Full Breakdown
2026 MLB Draft Takes Center Stage in Philadelphia
7/10/2026, 4:43:28 PM
The Draft Unfolds
The 2026 Major League Baseball Draft begins on July 11 in Philadelphia, coinciding with MLB All-Star Week. The event spans 20 rounds, with the first 10 rounds conducted on-site and the remaining rounds streamed on MLB.com. More than 600 players are slated to be selected, ranging from college standouts to high-school phenoms.
Oregon State and South Salem Prospects
Oregon State University (OSU) and the nearby South Salem High School program have emerged as focal points of draft chatter.
- Teagan Scott, a catcher who committed to OSU, posted a .568 average with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs this spring, earning Oregon’s Gatorade Player of the Year. He ranks No. 202 on ESPN’s draft board and No. 183 in MLB’s prospect list.
- Sawyer Nelson, an infielder also bound for OSU, hit nine homers and stole a state-leading 37 bases. He is listed at No. 187 on MLB’s rankings.
- Ethan Kleinschmit, OSU’s left-handed starter, posted a 9-2 record, 3.74 ERA, and 97 strikeouts in 77 innings, placing him at No. 69 overall and positioning him as a likely second- or third-round pick.
Senior pitchers Eric Segura, Albert Roblez, and Isaac Yeager have also drawn attention, each posting sub-2.30 ERAs and earning all-American honors.
National Spotlight on High-School Talent
High-school players are also in the mix. Eric Booth Jr., an outfielder from Oak Grove High School (Mississippi), is the No. 6 overall prospect, praised for elite speed and defensive upside in center field. Sawyer Nelson and Teagan Scott have both expressed uncertainty about whether they will sign professionally or honor their college commitments.
Team Strategies: The Phillies Example
The Philadelphia Phillies, penalized with a 10-pick slot loss for exceeding the Competitive Balance Tax, will not make their first selection until No. 36 overall—the latest first pick since 2012. Historically favoring high-school talent, the club’s front office under assistant GM Brian Barber has recently shifted toward college arms, drafting 14 college pitchers in 2025.
Potential first-round targets include:
- Jack Radel (Notre Dame), a 6-foot-5 weekend starter with a 3.29 ERA and 116 strikeouts, graded 65 on the 20-80 scouting scale.
- Taj Marchand, a high-school shortstop with power and defensive versatility, fitting the Phillies’ historical preference for premium shortstop prospects.
Player Voices
- “It’s definitely a pretty hectic process… My whole thing is I’m going to go where my heart is and what I think is best.” — Teagan Scott, catcher, OSU commit
- “We’ve played together for 10 years now so it’s really fun to see us both go through it.” — Teagan Scott on his partnership with Sawyer Nelson
- “I started playing baseball at 3… I would say I’m a little better [athlete] than him, but he will probably disagree.” — Eric Booth Jr., outfielder, Oak Grove HS
- “Knowing all the players out there trying to win it, I just got out there and told myself, ‘Just stay with my swing…’ I ended up winning it, so it was amazing.” — Eric Booth Jr. after the Perfect Game All-American Classic home-run derby
- “Great, great ballplayer, comes from a great family… I reached out to him earlier this year… wished him good luck.” — JoJo Parker, 2025 first-rounder, on Booth
Why the Draft Matters
The 2026 class is viewed as solid at the top but lacking depth, especially among pitchers. Teams must balance immediate major-league needs with long-term upside, a tension highlighted by the Phillies’ slot penalty and their divergent college-vs-high-school preferences. For OSU and South Salem athletes, the draft represents a crossroads between professional contracts and collegiate development, a decision that could shape the future of both the Beavers’ program and the broader Pacific Northwest talent pipeline.
Looking Ahead
The draft will continue through July 12, with the remaining rounds streamed online. Teams will assess signability, medical reports, and organizational needs as the selections progress, setting the stage for the next generation of MLB talent.
