2026 High School Draft

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 solid 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. The composure and mature nature in the box stands out. Emerson isn't jumpy or anxious. He sees the ball and reacts. It's power to the pull-side and a hit tool that stands out 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's contact quality can be streaky in tournament and showcase settings. There are times he'll look like a barrel magnet who simply cannot get out. Other times he'll roll over on breaking balls at a higher clip than you'd like with a general lack of slug on the baseball card. Emerson is still growing and maturing into what his eventual swing will look like. His bat-to-ball skills and bat speed stand out. He's as good a bet as anyone in the class to blossom into a complete hitter.

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 an above average 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. The glove projects above average at shortstop and potentially plus at third base. 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 assuming the slug will come. There may not be an exceptionally loud tool on the report, but Emerson has the potential for five legitimate tools. Perhaps it's something of a Chase Headley outcome. He will be 18.5 years old on draft day.

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. And likely will.

The tools here have a chance to be era-defining.

Lombard deploys an athletic, rhythmic setup at the plate with quick hands and a compact, short path through the zone. He has present power with big exit velocities 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 70-grade raw power all whilst manning a premium infield position.

Lombard's hit tool has continuously improved year over year. It's become one of the most advanced and polished swings in the class. He hardly ever expands the zone. It's big and loud and often in the air to the pull-side. The components are there for Lombard to become one of the more impressive slugging prospects any draft has seen over the last handful of years. There's physicality and projection in the offensive profile. Superstar traits.

Lombard has become more physical over the past calendar year but it's hardly cost him a step on the dirt. He's a 70-grade runner with fluid and quick-twitch actions necessary to play shortstop as a pro. The arm strength is probably the tool lacking the most impact, but it's still squarely average and is on pace to fit the shortstop position as he matures. If it never comes, Lombard could still develop into an extremely potent centerfielder or third base profile. His instincts, actions, internal clock and hands are all befitting of a future '6' in the big leagues.

Lombard with his pedigree and bloodlines are on a short list of players with franchise-altering ceiling. He brings back shades of Manny Machado.

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, free and easy.

Rojas blossomed over the last calendar year adding several ticks to his arsenal including a fastball that has brushed 98. He's mostly 92-95 but there's life and deception on his heater that allow it to play up. Rojas launches from a lower slot and absolutely blows hitters up at the top of the zone with the pitch. It's a high-spin offering with considerable arm-side run and he'll occasionally stay behind it to hold vertical 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.

Schmidt checks just about every box you could ask for from a projection lefty at the high school level. He reclassified up from the 2027 Draft and won't turn 18 until a couple months after the Draft. He's big, strong, left-handed and controls his body beautifully down the mound.

Schmidt has all the components necessary to start at the next level. A terrific mover, he generates huge extension down the mound allowing his fastball to play up. He's routinely 93-96 and will grab 97 on occasion with strong tailing action. Schmidt's fastball doesn't possess dynamic shape, but he hides the ball and well and the velocity can sneak up on hitters with how close to the plate he releases the baseball.

Schmidt's two breaking balls are good ones. There's an upper-70s curveball with strong vertical tilt and some late darting action to his arm-side. He commands the pitch at an above average level. A more traditional low-80s slider has been a point of emphasis in his development this past year and he's reached a point where he can throw it in any count. It's a gradual breaker that will flash above-average upside, however it lives off the success and command of his fastball.

The changeup has just as much upside as the breaker. Schmidt generates well-above average fading action to his glove-side and can sink the cambio too.

This is a reasonably complete arsenal that really only needs a cutter or firm bullet slider to round out a four-pitch mix. Schmidt's age, size, handedness and body control should be huge selling points in the 2026 Draft. He's got the components to go very early.

Booth is a metric darling and it begins with his age. He will turn 18 years old just days before the Draft. He's a powderkeg outfielder with a ton of raw traits and tools that are beginning to surface into in-game production. At first blush he looks the part of a table-setter thanks to his 70-grade speed and twitchiness in the box and in centerfield. After taking in batting practice and a couple games of at-bats it becomes fairly evident there's tools in the impact category as well.

Booth can swing it and presents 'plus' raw bat speed that shows out to the pull-side. That swing is a little more projectable and aesthetically pleasing in BP; his in-game hacks being a bit more inconsistent from a mechanics perspective. Booth has a downhill plane and can be placed into the "chop" swing at times. That said, he never surrenders at-bats and has consistently runs low strikeout rates throughout his amateur career.

Booth is a strong defender who has a chance to develop into an above average glove that plays in all three outfield spots. It could become something of a Trent Grisham type of profile in due time.