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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

SHOW SUMMARY:Today we jump back 15 years to the Oct. 20, 2010 episode of the PWTorch Livecast featuring PWTorch editor Wade Keller and cohost Pat McNeill, they discussed the controversy erupting over the “Stand Up For WWE” campaign as it relates to Linda McMahon’s political campaign. Also, live calls on Jeff Hardy’s heel turn, Paul Heyman’s goals for TNA, R-Truth’s absence this week, Tough Enough’s format, Bischoff’s comments on ROH and Bret’s comments on Bischoff, MVP’s push, the Jeff Jarrett-Kurt Angle relationship, potential for Sunday’s Daniel Bryan-Dolph Ziggler match, Hornswoggle’s character, and more.

In the previously VIP-exclusive Aftershow, the McNeill Live Event center, Listener Email Questions on Tito Santana and a WWE continuity editor, plus the Briscoes, Kaval, and more.

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Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File) Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has removed Lahore Qalandars from his social media bio, following his countryâ€s decision to withdraw from the upcoming tri-nation T20I series in Pakistan. The withdrawal comes in protest against recent Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, which reportedly killed eight civilians, including three young cricketers.

Rashid Khan X handle

Rashid, widely regarded as one of Afghanistanâ€s most influential cricketers, had previously listed all his major teams on X (formerly Twitter), including the national side, Gujarat Titans in the IPL, Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, and Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. The latest update now shows the Qalandars removed, leaving only his IPL and BBL affiliations alongside the Afghanistan national team.

Pak-Afghan Border Clash: Airstrike Kills 3 Afghan Cricketers, ACB and Rashid Khan Blast Islamabad

The change followed a strongly worded statement from Rashid condemning the airstrikes and expressing support for the Afghanistan Cricket Boardâ€s (ACB) decision to pull out of the series scheduled in Lahore from November 17 to 29. The tri-series was to feature Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.

Rashid Khan post on X

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of civilian lives in the recent Pakistani aerial strikes — a tragedy that claimed women, children, and young cricketers aspiring to represent Afghanistan on the global stage,†Rashid wrote on X. “These unlawful actions are a grave violation of human rights. I fully support the ACBâ€s decision to withdraw. Our national dignity must come first.â€The ACB confirmed that the three cricketers killed in the attacks — Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon — were from Paktikaâ€s Urgun district, while seven others were injured.Afghan players have expressed strong reactions to the incident. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib posted: “This brutal act by the Pakistani army is an assault on our people, pride, and independence, but it will never break the Afghan spirit.â€The move by Rashid Khan, both in public statements and his bio update, underscores the growing tension and the emotional toll of the attacks on Afghan cricket, as the team takes a firm stand on national dignity and respect for the lives lost.

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Oct 15, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

We are two games into both 2025 league championship series, and it’s time for our initial impressions based on what we have seen on the field.

The Seattle Mariners are headed home with a 2-0 ALCS lead after downing the Toronto Blue Jays on consecutive days to start the series.

In the NLCS, the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers have jumped out to a 2-0 road advantage of their own against the Milwaukee Brewers.

What has stood out most so far — and what’s next for the World Series hopefuls? Our MLB experts weigh in.

ALCS: Mariners vs. Blue Jays

What has surprised you most so far?

Jorge Castillo:The assumption was Seattle’s pitching staff, drained after an exhausting ALDS that concluded with a 15-inning Game 5 on Friday, would need at least Sunday’s ALCS opening game to reset. But Mariners pitchers did not relent. Game 1 starter Bryce Miller set the tone, rebounding from a rocky first inning to give the Mariners six crucial innings. The bullpen starred in Game 2, when Eduard Bazardo, Carlos Vargas and Emerson Hancock each tossed two scoreless innings. Tuesday’s off day should only help the Mariners as the series shifts to their cavernous home ballpark.

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Jeff Passan:The lack of competitive at-bats from the Blue Jays. Yes, the Mariners’ pitching is very good. But the Blue Jays — whose high-quality, work-the-count, spoil-pitches approach all season helped deliver them an AL East championship — were practically tweaking to swing at Miller’s pitches in Game 1 and weren’t much better in Game 2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is hitless. As are Daulton Varsho, Andres Gimenez and Davis Schneider.

Four runs in two games is not going to do it against a lineup as deep as the Mariners’ and with a pitching staff as susceptible as the Blue Jays’ has been this postseason.

How can the Mariners close this out at home?

Castillo:Hitting home runs at T-Mobile Park isn’t easy — the Mariners hit 134 on the road and 108 at home — but long balls are often the difference in October. Such was the case in Game 2, when the Mariners scored eight of their 10 runs on three homers — two three-run home runs and a two-run shot.

The Blue Jays surrendered 209 home runs during the regular season — the sixth-most allowed in the majors and the most allowed by a postseason team. If the Mariners continue hitting mistakes over the fence, the Blue Jays’ chances of winning four of the next five games are slim to none.

Passan:Do not treat this as a coronation. Too much has happened in Mariners history to ever doubt that something can go very wrong. They have existed 49 years and never so much as made a World Series.

The real answer: cut down on the punchouts. The Mariners are striking out more than 30% of the time over the first two games, and it diminishes opportunities compared to Toronto, which is at 13%. Like Jorge said, as long as Seattle is hitting home runs, this might be moot. In the absence of that, though, putting the ball in play can save them.

What can the Blue Jays do to get this series back to Toronto?

Castillo:It starts with scoring more runs. The Mariners’ pitching staff, tired and all, has silenced an offense that demolished Yankees pitching last week. The Blue Jays tallied only four runs in the two games in Toronto. All were scored in the first two innings. In Game 2, the Blue Jays went 1-for-28 with three walks after the second inning.

Nathan Lukes and George Springer are the only Blue Jays with multiple hits in the series. Guerrero is 0-for-7 with one walk after finishing the ALDS 9-for-17 with three home runs. Varsho is 0-for-7. Addison Barger and Andres Giménez are 0-for-6. Springer’s leadoff home run in Game 1 was the only ball Toronto hit over the fence.

One-stop shop for 2025 MLB playoffs

We have everything you need to keep up with all the action this October. Schedule, bracket, more »

The Blue Jays scored 21 runs in a three-game sweep of the Mariners during the regular season. But that was at home in May, and T-Mobile Park is a pitcher’s haven. It’ll be a quick series if their bats don’t wake up in Seattle.

Passan:Just look at Game 1 of the NLCS. The Dodgers’ offense is struggling, and it really doesn’t matter because Blake Snell threw eight of the most brilliant innings you’ll ever see. And even though Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer, the Blue Jays’ starters in Game 3 and Game 4, are not near Snell’s caliber today, they are both former Cy Young winners who have pitched in huge games. Seattle’s pitching is too good for Toronto to win this series via slugfests. So the Blue Jays are simply going to have to beat the Mariners at their own game: solid starting pitching and enough relief to backfill.

NLCS

What has jumped out to you most so far?

Bradford Doolittle:The Dodgers’ starting pitching has been lights-out. It’s not just all the zeros that Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto put up; the Brewers’ hitters looked overmatched against them most of the time. Milwaukee had a clear plan to ambush Yamamoto as often as possible in Game 2, but after Jackson Chourio’s first-pitch leadoff homer, it just didn’t work. Yamamoto kept pumping in strikes, and the Brewers did nothing with them.

Jesse Rogers:The Dodgers’ starting pitching went from iffy to dominant in the blink of an eye. Part of the reason the Brewers went 6-0 against L.A. during the regular season is that they faced a team piecing together its starting staff. Dave Roberts even admitted to “slow playing” Snell just to have him ready for this moment.

Best possible World Series matchups

Never-before-seen history? A battle of villains?! Here are the best remaining showdowns for every type of fan. David Schoenfield »

Not even a first-pitch home run by Chourio off Yamamoto in Game 2 could change the narrative. Yamamoto threw a 111-pitch complete game, giving up only two more hits and a walk after that long ball. On most teams, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani would be the No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers, but the Dodgers will roll them out against Milwaukee at Dodger Stadium later this week. It’s an embarrassment of riches — and it could doom the Brewers’ chances at their first World Series title.

What do the Dodgers need to do to close out this series at home?

Bradford Doolittle:Just keep riding the wave. The L.A. rotation has become the story of the postseason so far, and even though the Dodgers’ offense hasn’t matched the pitchers in terms of dominance, this is the hottest team around right now. And the offense isn’t going to grind this way forever.

Jesse Rogers:Just keep pitching the way they are and maybe get Ohtani going at the plate. Not that they’ve needed him so far, but if he starts to light it up, this series won’t return to the Midwest. Closer Roki Sasaki is also likely to be more comfortable in his home setting than he was in Game 1. All signs point to the Dodgers winning a short series.

What do the Brewers need to get this series back to Milwaukee?

Bradford Doolittle:They need traffic on the bases, especially early in the games. They haven’t been able to showcase their athleticism against the Dodgers because no one has been getting on base. Get on base, hope to unnerve Glasnow and Ohtani and get into that L.A. bullpen by the fourth or fifth inning. The formula isn’t complicated, but the way the Dodgers are going, executing it will be a challenge.

Jesse Rogers:Putting up a crooked number would help. Somewhere along the line, they need one of those Brewers innings — the kind that forces the defense into mistakes while utilizing their speed and ability on the basepaths to create havoc. Easier said than done against this Dodgers starting staff, but if they can get into the underbelly of L.A.’s bullpen, they have a chance. That’s the path forward for the Brewers.

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Max Greyserman didn’t get his first PGA Tour victory at the Baycurrent Classic, but he got closer to earning a couple of signature-event starts next season.

Greyserman closed in 65 Sunday in Japan, but fell one shot shy of Xander Schauffele. The runner-up showing, however, moved him from 58th to 51st in FedExCup points. Nos. 51-60 at the end of the Tour’s fall season will qualify for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational.

Current Aon Next 10

• 51. Max Greyserman
• 52. Aldrich Potgieter
• 53. Chris Kirk
• 54. Aaron Rai
• 55. Min Woo Lee
• 56. Jordan Spieth
• 57. Garrick Higgo
• 58. Jake Knapp
• 59. Wyndham Clark
• 60. Joe Highsmith

Four tournaments remaining in FedExCup Fall:

• Oct. 23-26: Bank of Utah Championship
• Nov. 6-9: World Wide Technology Championship
• Nov. 13-16: Butterfield Bermuda Championship
• Nov. 20-23: RSM Classic

At the conclusion of the RSM on St. Simons Island, Georgia, the top 100 (down from 125 in previous years) in FEC points will earn full exempt status in 2026.

Among the notable movers this past week: Micheal Thorbjorsen (third at Baycurrent) jumped 18 spots to 72nd; Takumi Kanaya (T-4) moved from 135th to 113th; and Alex Smalley (T-4) got some breathing room, moving up 10 places to 77th.

Nos. 95-105 on the FedExCup Fall points list (*exempt for 2026):

• 95. Beau Hossler
• 96. Adam Scott*
• 97. Sami Valimaki
• 98. Patrick Fishburn
• 99. David Lipsky
• 100. Max Homa*
• 101. Isaiah Salinda
• 102. Austin Eckroat*
• 103. Joel Dahmen
• 104. Max McGreavy
• 105. Victor Perez

A popular AEW star has justified his existing hatred of Triple H.

Earlier this year, in May, during an interview with BetIdeas.com, All Elite Wrestling star MVP opened up about his hatred for WWE Hall of Famer, Triple H. Montel Vontavious Porter explained why he fails to respect The Game, before explaining that it had nothing to do with ‘race’.

Recently, in another interview with TMZâ€s Inside the Ring, the former champion doubled down on his past comments about having no respect for Triple H.

“I stand by those words. I have zero respect for him, personally or professionally. And when I tell why, then people will be like, ‘Okay, that makes sense.â€â€

H/t Wrestlepurists

In 2024, MVP parted ways with WWE and joined hands with All Elite Wrestling. Soon, he brought along Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley to form The Hurt Syndicate.

AEW’s Big Plans To Compete With WWE WrestleMania 43 In Saudi Arabia

In spring 2027, WWE is set to host WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia. However, their mainstream competition, AEW, has also opened up about their big plans during that same time.

Speaking during the All Out media call, Tony Khan revealed,

“I have a lot of interest in it and I can promise weâ€re gonna run a huge event in the spring of 2027. I think spring 2027 is gonna be a great time for AEW. Weâ€re still gonna be in the peak of this massive media deal that weâ€ve done with Warner Bros. Discovery. Weâ€re gonna be delivering great shows… Thereâ€s gonna be a huge pay-per-view for sure, and one pay-per-view I can tell you is gonna be huge in spring of 2027 that has done huge things for us in AEW and I think some really historic things in pro-wrestling is AEW Revolution.

Weâ€ll have a huge Revolution… People ask about the spring of 2027, I can promise weâ€ll have a huge AEW Revolution and a lot of big plans for then and obviously very focused right now on 2025. Thatâ€s looking very far ahead but, thereâ€s definitely some potential for us to do some big thing in the spring of 2027.â€

In other news: Adam Page has addressed WWE’s constant counterprogramming methods.

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St. Louis Blues prospect Aleksanteri Kaskimaki took part in the opening pre-season game last night, continuing to make an impression on the coaching staff.

The 21-year-old had a positive rookie season in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds, notching 11 goals and 34 points in 63 games, good enough for eighth in goals and sixth in points on the team.

Prior to the pre-season opening 2-1 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars, Kaskimaki was a force at the prospects tournament and continued to show off his high energy and skill in training camp. Against a Stars team which featured NHLers Mavrik Bourque, Alexander Petrovic, Nils Lundkvist, Sam Steel and Radek Faksa, Kaskimaki finished the game with a shot on goal and a hit in 16:55 of ice time.

The young centermen skated on a line with Nathan Walker and Alexey Toropchenko, fitting in perfectly and helping the line win plenty of small ice puck battles. Kaskimaki’s lone hiccup was on an ill-advised play in overtime that was intercepted in the middle of the ice on an outlet that led to Carbonneau’s penalty.

Kaskimaki was involved in the Blues’ only goal, moving the puck to Dylan Holloway behind the goal and then quickly getting to the front of the net. After Holloway sent the puck to Logan Mailloux, he fed it to Justin Carbonneau, who used Kaskimaki as a pass option to sneakily beat the Stars’ goaltender.

There is plenty to like from Kaskimaki’s overall game. He plays with a high pace, always looking to carry the puck through the neutral zone and initiate rush offense. Offensively, the 5-foot-11, 181-pound center uses deception and his hands to create shooting chances. He likes to use the defender’s legs to his advantage, sliding the puck through their legs with different release points in an attempt to change the angle and confuse the goaltenders.

He found success with it in Liiga, Finland’s top professional league, before the jump to North American hockey, recording 10 goals and 17 points in 48 games as a 19-year-old.

The 2022 third-round pick (73rd overall) possesses several NHL-translatable skills. His skill set screams successful bottom-six player, and with some more time to refine his game in the AHL, Kaskimaki could be one of the many players who earn a call-up to the NHL sometime this season or next.

“Kaskimaki is one of my … I saw him at the World Junior in Sweden. There’s something about that player that attracts me to him,” said GM Doug Armstrong in the exit interviews following the Blues’ elimination from the playoffs. “His detail. He reminds me a lot of, I hate putting comparisons out because I get held to it, but not the offense of Alex Steen; he doesn’t have that offense yet, might never have that offense, but he has that understanding of the game, understanding the important times of the game, where important ice is, how to get to it. I saw that when he represents his national team. He’s a guy if does what he’s supposed to do, I see him getting games next year. If he does what he’s supposed to do and has a great training camp, he could start with us.”

Making the team is certainly a long shot, but Kaskimaki is off to a flying start in showing that he is more NHL-ready than some may believe.

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PENTICTON, B.C. — Three days into training camp, it feels like the Vancouver Canucks are about three months ahead of…

Today, we present the fourth and final installment in our series spotlighting 15 players from every class who could shape…

Today, in the third installment in our four-part series spotlighting potential standouts from each class heading into the 2026 college baseball season, we’ll be turning our attention to a group that traditionally commands the most focus—juniors.

For the first time in most of their collegiate careers, juniors are draft-eligible, and that reality often puts them squarely in the spotlight. Theyâ€re evaluated not only on what they mean to their college teams but also on how their tools and production translate to the next level. As a result, this class frequently provides the backbone of the national conversation in any given season.

Trey Beard, LHP, Florida State

Beard put together one of the more eye-catching seasons in the country at Florida Atlantic in 2025, working to a 3.14 ERA with 118 strikeouts against 32 walks across 86 innings. What separates him isnâ€t just the production, but the look, as he attacks from a straight over-the-top slot that gives him a 6-foot-9 release height and difficult angle for hitters to track.Â

His fastball sits in the low 90s yet plays like much more thanks to its natural carry at the top of the zone. He complements it with a mid-70s changeup that stays deceptive out of the hand and falls off late, making it a true bat-missing weapon. Beard also mixes a curveball with depth and a slider with lateral action, rounding out a four-pitch arsenal that keeps opponents guessing.Â

After establishing himself as a premier collegiate strikeout arm last year and joining a talented newcomer class at Florida State as a transfer, heâ€ll now have the chance to show his unorthodox style can hold up against ACC lineups.

Tre Broussard, OF, Houston

Broussard has quietly grown into one of Houstonâ€s most steady contributors, first setting the tone at the top of the lineup in 2025 and then carrying that momentum to the Cape Cod League. He hit .292 with 20 extra-base hits and 31 stolen bases for the Cougars, then added a .296 average in summer ball while taking home Cape League all-star game MVP honors.

Offensively, he leans on quick hands and advanced bat-to-ball ability, standing tall in the box with a simple, repeatable operation. The swing is geared more toward contact than damage, but his speed allows him to turn balls in the gaps and down the lines into extra bases. That same athleticism plays in center field, where his range and reads give him the look of a future pro defender.

Broussardâ€s game isnâ€t flashy, but his knack for finding the barrel, reaching base and wreaking havoc once aboard makes him a reliable spark plug.

Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech

Burress has been nothing short of electric for Georgia Tech, cementing himself as one of the most productive hitters in the country. His freshman season was unmatched, as he slashed .381/.512/.821 with 25 home runs and more walks than strikeouts. He stumbled on the Cape that summer but erased any doubt back in Atlanta, batting .333 with 23 doubles, 19 homers and 65 RBIs as a sophomore.

At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Burress is undersized—and thatâ€s where opinions start to diverge. Pro evaluators are split. Some see a compact athlete whose unorthodox setup, quick hands and 18% career chase rate make him a hitter with real staying power. Others question whether his frame and approach will translate to the pro game.

Whatâ€s not debated is how dangerous he is with metal in his hands. With his ability to punish mistakes and hold down center field with speed and a plus arm, Burress is one of the defining players in college baseball entering 2026.

Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State

Carlonâ€s rise from a struggling freshman reliever to one of Arizona Stateâ€s most trusted arms was striking. After posting a 7.52 ERA in 2024, the 6-foot-5 lefthander reinvented himself in the Alaska League, winning MVP honors by excelling as both a pitcher and hitter. He carried that momentum into 2025, emerging as the Sun Devils†go-to option out of the bullpen with a 3.33 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 54 innings.

Carlon leans on a two-pitch mix that plays well in relief. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and sets up a devastating gyro slider in the upper 80s—a pitch that produced a staggering 56% whiff rate and has the makings of a true out pitch at any level.

Athletic and projectable, Carlon will enter 2026 with a chance to make the jump into the rotation, provided he continues to sharpen his command and develops a reliable third option.

Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA

Cholowsky enters 2026 with a chance to make history. No player has ever won back-to-back College Player of the Year awards, yet after a sophomore campaign in which he hit .353 with 23 home runs, the UCLA shortstop stands as the favorite to break that barrier while guiding a roster built to contend for a national championship. He is at once the sportâ€s most complete returning player and the draftâ€s most intriguing talent, with a legitimate case to be the No. 1 overall pick next year.

Cholowsky’s game is built on balance and impact. His swing is smooth and rhythmic—a repeatable move that marries bat speed with barrel accuracy. As proof of how his feel to hit now pairs with true power, he averaged 91.5 mph in exit velocity, peaked at 106.5 in 90th percentile EV and regularly cleared 110 mph. He hit .341 against velocity at 92-plus while carrying a 90% in-zone contact rate. At shortstop his actions are effortless, his arm both strong and precise.Â

Cholowsky represents the standard, and in 2026 the spotlight belongs to him.

Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

Each year, college baseball seems to produce a pitcher from outside the power conferences who seizes the national stage. In 2026, that arm could be Flora.

The 6-foot-5 righthander has grown from a useful reliever into a potential ace for UC Santa Barbara, striking out 86 with only 17 walks across 75 innings this past spring. His emergence gives the Gauchos the kind of frontline presence theyâ€ll need as they try to rebound from a rare down year and re-assert themselves in the NCAA Tournament picture.

Floraâ€s calling card is his electric velocity. His fastball sits in the mid-to-upper 90s, touches triple digits and explodes at the top of the zone with late ride. He commands it well enough to also bore it inside on righthanded hitters, making it a nightmare pitch to square. His sweeper flashes plus with sharp lateral bite, and he has the feel to alter its shape and back-foot it to lefties.

A changeup remains in progress, but with his arm speed, advanced command and growing arsenal, Flora has the look of a mid-major star capable of vaulting into the conversation for the nationâ€s top pitching draft prospect in 2026.

Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina

Another pitcher with the talent to stake his claim as the best in the class, Flukey enters 2026 as one of the most fascinating arms in the country. After a promising freshman year, he became a national name in 2025, throwing 101.2 innings with a 3.19 ERA and 118 strikeouts against just 24 walks while helping Coastal Carolina reach the national championship series. Now, heâ€ll inherit the role of staff leader for a program that will look to make back-to-back trips to Omaha for the first time in its history.

Flukey’s long arm stroke adds deception to a fastball that lives in the mid-to-upper 90s, touches 98 mph and carries hard through the zone. The pitch is imposing, but his curveball became the real revelation last spring. Sitting in the mid 70s with sharp depth, it produced a 49% miss rate and gave him a weapon to finish hitters. A slider with tilt and a firm changeup round out the arsenal, leaving little doubt Flukey has both the tools and command to dominate.

Flukey is quietly one of the best aces in the country entering 2026, status that could help the Chanticleers once again dominate the Sun Belt and potentially beyond.

Tommy LaPour, RHP, TCU

In a draft class crowded with power arms, LaPour separates himself with the rare ability to maintain that electricity deep into games. The righthander moved from Wichita State to TCU and immediately became the Horned Frogs†most reliable starter, compiling a 3.09 ERA with 88 strikeouts across 90.1 innings. His durability and steadiness made him the kind of pitcher coaches trust to hand the ball to every weekend and scouts yearn for in the draft.

LaPour pitches with a strong delivery driven by his lower half. It allows his fastball to hold mid-to-upper-90s velocity into the late innings and touch triple digits with life at the top of the zone. His slider in the low-to-mid-80s flashes sharp two-plane tilt and generates a 42% miss rate, while his firm changeup in the upper 80s shows fade and tumble with a 34% miss rate.

LaPour’s arsenal, combined with advanced strike-throwing and the stamina to carry it, gives TCU a potential ace capable of anchoring its rotation in 2026.

Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama

Lebron wasted little time making an impression in Tuscaloosa, emerging as one of the most productive freshmen in the country in 2024 when he hit .338/.429/.546 with 12 home runs. He opened 2025 with a torrid stretch and, even after cooling in SEC play, still finished with a .316/.421/.636 line that included 18 doubles and 18 home runs. His bat speed is impressive, allowing him to turn around velocity, while his overall approach shows balance and discipline.

Defensively, Lebron brings polish at shortstop. His actions are crisp, his reads are steady and his arm strength is more than enough to handle the position as he matures. With impact on both sides of the ball and the ability to change a game in a variety of ways, he looks every bit the part of a cornerstone in the middle of the diamond for an Alabama program on the rise.

Steven Milam, SS, LSU

Milam was central to LSUâ€s title run in 2025, producing at the plate while anchoring the defense up the middle. He broke in as a freshman with a .326 average and eight home runs, then followed it with another strong campaign, hitting .295 with new career highs in doubles (14), homers (11) and RBIs (57) last year.

A switch-hitter, Milam shows a natural feel for the barrel from both sides, though his lefthanded stroke has been more consistent. His offensive profile blends steady contact with emerging pop, giving the Tigers balance near the top of the order.

Defensively, Milam was a revelation this spring. He handled everyday shortstop duties with ease, showing lateral range, quick reads off the bat and the arm strength to finish plays from the hole.

LSU coach Jay Johnson repeatedly called him the best shortstop in the country, and Milam will enter 2026 with a chance to validate that praise while leading the Tigers’ push for a second consecutive national championship.

P.J. Moutzouridis, SS, Arizona State

Defense is the calling card for Moutzouridis, who arrives as part of a talented newcomer class at Arizona State after two years at California.

A true shortstop with a knack for making rangy actions to his right and left, he brings smooth actions, a strong arm and the ability to finish plays from multiple slots. His advanced internal clock allows him to play fast without ever looking rushed, and his range and instincts make him a steadying presence in the middle of the diamond. Heâ€s a clear plus defender by every measure and a safe bet to remain at the position long term.

At the plate, Moutzouridis hasnâ€t yet turned added strength into consistent impact, but his contact skills give him clear value and upside. He logged a 92% in-zone contact rate this past season and profiles as a hitter who will give the Sun Devils the reliability they sought when they turned to the portal. While his .270/.329/.367 line in 2025 left room for more, Arizona State is banking on Moutzouridis’ combination of premium defense and high-end bat-to-ball ability to stabilize its lineup.

Ricky Ojeda, LHP, UC Irvine

The Big West regularly produces frontline arms who break through on both the college and draft stages, and Ojeda has the look to be that pitcher in 2026. After two strong years as one of the Anteaters†most trusted relievers, the undersized lefthander is poised to move into the weekend rotation. He was also one of the summerâ€s standout performers, striking out 20 batters across 10 scoreless innings between the Cape Cod League and Team USAâ€s trip to Japan.

Ojedaâ€s track record is built on consistency. He logged 66 innings this spring with an 83-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio, leaning heavily on a low-90s fastball he throws nearly 80% of the time. It isnâ€t overpowering with its velocity, but its ride and run allow it to miss bats even in the zone, and the offering did touch 96 mph over the summer. He pairs it with a deep-breaking curveball, a slider deployed mainly against lefties and a changeup that flashes tumble.

With above-average command and a simple, repeatable delivery, Ojeda is well-positioned to take over his conferenceâ€s spotlight.

Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida

Peterson has quickly established himself as one of the most electric arms in the country. After striking out 77 over 63 innings in his debut season, the 6-foot-5 righthander raised his game in year two, fanning 96 hitters and posting a 4.28 ERA in 69.1 innings while refining his strike-throwing and leaning more heavily on a deep arsenal.

His fastball is the kind of pitch that can overwhelm lineups on its own, as it sits in the mid-to-upper 90s and jumps through the zone with late life. Just as dangerous are his secondaries: a sharp, two-plane slider in the upper 80s and a fading changeup in the same velocity band, both of which generated 43% whiff rates. Heâ€ll also show a distinct breaking ball in the low 80s for a different look that some evaluators believe could become an above-average to plus offering.

That mix, combined with improved command, has vaulted Peterson to the top of draft boards as the No. 1 college pitching prospect for 2026. If he delivers on that billing, Florida could find itself back in Omaha.

Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State

Reeseâ€s sophomore campaign at Mississippi State was nothing short of transformative. He emerged as one of the premier hitters in the nation, slashing .352/.422/.718 with 18 doubles, 21 home runs and 66 RBIs to capture SEC newcomer of the year and second-team All-America honors. His rise didnâ€t stop there. A short stint on the Cape saw him hit .303 with a pair of homers before he joined Team USAâ€s Collegiate National Team for the rest of the summer.

Physically, Reese already looks built for the next level at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds. His operation in the box is compact yet powerful, fueled by explosive bat speed and fast, efficient hip turns. He marries strength with barrel accuracy, producing a 90th percentile exit velocity of 105.4 mph and a 55% hard-hit rate. That ability to combine impact with feel for contact makes him not only Mississippi Stateâ€s centerpiece but also one of the most dangerous bats in the country.

Cole Tryba, LHP, UC Santa Barbara

UC Santa Barbara has built a reputation for producing quality arms under coach Andrew Checketts, and Tryba has firmly established himself as one of the nationâ€s most dependable relievers within that pipeline.

He first broke through in 2024, striking out 65 with just 14 walks in 47 innings, and he followed it with another steady spring despite missing time to injury. In 31 innings, he logged a 3.48 ERA with 46 strikeouts then carried that momentum into the Cape Cod League, where he dominated with a 1.07 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 25.1 innings.

Trybaâ€s delivery is quick and explosive, and while his frame isnâ€t imposing, his stuff consistently plays. His fastball works in the low 90s with heavy armside life, and his upper-70s-to-low-80s sweeper is a true bat-missing weapon, averaging close to a foot and a half of lateral break. He also mixes a changeup with both tumble and fade. Together, those secondaries produced whiff rates near 50%.Â

Few relievers in the country combine consistency and swing-and-miss like Tryba, who enters 2026 as a top 100 draft prospect.Â

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