power once he fully develops. His offensive profile still hinges on how much contact he makes, however, as his swing can get long at times with a clear objective to hunt pull-side damage. Advanced spin has given him trouble. Even if there’s always some swing-and-miss, the power-speed mix is undeniable. Graulau is a true 70 runner with long strides that let him cover ground easily in center field, where his defensive ceiling and arm strength grade as above-average.
Turning down pro ball for South Florida gives him a chance to refine the hit tool in college while showcasing one of the most explosive tool sets in the country.
Brayden Jaksa, C, Oregon
Jaksa, standing 6-foot-6, 210 pounds with a long, athletic frame that is both rare and imposing behind the plate, is unlike almost any other catcher in the 2025 class. His size alone makes him stand out, but it’s the combination of offensive upside and defensive intrigue that had scouts considering him a top-three round pick before he chose to honor his commitment to Oregon.
At the plate, Jaksa works from a simple, balanced setup with a leg-kick trigger and a smooth, slightly uphill path that produces above-average raw power to all fields. He controls the strike zone well for a hitter with such long levers, showing patience and selectivity, though some swing-and-miss is inevitable. His power projects to play in games.
A below-average runner, Jaksa has the arm strength to stick at catcher, but at his size, he will need refinement as a receiver and blocker. Some evaluators believe he could transition to right field, though his offensive profile should give him impact potential regardless of position, especially in the college ranks.
Brock Ketelsen, OF/LHP, Stanford
Ketelsen arrives at Stanford as one of the more intriguing two-way freshmen in the country, though his long-term profile likely points toward the batter’s box. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound lefthanded hitter showed advanced maturity during his summer with the Corvallis Knights in the West Coast League, slashing .328/.467/.458 with two home runs, five doubles, three triples and an eye-catching 34 stolen bases. His combination of size, athleticism and strike-zone awareness—29 walks to 19 strikeouts—made him both a steady run producer and a dynamic threat on the bases.
Though Ketelsen also impressed in short stints on the mound, working to a 1.04 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 8.2 relief innings, scouts and coaches alike see his future in the outfield, where his speed and physicality can shine.
Ketelsen only just turned 18 in late July, yet already plays with the polish of an older contributor. For a Stanford program seeking to rebound after two down years, his offensive upside and early track record make him a freshman capable of pushing into the lineup quickly.
Mason Ligenza, OF, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh landed one of its most intriguing newcomers in Ligenza, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound outfielder with a rare mix of size, strength and athleticism. He already flashes above-average raw power and has the physical projection to grow into even more, making him a potential middle-of-the-order threat down the line. At the plate, he does damage when he gets the ball in the air, especially to his pull side, though his long frame can lead to some groove in the swing and streaky contact. Even so, his power potential is the sort that plays in any college lineup.
Ligenza moves better than his build suggests. He’s a plus runner once underway, with long strides that help him cover ground in the outfield and make right field a natural fit.
For a Pitt program trying to push further into the national conversation, Ligenza could be a steal. A young, toolsy outfielder, he brings the kind of ceiling that can change the trajectory of a lineup if the bat develops.
Andrew Mhoon, 2B, Loyola Marymount
Mhoon doesn’t stand out for his size at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, but his impact at the plate exceeded expectations over the summer with a wood bat, which put him on the breakout radar.
A righthanded hitter with a compact setup and quick bat, he shows above-average barrel feel and produces more loud contact than his frame might suggest. His offensive polish was on display in the West Coast League, where he slashed .360/.454/.577 with four home runs, eight doubles and two triples, while nearly walking as often as he struck out. The blend of bat speed, strike-zone control and gap-to-gap power makes him one of the more intriguing breakout candidates in the West Coast Conference.
Defensively, Mhoon split time between second base and left field over the summer. He also sprinkled in some work at shortstop and third base, showing serviceable actions across the board. His athleticism gives him some versatility, though his most natural fit appears to be second base long term.
For LMU, he represents a potential plug-and-play bat with the chance to solidify himself as a lineup fixture early in his career.
John Paone, RHP, Virginia
Paone’s recruitment underscored how coveted his arm has become. Originally committed to Duke, he flipped to Virginia to follow head coach Chris Pollard—a move that highlights both his stock and steady climb as a prospect over the past year.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound righthander emerged as New England’s top prep talent by spring 2025, a continuation of his rise that began the previous summer when his velocity spiked into the mid 90s. Paone now sits 92–95 mph and has touched 96–97, delivering his fastball from a deceptive low slot with athletic rotation through his delivery. His primary weapon is an 80–85 mph slider that shows two-plane bite and high spin in the 2,800–2,900 rpm range, though it comes and goes in terms of feel. A mid-80s changeup rounds out the mix but trails behind his fastball/slider pairing.
What sets Paone apart, beyond the stuff, is his presence. Paone pitches with fire and visible emotion, traits that should resonate in Charlottesville. Already 19, he’s older for his class, but his combination of power and competitiveness makes him a high-upside addition for the Cavaliers.
Marcos Paz, RHP, LSU
A pitcher who once carried first-round buzz but missed nearly a year after Tommy John surgery, Paz looked like one of the best prep arms in the 2025 draft class when healthy. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound righthander has the physicality and ease of operation that fit a starter’s mold with a smooth delivery, some length to his arm stroke and a steady three-quarters release. He looked close to full strength at the MLB Draft Combine in Arizona over the summer, averaging 93 mph and touching 95—not far from the 96 he’d reached before surgery.
Paz’s power mid-80s slider is the separator. Spinning in the 2,800–2,900 rpm range with late bite, it projects as a legitimate plus offering. His firm changeup in the mid-to-upper 80s is still developing but flashes average.
Given his stuff and track record, LSU may be the ideal landing spot for Paz. Pitching coach Nate Yeskie’s reputation for harnessing elite arms gives Paz as much breakout potential as anyone in the class once he’s fully back to form.
Omar Serna, C, LSU
Serna enters LSU as one of the most imposing catchers in the 2025 class. A 6-foot-2, 225-pound righthanded hitter with massive strength and loud tools on both sides of the ball, his game has drawn comparisons to physical backstops like now-teammate Cade Arrambide.
Serna pairs double-plus arm strength with huge raw power at the plate. His offensive calling card is the damage he can do to all fields with a quick bat and brute strength that produces extra-base thump. The bat still skews power-over-hit, however, and he’ll need to develop more patience and contact skill to consistently unlock his juice against advanced pitching.
Behind the plate, Serna shows flashes of impressive receiving to go with his elite arm, though conditioning, blocking and consistency remain developmental checkpoints. His sheer size means there’s some risk he eventually shifts to first base, but his upside as a power-hitting catcher is exactly the type of profile LSU covets.
Serna had the ability to sign early in the draft, but staying true to the Tigers gives them a potential cornerstone in the middle of the order.
Aiden Stillman, LHP, Vanderbilt
Stillman brings both polish and projection from the left side, with the kind of frame and delivery that suggest even better days ahead. At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, he’s lean with broad shoulders and clear room to add strength. His mechanics are clean, and his slightly-crossfire landing from a high three-quarters slot adds deception that makes his fastball play harder than its velocity. The heater currently sits 90–94 mph and has touched 95, with more velo expected as his body matures and his arm speed continues to tick up.
Stillman pairs his fastball with a breaking ball in the 78–82 mph range that alternates between sweeping slider shape and firmer top-down curveball action, giving him options to either refine two distinct pitches or hone in on one above-average offering. A mid-80s changeup rounds out his mix, giving him three legitimate weapons.
Stillman was a key piece for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team in 2024, logging eight scoreless innings. He made headlines again when he flipped to Vanderbilt in June after Brian O’Connor left Virginia for Mississippi State. His combination of competitiveness, command, and projection gives the Commodores another high-upside arm to develop.
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