As the 2026 MLB Draft draws closer and closer, it’s time to spotlight some of our more prominent players from the 2026 grad class, with the focus being on our Main Event standouts from this past October in Frisco and Arlington.
Jenker Romero || Statesboro, Georgia.
POSITION: RHP
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 190
BATS/THROWS: R/R
COMMITMENT: University of Oklahoma
MLB DRAFT RANKINGS: No. 20 prep player in Georgia, Baseball America
Romero is an extremely underrated, high-upside arm that could attract interest from big-league teams in July who see the value here.
We have a long history with the hard-throwing righty, dating back to a Georgia Premier Academy Scout Day in 2023. A two-time attendee of the Main Event in back-to-back years, Romero struggled with control in his outings at Globe Life Field in Arlington in 2024, but made the adjustments and was mostly dominant with us this summer, including dazzling showings at the National Combine and then again in his return to the home of the Texas Rangers.
Our scouts had Romero up to 95 in early October with a “live ball” per his latest report, a slider that sat 77-80 with “real good down action” and a mid-80’s cutter. It’s a loose, live arm that profiles as a potential major-league starter, one that “in time can make himself into a real high profile type.” A University of Oklahoma commit, Romero drew comps to Ramon Martinez back in October and “has a chance to be one you see on TV blowing 100mph one day.”
Set to be 19 years old at the time of the upcoming MLB Draft, he would be a Draft-eligible sophomore.
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Since 2003, he has covered multiple World Series and has worked high-profile events ranging from the MLB All-Star Game to the World Baseball Classic. In addition to his role working for the Future Stars Series that he's held since 2017, Ashmore currently serves as the beat writer of the Double-A New York Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, as well as national hockey writer and New York Jets game day beat reporter for The Trentonian.
A regular contributor to Baseball America, Ashmore has worked eight Super Bowls, 12 Stanley Cup Finals, the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NBA Playoffs, College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Frozen Four, Daytona 500, major UFC events and much more as he approaches 3,300 games covered in his career.
An avid trading card enthusiast, he lives with his wife, Sarah, their son, future No. 1 overall draft pick in 2042, William, their beloved dog, Bailey, and occasionally well-behaved cat, Smokey.
