Draft Podcast: Rising 2026 Draft Prospects We Love

In this episode of the Baseball America Draft Podcast, hosts JJ Cooper, Carlos Colasso, and Jacob Rudner dive deep into the 2026 MLB Draft landscape, spotlighting players who intrigue them across different tiers. They begin with first-round prospects, highlighting Logan Redman of UCLA for his dramatic velocity increase and polished pitchability, Tyler Spangler of California as a polished, contact-oriented hitter despite limited playing time, and Tegan Coons of Penn State as a projectable, strike-throwing right-hander with a high ceiling despite command concerns. Moving to the top 100, they spotlight Ben Blair of Liberty for his elite command, low walk rate, and unique low-slot delivery, Caden McCarthy of Vermont Academy as a high-velocity, athletic high school right-hander with raw talent, and Trey Phelps of Georgia as a top SEC hitter whose defensive versatility raises questions. For players outside the top 100, they discuss Trey Broussard of Houston as a premium defensive center fielder with contact skills and limited power, Cameron Johnson of Oklahoma as a high-risk, high-reward lefty with elite stuff but wild command, and Caden Ferraro of Texas Tech as a rare hitter with elite exit velocity, contact ability, and discipline. The episode emphasizes the balance between tools, projection, and risk in draft evaluation. Key takeaways include: 1) Pitchers with elite command and strike-throwing ability are highly valued, even if not flashy; 2) Hitters with elite contact and exit velocity, especially with low chase rates, are rare and valuable; 3) High-risk, high-upside arms like Cameron Johnson can be worth drafting if teams are willing to invest in development; 4) Defensive versatility doesn’t necessarily hurt a player’s draft stock if offensive production is strong; 5) Projectability and athleticism often outweigh current performance, especially in high school and early college players. The overall tone is enthusiastic and analytical, reflecting excitement about the depth and intrigue of the 2026 class.