2026 MLB Draft Combine Standouts
Credit: MLB
The MLB Draft Combine coming around annually means we are officially in the thick of draft season, with a majority of the top draft talent all traveling to Chase Field to show off their skills in front of everyone ahead of the July 11th-12th MLB Draft in Philadelphia. With the lack of high school data/video, this gives the public one of their few live looks into some of the top high school talent in the draft. Players with impressive performances at the Combine can bump their stock in significant ways, with Dax Kilby and Tatin Gray being two recent examples.
SS Rocco Maniscalco (Oxford HS, AL)
The most impressive all-around performance from Day 1 of the Combine was 17-year-old Rocco Maniscalco, who showed out during both batting practice and fielding drills. During BP, Maniscalco showed prowess from both sides of the plate, hitting multiple 108 mph balls from the left side of the plate in a smooth lefty swing, and from the right side, he showed a quick, loft-based approach, though it was a bit more clunky compared to the left side. In the field, he showed some very impressive footwork, and the range seemed to come easy to him. He also showed off what looked like a 70-grade arm, hitting 97 mph multiple times on the radar gun across the diamond. After what some scouts considered a down spring for the draft’s youngest prospect, this was a super impressive performance.
SS/OF Luke Williams (Franklin HS, PA)
Another twitchy athlete, Pennsylvania’s Luke Williams showed impressive power during his BP session, getting above 105 mph multiple times and topping out in the 108 mph range. His rotation and explosiveness really stood out, as both his hand and hip speed looked well above average, especially considering his 6’0 frame. On the defensive side, I think his actions and speed looked much more comfortable in center compared to shortstop, and the arm looked good enough to hold down the outfield as a pro.
OF Blake Bowen (JSerra HS, CA)
Blake Bowen made my top 30 for a reason. He has very impressive power for a high school player, and that was shown off at the Combine, topping out at 113.8 mph. He hit multiple balls over 110 mph and had two 425 ft and 440 ft homers during his session. In the outfield, Bowen showed off one of the top arms, touching the mid 90s from the outfield. A lot of tools to dream on for Bowen, who more than impressed today and likely finds himself in the 2nd round.
OF Caden Bogenpohl (Missouri State)
The most eye-catching performance from Day 1 of the Combine was Missouri State power bat Caden Bogenpohl, who awed scouts with a plethora of blasts over 110 mph, including a Combine-leading 119.4 mph shot, which was just short of 4 mph harder than any other hit of the day. Baseball America reported that his 90th percentile exit velocity for the event was a mind-boggling 115.1 mph, with 5 of the top 10 hardest-hit balls of Day 1 coming off his bat. After only hitting 6 homers for Missouri State this season, Bogenpohl reminded everyone that the power is still there on Tuesday.
OF Martin Shelar (Marist HS, GA)
The hardest-hit ball by a high school prospect on Day 1 of the Combine went to Georgia outfielder Martin Shelar, who showed off his power, hitting a ball 115.5 mph, which was the third-hardest hit of the day. He was consistent, hitting 3 balls over 111 mph, including a 440 ft homer and multiple 415+ ft shots. After one of the best high school spring seasons in the country, Shelar is making a strong case for his name to be heard in the first couple rounds of the draft.
1B/OF Dominic Santareli (St Joseph HS, WI)
Besides Bogenpohl, only one other player had multiple top 10 exit velocities on the day, and that was LSU commit Dominic Santareli, who had an average exit velocity of 110.9 mph according to Baseball America and maxed out at an impressive 115.1 mph, which was just behind Martin Shelar for second best by a high school player during Day 1. While the defensive profile is limited for Santareli, the power and bat have plenty of intrigue. It will be interesting to see if teams are willing to take a risk on his profile in the draft or if he heads to Baton Rouge in the fall.
RHP Dylan Vigue (Georgia)
Vigue showed an impressive combination of pitches, showing off his 95-96 sinker, which has excellent movement and had the ability to touch 97 mph. Off that sinker, he showed an 86-87 mph sweeper, which got 15 inches of horizontal break, creating tremendous horizontal separation off the sinker. He also showed off a plus changeup, which was around 87 mph with 17 inches of horizontal break. Overall strike throwing will be the big improvement that Vigue needs to make in pro ball.
RHP Ethan Wachsmann (Grandview HS, CO)
The top pitch speed of the day went to Wachsmann, who hit 100.0 mph on the radar gun with his fastball, which showed some solid movement (18 IVB), though he didn’t have the best command of it during the session. Off of that, he has some really intriguing breaking stuff, with his curveball specifically having 2800 RPMs on average with a Day 1-leading 2916 RPM on one of them. He also flashed a low 90s cutter and a changeup, which he got down to ~1600 RPM on average. A very intriguing arsenal on Day 1 of the Combine.
Day 2
SS Jack Beck (Columbia Central HS, TN)
The early standout during the early part of Day 2 of the event was Jack Beck, who showed off some tremendous power for a high school shortstop, peaking at over 112 mph and having the longest homer of the day at 465 ft. In the field, Beck showed off a solid arm, which seems to give some confidence in his ability to play 3B at the next level. This was a name that wasn’t really on my radar coming into the Combine, but the performance was impressive.
SS/CF James Tronstein (Harvard-Westlake HS, CA)
The Vanderbilt commit, Tronstein, showed some very impressive power during the Combine, getting up to 111 mph on his smooth right-handed swing. While the setup is a little strange, the results and ability to do damage, as shown both at this event and on the summer circuit, are not doubted. A great athlete, Tronstein looks more comfortable in center field than he does at shortstop. The arm looked more average than plus at the Combine.
RHP Carson Wiggins (Arkansas)
Wiggins made his much-anticipated return to the mound after being out all season for the Razorbacks, and his session didn’t disappoint, as he touched 97 on the fastball multiple times, getting up to 2500 RPM. He also showed off a high 70s curveball, which got up to 2700 RPM and showed good depth. He looked like he was taking it easy and not trying to push it too much, and the signs were very encouraging. He could opt to return to college next season if he doesn’t like the numbers coming his way come draft day.
RHP Aidan Keenan (Stanford)
A name that wasn’t really on my radar coming into the Combine, Keenan certainly is on my radar now. He topped out at 98.9 mph, which was the highest of any pitcher during Day 2, getting up to 19 inches of IVB. He also flashed a mid 80s slider, which from a home plate view looks difficult to pick up from his low ¾ arm slot. He also flashed a low-90s cutter and a low 90s changeup. Could be a fun pick in the middle rounds of the draft, with intriguing traits.
