Picking Top Players For 2026

Image credit:
Dax Whitney (Photo by Eddie Kelly/ ProLook Photos)

As we continue to get ready for the fast-approaching 2026 college baseball season, the Baseball America college team decided to draft fantasy lineups as an exercise in measuring production. The concept was simple: At the end of the season, the winner will be determined not by draft status or pro potential, but by which roster delivered the most on-field value.

The rules called for full starting lineups with a designated hitter, three starting pitchers and two relievers. That structure forced early choices between bats and arms, and plenty of strategy went into balancing star power with depth.

You can listen to our breakdowns of the first seven rounds on the latest episode of the Baseball America college podcast, where we each came away with four hitters, two starters and one reliever. And below, you can see how we filled out the rest of our squads, along with breakdowns for each pick.

PositionTeam PeterTeam RudnerCVahn LackeyCarson Tinney1BBrady BallingerBrendan Lawson2BChris RembertAlex Hernandez3BTyler MinickAce ReeseSSRoch CholowskyJustin LebronOFSawyer StrosniderDrew BurressOFAJ GraciaTre BroussardOFLogan HughesDean ToigoDHEric BeckerTyler BellSPJackson FloraDax WhitneySPTommy LaPourCameron FlukeySPJake McCoyLiam PetersonRPMJ BollingerSantiago GarciaRPCole TrybaAndrew Middleton

Round 1

Peterâ€s Pick: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA

I was fortunate enough to pick first in our draft and happily selected Cholowsky. The reigning National Player of the Year, Cholowsky enters 2026 as the centerpiece of a stacked UCLA squad and the favorite to be drafted first overall. He turned down top two-round money out of a high school, which is a decision thatâ€s paid off and then some. Cholowsky last spring hit .353/.480/.710 with 19 doubles, 23 home runs, 74 RBIs and 45 walks to just 30 strikeouts. Itâ€s quite difficult to poke holes in Cholowskyâ€s profile. In the box, he has a smooth, rhythmic swing to go along with plus bat-to-ball skills and a knack for generating quality contact on a regular basis. While our main focus this spring will be on how each of our respective draft picks produces, Iâ€d be remiss if I didnâ€t mention Cholowskyâ€s defensive skill set. Heâ€s a no-doubt plus defender with buttery smooth actions, high-level baseball sense and a plus arm, to boot.

Jacobâ€s Pick: Dax Whitney, RHP, Oregon State

Whitney passed on early-round draft money in 2024 to attend Oregon State and immediately looked like a pro-ready arm as a freshman. He posted a 3.40 ERA with 120 strikeouts against 37 walks in 76.2 innings, making him the only freshman in the country to clear the 100-strikeout mark. His total ranked 11th among all Division I pitchers, regardless of class. Armed with a mid-to-high-90s fastball and a pair of sharp offspeed pitches, the 19-year-old righty consistently overwhelmed hitters in 2025. With that arsenal and poise, Whitney enters his sophomore season with legitimate Pitcher of the Year potential and a real chance to outpace more seasoned competitors. He was my first pick because he feels like one of the surest high-caliber players in the country.

Round 2

Peterâ€s Pick: Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU

A “toolshed†in every sense of the phrase, Strosnider is my personal dark horse to be selected first overall in next Julyâ€s draft. While I think it will be Cholowsky when all is said and done, Strosnider is a name to watch closely this season. Hitting just .167 through March 2, Strosnider exploded and ended up posting a gaudy .350/.420/.650 slash line with 13 doubles, a nation-leading 10 triples, 11 home runs and 51 RBIs en route to taking home Big 12 freshman of the year honors. Strosnider is armed with a smattering of above-average or better tools that give him the ability to impact the game in myriad ways.

Jacobâ€s Pick: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina

While Peter stacked hitters early, I zagged and locked in arms. Pairing Whitney with Flukey gave me what I see as two of the most dominant starters in the country. Flukey was terrific as a sophomore, posting a 3.19 ERA with 118 strikeouts against just 24 walks in 101.2 innings. His profile already mirrors recent early first-round picks, and it wouldnâ€t be surprising if he emerged as both the top pitcher in the 2026 draft class and a serious Pitcher of the Year favorite. Grabbing him right after Whitney set up my rotation with back-to-back aces and, in my mind, an unshakable foundation for my team overall.

Round 3

Peterâ€s Pick: AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia

I thought about taking Drew Burress here, but I wound up selecting Gracia. He has been a high-level producer in each of his first two seasons, and heâ€s fresh off a 2025 campaign in which he hit .293/.449/.558 slash line with 10 doubles, a career-high 15 home runs and an impressive 57 walks to just 36 strikeouts. Gracia has one of the more well-rounded offensive profiles of any hitter in the country, and his advanced hit-power combination will serve him well both this spring and beyond.

Jacobâ€s Pick: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech

This draft isnâ€t about future signing bonuses or draft boards—itâ€s about who produces in 2026. On that front, Burress was a no-brainer in the third round as my first hitter. Few players in college baseball can match his track record: a .357/.490/.756 slash line with 44 home runs, 38 doubles and a disciplined 111 walks against 79 strikeouts in two years at Georgia Tech. Heâ€s been one of the most dangerous bats in the country since the day he stepped on campus, and thereâ€s little doubt heâ€ll be in the Player of the Year conversation again in 2026. Landing that level of production six picks into the draft felt like a steal.

Round 4

Peterâ€s Pick: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

I envied Jacobâ€s dynamic one-two punch on the mound, so I selected Jackson Flora to be the headliner of my rotation. Flora has seen an uptick across the board since last spring, and he pitched to a 3.60 ERA with an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 86-to-17 across 75 innings. Flora relies heavily on his lethal fastball-slider combination, and for good reason. His heater has been up to 100 mph with plenty of life through the zone, while his sweeper consistently flashes plus with late, lateral bite. Following the departure of Tyler Bremner in the draft, Flora this spring will anchor the Gauchos†rotation and enters 2026 as one of the favorites to take home the Big West Pitcher of the Year award.

Jacobâ€s Pick: Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State

Reese wasted no time proving he belonged among the nationâ€s elite in 2025, slashing .352/.422/.718 with 21 home runs, 18 doubles and 66 RBIs on his way to SEC newcomer of the year and second-team All-America honors. The underlying metrics backed it up, too, as a 105.4 mph 90th percentile exit velocity and a 55 percent hard-hit rate point to a bat built for impact. Now a cornerstone of Brian Oâ€Connorâ€s first Mississippi State roster, Reese looks every bit like a high-end producer again and a hitter with the rare ability to blend contact quality and consistent results.

Round 5

Peterâ€s Pick: Tommy LaPour, RHP, TCU

After loading up on hitters with my first few picks, I decided to stay on the pitching side and happily added LaPour to my rotation. A workhorse righthander, LaPour this spring compiled a 3.09 ERA with 88 strikeouts to 27 walks across 90.1 innings. He has big-time arm strength and is armed with a mid-to-upper-90s fastball that’s been up to 100 mph with decent carry in the top half of the zone. He isnâ€t a one-trick pony, though, and rounds out his arsenal with an effective low-to-mid-80s slider and an above-average upper-80s changeup that generated miss rates of 42 percent and 34 percent, respectively, last spring. Like Flora, LaPour also fits into the “potential conference pitcher of the year†bucket and is a big-time addition for Team Flaherty.

Jacobâ€s Pick: Tre Broussard, OF, Houston

After leaning on power with Burress and Reese, I wanted to inject some athleticism and on-base dynamism into my lineup. Enter Broussard, Houstonâ€s do-it-all outfielder, who hit .292/.371/.458 last season with seven home runs, 12 doubles and 31 steals in 35 tries while keeping his strikeouts and walks nearly even. A 104.2 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, 43 percent hard-hit rate and 89 percent zone contact rate suggest a bat with even more upside. If he can add a bit more loft and tighten his chase decisions, he has the chance to be one of the most disruptive players in the Big 12. Banking on that growth made him an easy fit for Team Rudner.

Round 6

Peterâ€s Pick: MJ Bollinger, RHP, Texas A&M

Jacob and I both selected a reliever with our sixth-round pick, and I opted for righthander MJ Bollinger. Last spring at Florida Atlantic, Bollinger pitched to a 2.01 ERA with 39 strikeouts to 13 walks across 44.2 innings to go along with 10 saves. In terms of productivity—especially out of the bullpen—I feel confident that Bollinger will be one of coach Michael Earleyâ€s most-called-upon relievers and will again collect at least a handful of saves.

Jacobâ€s Pick: Santiago Garcia, LHP, LSU

The draft rules required me to grab one of my two relievers in the first seven rounds, and when Peter took Bollinger in the sixth, I countered with Garcia—an Oregon transfer now tasked with helping LSU defend its national title. Garcia was solid for the Ducks last year, posting a 4.20 ERA with 40 strikeouts across 30 innings, but the underlying data points to a major leap ahead. His fastball consistently shows more than 20 inches of vertical break—elite by any standard—and he pairs it with a sharp curveball and developing changeup that could become a true weapon. With Nate Yeskie guiding him in Baton Rouge, Garcia feels like a high-upside bullpen anchor and the kind of reliever who could swing matchups for Team Rudner.

Round 7

Peterâ€s Pick: Logan Hughes, OF, Texas Tech

I could have gone in a number of different directions with this pick, but I decided to have a little bit of fun and snagged Hughes. After beginning his career at Stetson, Hughes last year flourished in his first season as a Red Raider to the tune of a .327/.411/.697 slash line with 13 doubles, 19 home runs and more walks (26) than strikeouts (24). Hughes†under-the-hood numbers are perhaps even more impressive than his back of the baseball card stats. Last spring, his average exit velocity and 90th percentile exit velocity were 94.4 and 106.7 mph, respectively, to go along with a hard-hit rate north of 60 percent. I think he has a chance to be one of the more productive hitters in the Big 12, and his offensive profile could be enough to warrant a top-two round pick next July.

Jacobâ€s Pick: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky

Bell shocked plenty of evaluators when he turned down second-round money from the Rays to head to Kentucky, and it didnâ€t take long for him to validate the gamble. As a freshman he hit .296/.385/.522 with 17 doubles and 10 home runs, showing both polish and pop at the plate. A reliable contact hitter with emerging power and steady defense at shortstop, Bell profiles as a true all-around contributor. Draft-eligible as a sophomore in 2026, he enters this season as the centerpiece of a Kentucky team with real upside and a player positioned to make an even bigger national statement. I drafted Bell as my designated hitter to keep the door open for another shortstop later.

Round 8

(Note that the pick order reversed in Round 8 through the end of the draft)

Jacobâ€s Pick: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida

With Peter locking in Flora and LaPour early, I opened the back half of the draft by landing Peterson—Floridaâ€s ace and the current top-ranked starter in the 2026 draft class. His 4.28 ERA as a sophomore undersells how electric he was, striking out 96 hitters in just 69.1 innings while showing improved command of a loaded arsenal that features a mid-to-upper-90s fastball, a plus slider, an above-average changeup and a curveball some evaluators already grade as another potential plus. If it all comes together, Peterson isnâ€t just a frontline arm—heâ€s a legitimate Pitcher of the Year candidate and exactly the kind of high-upside gamble that made sense eight rounds in.

Peterâ€s Pick: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech

I decided to fill my gaping hole behind the plate by taking my personal favorite college catcher in this yearâ€s draft class. 2025 served as a bit of a coming out party for Lackey, who hit .347/.421/.500 with 21 extra-base hits, 42 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Lackey has a quick swing with present bat speed and is consistently on the barrel. I think heâ€ll again be a key cog within Georgia Techâ€s loaded lineup, but where Lackey really shines is behind the dish. Heâ€s an outstanding athlete and a no-doubt plus defender who moves well laterally with high-level catch-and-throw skills. Lackeyâ€s plus arm combined with his general defensive skill set help keep the run game in check.

Round 9

Jacobâ€s Pick: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama

Cholowsky has deservedly drawn much of the spotlight among 2026 shortstops, but Lebron belongs firmly in the first-round conversation, as well. Heâ€s been one of the SECâ€s steadiest producers over two years at Alabama, hitting .316/.421/.636 with 18 doubles and 18 home runs in 2025. His quick bat speed lets him attack velocity in the nationâ€s most power-armed conference, and the results speak for themselves. At this stage of the draft, Lebronâ€s track record and consistency made him an easy call as a safe, productive pick to lock down shortstop.

Peterâ€s Pick: Chris Rembert, 2B, Auburn

Continuing with my theme of drafting “personal favorites,†I decided to select my favorite hitter I saw this summer. Prior to heading down to Cary, N.C. to compete with Team USAâ€s Collegiate National Team, Rembert went 9-for-21 (.429) with a pair of doubles and three home runs across a five-game stint on the Cape. Auburn brought in one of the best freshman classes of any school in the country, and Rembert enjoyed the most productive season out of anyone. He was a key cog in Auburnâ€s super regional lineup and hit .344/.467/.555 with 14 doubles, 10 home runs and 37 walks to 36 strikeouts. Rembert has plus bat speed, and his barrel really accelerates through the hitting zone. He has already flashed impact to the pull side with a budding feel for the barrel. I feel confident in Rembert being one of the most productive hitters within Auburnâ€s deep lineup.

Round 10

Jacobâ€s Pick: Brendan Lawson, 1B, Florida

Iâ€d file Lawson under the “steal†column at this point in the draft. As a freshman at Florida, he hit .314 with 10 home runs and 14 doubles, then followed it up with a .333 showing and four more homers in 23 Cape Cod League games. His setup is unusual—specifically his ultra-high handset—but heâ€s consistently on time with excellent barrel accuracy and growing power. He handled first base last season, which gave me positional flexibility in the draft, but heâ€s expected to shift across the diamond to third in 2026. Either way, Lawson profiles as one of the premier bats in college baseball, with a trajectory that points straight toward being a marquee name in the 2027 draft.

Peterâ€s Pick: Jake McCoy, LHP, South Carolina

After I selected my favorite hitter I saw over the summer in the ninth round, I figured Iâ€d pick my favorite pitcher I saw in the 10th. McCoy posted a rather modest 6.90 ERA this spring, but this summer on the Cape painted a more accurate picture of his professional upside. Across three starts that spanned 12.1 innings, McCoy compiled a 1.46 ERA with an impressive 25 strikeouts to just three walks. The 6-foot-1 southpawâ€s heater has been up to 98 mph with no shortage of life through the zone. He supplements it with a sharp, sweeping slider and a seldom-used mid-to-upper-80s changeup. Both McCoyâ€s fastball and slider are viable swing-and-miss pitches, helping to give him a chance to headline South Carolinaâ€s rotation this spring.

Round 11

Jacobâ€s Pick: Dean Toigo, OF, Arizona State

After transferring from NAIA Hope International, the 6-foot-3 lefthanded slugger became UNLVâ€s offensive centerpiece and earned co-Mountain West player of the year honors by hitting .377 with 18 home runs and 13 doubles. Now a member of Arizona Stateâ€s roster, Toigoâ€s raw power jumps out, especially to the pull side, where he produces towering damage. The data supports it, too, as evidenced by a 106 mph 90th percentile exit velocity and 86 percent zone contact rate. This step up in competition feels like one heâ€s more than capable of handling. 

Peterâ€s Pick: Brady Ballinger, 1B, Kansas

I was a little surprised that Jacob didnâ€t scoop Ballinger with one of his earlier picks, but I was happy to do so in the 11th round. Ballinger arrived at Kansas by way of College of Southern Nevada, where last season he hit .431/.545/.686 with 30 doubles, six home runs, 62 RBIs and a ridiculous walk-to-strikeout ratio of 46-to-22. He didnâ€t miss a beat this spring and posted a 353/.495/.670 slash line with 21 doubles, 16 home runs and an impressive walk-to-strikeout ratio of 56-to-44 en route to a first team all-Big 12 selection. Ballinger stands out for his enticing hit-power blend. Ballinger is consistently on the barrel and has shown the ability to drive the baseball from gap-to-gap. Heâ€s already off to a blistering start this fall and is one of the more polished hitters in the Big 12. 

Round 12

Jacobâ€s Pick: Alex Hernandez, 2B, Georgia Tech

Hernandez wasted no time making his mark at Georgia Tech, hitting .335 with 16 home runs and 69 RBIs as a freshman. His profile is built on explosive bat speed, but what makes him stand out is the discipline that comes with it, as his 25 percent chase rate speaks to a hitter who knows when to let it rip. Slotted in at second base, he has a real chance to be one of the top players at the position in 2026, making him another in a long line of underclassmen stars the Yellow Jackets have rolled out in recent years.

Peterâ€s Pick: Cole Tryba, LHP, UC Santa Barbara

Jacobâ€s somewhat exasperated sigh after I drafted Tryba leads me to believe that I may have picked his pocket here. Tryba missed some time this spring but still managed to compile a 3.48 ERA with 46 strikeouts to 12 walks across 31 innings. Tryba spent his summer on the Cape, where he pitched to a minuscule 1.07 ERA with 28 strikeouts against seven walks in 25.1 innings. His low-90s fastball has plenty of armside life, while his upper-70s-to-low-80s sweeper is a plus pitch. Not to be outdone, Trybaâ€s changeup is an above-average third offering. Between this spring and summer, his slider and changeup garnered whiff rates of 45 percent and 47 percent, respectively. Tryba this spring will again have a prominent role on the Gauchos†pitching staff and could lead the team in appearances.

Round 13

Jacobâ€s Pick: Carson Tinney, C, Texas

With Peter grabbing his catcher in the eighth round, I could afford to wait and snag Tinney later on. A first-team All-American at Notre Dame in 2025, he slashed .348/.498/.753 with 13 doubles, 17 home runs and 53 RBIs, cementing himself as one of the most dangerous offensive catchers in the country. The power is comfortably plus, and early reports out of fall workouts in Austin suggest heâ€s already posting elite exit velocities. As a transfer stepping into a high-profile role, Tinney has the chance to be one of the most productive backstops in college baseball this spring.

Peterâ€s Pick: Eric Becker, SS, Virginia

Jacob taking Tyler Bell and Justin Lebron earlier in the draft—two great picks, by the way—filled his shortstop and designated hitter slots. As a result, I was able to stash my Eric Becker pick until the 13th round. Selecting Becker in the 13th felt like the steal of all steals, and I was thrilled to do so. Becker this year was the centerpiece of Virginiaâ€s offense and hit .368/.453/.617 with 31 extra-base hits and 52 RBIs across 50 games. He has a hitterish look in the box with an advanced feel for the barrel. Becker generated quality contact on a regular basis and sprays line drives all over the field. Heâ€ll again hit in the top third of Virginiaâ€s order and figures to be the straw that stirs the drink for the ‘Hoos.

Round 14

Jacobâ€s Pick: Andrew Middleton, LHP, West Virginia

I decided to roll the dice on Middleton, a lefthanded reliever who transferred from UMass to West Virginia this offseason, with my last pick. Few pitchers in the country can match his combination of outrageous numbers and eye-popping pitch data. Before an arm injury cut short his 2025, he recorded 29 strikeouts among his 35 outs while running a fastball at 89–92 mph that plays like a rising skee-ball, generating 20-plus inches of induced vertical break and a 50 percent whiff rate. He pairs it with a top-down curveball in the mid 70s that flashes plus and tunnels beautifully off the heater. In just 35 career innings, Middleton has already punched out 54 hitters, though 27 walks underscore the delivery inconsistency heâ€ll need to iron out. Health and command remain real question marks, but the deception and swing-and-miss traits are undeniable.

Peterâ€s Pick: Tyler Minnick, 3B, Connecticut

With my final pick, I opted for a little bit of a lesser-known name—at least on the national level—in Tyler Minnick. Minnick is fresh off one of the more impressive breakout campaigns of any hitter in the country, and last spring he hit .350/.433/.729 with 11 doubles, 22 home runs, 74 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. Minnick hammers the baseball all over the yard, and his batted-ball data jumps off the page. Last season, Minnickâ€s 90th percentile exit velocity and hard-hit rate were 106.7 mph and 55 percent, and he also showed a knack for pulling the ball in the air. Minnick doesnâ€t sell out at all to get to his power in-game, and he is more than capable of taking home Big East Player of the Year honors in 2026. 

Source link