The 2026 MLB Draft is 21 months out, but even at this early stage, some players are beginning to separate themselves from the pack in a number of measurable ways. This list is by no means a list of the “best players” in the 2026 class. Instead, it takes into account numerous variables that are hard at work in every Draft. This board takes into account the physical projection of a player, the age of a player, the trajectory of each player’s tools and what it could look like when July 2026 rolls around. A player throwing the hardest or a hitter with the biggest exit velocities at this early stage isn’t necessarily a good thing. It certainly doesn’t hurt, but it’s part of a larger puzzle. We’re looking for trait development, twitch, and athleticism at this age.
This board was largely created through the lens of film study, data/metrics study and conversations with industry personnel. Not every player on this board was seen in live action by our team, but we trust the people in our network and their evaluation skills. It’s a starting block, but a starting block built on a foundation of consistent process and review.
Building out a draft board is a complicated exercise. Our process involves meticulous detail in batted-ball data evaluation, swing decision tracking, pitch metrics, athletic testing and one-on-one interactions with the players as we work to get a feel for their makeup. We attend tournaments, showcases, scrimmages and games to watch the players in their element. The whole process is complimented by extensive conversations with scouting directors, analysts, cross-checkers and area scouts to double-check our evaluations with differing opinions to help draw more conclusive ideas.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following rankings and evaluations by FSS PLUS are based on subjective analysis and industry sources, and do not influence, are not influenced by, or are affiliated with the opinions and reports of Future Stars Series scouting and development staff.
1. GRADY EMERSON, SS — Argyle
HOMETOWN: Argyle, TX
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 176
BAT/THROW: L-R
COMMITMENT: TCU
Emerson is what they look like. Offensively, it’s pretty loud tools. Setup from a wide base, Emerson displays strong balance and rhythm in a simple swing with huge bat speed on the back end. Emerson’s swing can get steep at times, but his attack angle allows him to cover and ambush pitches at the bottom of the zone better than most of his peers. It’s power to all fields and a hit tool that is distinguished against upper-level competition. Emerson doesn’t strike out, though he hardly chases walks either. The total product offensively has considerable upside with impact ceiling at the next level.
Emerson is an above average runner with long strides and an athletic gait who should hold his speed as he ages. It’s already a reasonably physical frame for his age, so he may ultimately settle in a solid average runner. In any case, he certainly won’t be any sort of liability on the base paths and will likely add value in that department in some capacity as well. Emerson has a plus throwing arm with whippy action and carry across the dirt. It’ll serve him well as he figures to stay on the left side of the infield. He’s also been up to 90 mph on the mound. Emerson checks just about every box scouts look for in a player at this stage. He will be 18.5 years old on draft day.
2. BRADY HARRIS, OF — Trinity Christian Academy
HOMETOWN: St. Augustine, FL
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 180
BAT/THROW: R-R
COMMITMENT: Florida
Harris has huge offensive upside with more bat speed than most of his peers. He creates a ton of space in the box with a long stride and good direction with a hit tool and game power that plays to all fields. Harris has a long, physical frame that should continue to add good weight and physicality as he ages. He looks the part of a future middle-of-the-order bat. There’s presently some swing and miss in Harris’ game, likely stemming from inconsistent triggers in his swing and a stride that can create multiple planes for his upper half. That figures to sort itself out over time.
Defensively he is a rangy outfielder with above average arm strength and solid average foot speed. His footwork is already fundamentally sound including and a crow hop more advanced than most several years his age. Harris has a quick transfer and release and has the makings of a potential above average defensive right fielder. He’ll need to cut down on the strikeouts and overall swing and miss. If he does as July 2026 approaches he could be one of the first few preps off the board. He will be 18.7 years old on draft day.
3. ANTHONY DEL ANGEL, OF — V. Sue Cleveland
HOMETOWN: Rio Rancho, NM
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 200
BAT/THROW: R-R
COMMITMENT: Oklahoma
One of the top high school prospects to come out of the state of New Mexico in quite some time, Del Angel has physical tools including one of the best throwing arms in the class. Del Angel is also a plus runner with a long, athletic gait that figures to hold true into the next level. His athletic testing also ranks among the best of his peers and it certainly confirms the eye test.
Offensively, there’s some unconventional loading triggers and setup at the plate, but he gets the foot down and has performed in front of scouts. Quieting the hands and weight transfer in his swing will likely come in time. The tools here are sensational, now comes the time to try and make it look pretty. It’s not like unconventional swings haven’t been drafted high in the past. Outfielder Benny Montgomery had a severe hand hitch in his load and was still a top ten pick in 2021. Del Angel will be 18.9 years old for the draft.
4. JACOB LOMBARD, SS — Gulliver Prep
HOMETOWN: Pinecrest, FL
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 185
BAT/THROW: R-R
COMMITMENT: Uncommitted
When Jacob Lombard’s older brother George was drafted in the first round by the New York Yankees in 2023, the bar was set. Three years later, Jacob has a chance to one-up his older brother. Lombard deploys an athletic, rhythmic setup at the plate with quick hands and a compact, short path through the zone. He has power and big exit velocities present to all fields and has been known to inside-out the ball into the right-center field gap with authority. This is a player who could grow into ‘plus’ raw power all whilst manning a premium infield position. Lombard has demonstrated some swing-and-miss tendencies at this early stage in his career, something scouts will want to see polished up between now and the spring of 2026. Still, he looks the part if it all comes together.
Lombard has become extra-physical over the past calendar year and now figures to eventually shift to third base at the next level like his brother. An above average runner with solid average arm strength, Lombard’s profile is carried by the bat; albeit a potential big carrying tool.
5. GIO ROJAS, LHP — Marjory Stoneman Douglas
HOMETOWN: Parkland, FL
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 185
BAT/THROW: R-L
COMMITMENT: Miami
Rojas is a lanky, long, left-handed pitcher with projection ahead of his frame both in terms of mass and strength. He has wider shoulders and a leaner midsection, two traits scouts like to see in younger pitching prospects. Rojas is a tough look for hitters with a wider approach angle and a lower slot. It’s loose with very low effort and three pitches.
Rojas blossomed over the last calendar year adding several ticks to his arsenal including a fastball that has brushed 95. He’s mostly 91-93 but there’s life and deception on his heater that allow it to play up. It’s a high-spin offering with considerable arm-side run and sinking action. Rojas’ changeup is probably his best pitch as he really sells it and tumbles it off the fastball tunnel late with some parachute. There’s also a upper-70s breaking ball that could ultimately end up his best weapon with top-tier spin rates and feel for shape. It’s been a continuous up arrow next to his name. He’s absolutely mauled the opposition this spring. He will be 19 years old on draft day.
6. KEON JOHNSON, SS — First Presbyterian Day
HOMETOWN: Macon, GA
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 195
BAT/THROW: R/R
COMMITMENT: Uncommitted
Johnson is a barrel-chested middle infielder with a loud stroke at the plate and budding power on the way. He aims to lift the ball and drive the ball over the left-center field fence every chance he gets, and the game power is already playing. Despite this approach, Johnson has shown a more polished approach at the plate than some of his peers keeping his strikeouts lower and his walks high. The pull-side emphasis is certainly here, but it’s more pull-side gaps than it is towering fly balls hit at the foul pole. Johnson plays a more mature brand of baseball than you’d anticipate watching his ringing batting practice sessions.
In terms of the athletic traits, he’s an above average runner with a plus arm that more than carries through the first base bag. The body may ultimately force him to third base, though his tools play quite well at the hot corner. Johnson is a physical specimen who can make things happen at the plate. He’ll turn 18 years old just a few months before the draft, making him an appealing model option in July.
7. JAMES TRONSTEIN, OF/SS — Harvard-Westlake
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, CA
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 172
BAT/THROW: R-R
COMMITMENT: Stanford
Tronstein is a fearless hitter with a looseness and fluidity about his offensive game. He’s a rhythmic hitter with super fast hands and an ability to cover the inner third against premium velocity. It’s twitchy hips with the ability to create space and separate at the plate. There’s some power projection here that he’s begun to tap into in batting practice sessions clocking exit velocities north of 108 mph at times. Tronstein has some variability and moving parts in his swing that includes several different leg kicks and some hand and barrel triggers. To this point his quick hands and compact swing have covered any concerns with projecting the hit tool.
Defensively he can really go get it in centerfield. He takes strong routes to the ball and tracks/closes on the ball nicely. It’s solid average speed that could jump into another tier with added strength. High level tools here. Tronstein will be 18.4 years old on draft day. He’s expected to be a difficult sign away from Stanford.
8. TYLER SPANGLER, 3B — De La Salle
HOMETOWN: Danville, CA
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 188
BAT/THROW: L/R
COMMITMENT: Stanford
Spangler certainly looks the part. A 6-foot-4-inch infielder with long limbs and a high waist, Spanger presents a ton of physical projection, present maturity and strength, especially compared to his peers at this stage. He’s got a sweet left-handed swing featuring plenty of bat speed and pull-side loft. There’s a whole lot more in the tank on the way. It’s an even, wide base with a quiet load and simple swing that projects to hit going forward. This is a kid who could hit for both average and power.
Defensively, Spangler works low to the ground and rounds through the ball well. He possesses average arm strength and should be able to handle third base if he outgrows the shortstop position. Just a lot of polish here with physical impact upside on the way. Spangler is committed to Stanford, a school notoriously difficult to pay players away from. He will be 18.9 years old on draft day.
9. CJ WEINSTEIN, SS — Huntington Beach
HOMETOWN: Newport Beach, CA
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 180
BAT/THROW: L-R
COMMITMENT: Uncommitted
Weinstein has some of the highest level bat-to-ball skills in the class with a twitchy, slappy, anxious playstyle, always looking to put the game in motion and do the small things well. Weinstein can take the barrel to any ball in any quadrant regardless of whether he’s out in front or late on a pitch. He’s got strong hands and possesses the ability to make ultra-tight turns on the baseball to keep in inside the white lines. While power isn’t totally in his profile yet, there is some sneaky pull-side juice when he gets out in front of one and yanks hard on it down the line. He figures to grow into impact in due time. He’s cut from an old cloth too, refusing to ever don batting gloves.
Weinstein has some natural infield actions and has a chance to play second or third base at the next level, most scouts leaning toward the latter. Shortstop isn’t out of the question, but he lacks the general fluidity and range of a prototypical big league ‘6’. Weinstein won’t apply too much pressure on the basepaths with what many consider fringy or a tick below foot speed, but he’s a high IQ player whose been known to take the extra base. As far as high school players go, this is a reasonably high floor with the “gamer” label written all over him. Weinstein will be 19.4 years old on draft day.
10. KEVIN ROBERTS JR., RHP/OF — Jackson Preparatory
HOMETOWN: Meridian, MS
HEIGHT: 6-6
WEIGHT: 209
BAT/THROW: R/R
COMMITMENT: Uncommitted
Kevin Roberts Jr. is a physical two-way specimen with some of the most powerful upside of anybody in the 2026 class. It’s an ultra-long 6-foot-6-inch frame featuring a high waist and lean, lanky strength spread throughout. Roberts has broad shoulders and a strong lower half that point toward further strength on the way. Scouts are split on where his highest ceiling lays. On the mound he’s been up to 92 mph with loose, whippy arm strength and good balance for a pitcher his age. He’ll flip in a budding breaking ball with solid depth as well. There’s a fringier changeup that has been a point of emphasis in his development for the last year.
Offensively, it’s a power-over-hit profile, though present bat-to-ball skills are here. Roberts sinks and drifts into his back hip, leveraging the ground well to create power. He’s a patient hitter who draws his walks, though he can get out in front of spin. That said, he’s shown the ability to keep his hands back long enough to survive and keep an at-bat going.
In the field, it’s above average arm strength with fringy speed, likely destined for right field where he projects an average defender. There’s something of a Jorge Soler profile here. A two-sport star, Roberts excels on the basketball court as well. He’ll turn 18 years old right around the day of the draft. Models should push his profile up the board provided he continues on the positive linear ascent scouts have seen to this point.
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