May 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) receives a throws to record an out against Miami Marlins first baseman Liam Hicks (34) (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
A.J. Ewing – CF Juan Soto – LF Francisco Lindor – SS Carson Benge – RF Jorge Polanco – DH Eric Wagaman – 1B Francisco Alvarez – C Brett Baty – 3B Zack Short – 2B
SP: Freddy Peralta – RHP
Red Sox lineup
Anthony Seigler – 2B Ceddanne Rafaela – CF Wilyer Abreu – RF Caleb Durbin – 3B Masataka Yoshida – DH Andruw Monasterio – 1B Jarren Duran – LF Carlos Narvaez – C Tsung-Che Cheng – SS
SP: Eduardo Rivera – LHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 4:10 PM EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
Jul 11, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) watches game action from the dugout during the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Brewer offense had a solid day today against a 2026 All-Star, Pittsburgh starter Braxton Ashcraft. But Brandon Sproat had a second straight poor, inefficient start for the Brewers, and a late meltdown by one of the team’s more reliable but suddenly struggling relievers gave the Pirates a late lead. Milwaukee tried to mount a ninth-inning rally but came up just short, and the Pirates had a big comeback win.
Ashcraft got off to a good start: after falling behind Christian Yelich 3-0, he came back and got him to pop out to shallow left. Garrett Mitchell struck out looking at an 0-2 pitch and, frustratingly, unsuccessfully challenged the call, putting the Brewers behind the eight ball for the rest of the game. Brice Turang flew out to left, and Aschraft had a 1-2-3 first inning.
Sproat’s start wasn’t as good. He yanked a fastball on a 2-2 pitch to leadoff hitter Jake Mangum and hit him in the foot to give Pittsburgh a leadoff baserunner. Brandon Lowe got a mistake on an 0-2 fastball down the middle but got a little bit under it and flew out to center for the first out, but Sproat yanked another pitch, this one a 1-2 curveball after seven straight foul balls, that just grazed the tip of Bryan Reynolds’ shoe. Esmerlyn Valdez hit an 86-mph ground ball that could’ve been a tailor-made double play with a slightly different infield positioning, but it found the hole between Joey Ortiz and Cooper Pratt and scored Mangum from second.
Sproat came back with a nice strikeout of Ryan O’Hearn, who wasted Pittsburgh’s first challenge, too. Another yanked fastball on 0-2 got past catcher William Contreras and allowed Reynolds and Valdez to advance to second and third, which mattered when Nick Gonzales hit a ground ball to Ortiz, who bobbled the ball and didn’t have a play on anyone; a rare error that cost the Brewers another run. On his 34th pitch, Sproat finally got Tyler Callihan to ground out to end the inning. It was a sloppy first: both batters that Sproat hit came around to score, despite the fact that he didn’t walk anyone and his only hit allowed was a not-hard-hit single.
The Milwaukee offense had a hole to dig out of today, but they very quickly did so. Contreras got things going in the second by lining a double into the left-field corner, and three pitches later — on a sinker right in the happy zone — Jake Bauers crushed a ball 112 mph into the seats in right field. Back to even at 2-2.
The inning ended quickly after that — Luis Lara hit a looping liner to second base, and after Pratt flew out, shortstop Jared Triolo made a nice play to rob Sal Frelick of a hit. Triolo led off the bottom of the second with a line drive, but Turang made a nice leaping catch for the first out. On the first pitch to catcher Henry Davis, he popped up a bunt in foul territory — Sproat made a diving attempt and almost caught it, but needed a minute. He continued with a dirty jersey, but walked Davis five pitches later. Sproat started in a 1-0 hole against Mangum after his second pitch-timer violation, but on 2-2 Mangum hit a ground ball to Ortiz, which turned into a fielder’s choice out at second base. On an 0-1 pitch to Lowe, Mangum took off for second and, for some reason, did not slide, enabling Contreras to throw him out at second base. It was another inefficient inning, but Sproat kept Pittsburgh off the board.
Ortiz was living on the edge to start the third when he risked the team’s second challenge on a 2-1 pitch with nobody out in the third, but he was right. Unfortunately, Ortiz ended up lining out on 3-2, so it didn’t matter much. Yelich got a hanging slider on 3-2 but could only foul tip it into the catcher’s glove for the second out. Another strikeout of Mitchell ended the inning.
Sproat started the bottom of the third with a couple of strikeouts of his own, but with two outs, Valdez, who had the Pirates’ one hit in the first inning, got a hold of a cutter and hit it out to dead center. His home run restored the Pirates’ lead. Things went a little sideways after that; Sproat hit O’Hearn with a 2-1 pitch and then walked Gonzales on five pitches. For the second straight inning, the Brewers got someone up in the bullpen, but Sproat got Callihan to fly out to left on a 3-2 pitch and was able to finish the inning with the Brewers down just one.
After a soft lineout by Turang, Contreras smoked a ball for the second straight at-bat, but this 108-mph line drive was caught in center by Mangum. Bauers struck out on three pitches chasing a curveball way out of the zone, but that was after he was upset by Ashcraft’s quick pace on the mound.
Jake Bauers and Pat Murphy were quite upset with home plate umpire Lance Barrett on this sequence.
Ashcraft had already been set for about 3 seconds before this and begins his motion here. Bauers had just lifted his head and his bat was still by his waist before the 8-sec mark. pic.twitter.com/Kw7ljcImtm
Sproat was done after three rocky innings. That he allowed only three runs was almost surprising; he only allowed two hits, but he walked two and hit three batters, and it took him 83 pitches to record nine outs — his second extremely inefficient outing, after he needed 92 pitches to get through four in his last start. Craig Yoho replaced Sproat in the fourth, and he started by striking out Triolo but then walked the nine-hole hitter, Davis, on four pitches. A Mangum ground ball to Pratt started what was almost a 6-3 double play, but it wasn’t quite hit hard enough, and Mangum beat the throw to first. Lowe was next, and he hit a ball hard toward first, but Bauers made a nice pick on the short hop and stepped on first for the third out.
Lara led off the second with his first career extra-base hit, a double into the gap in right that Mangum slid to cut off, lest Lara end up with a triple. Pratt followed with a looping fly ball to left, which Callihan dove for but couldn’t come up with — it got past him, and Pratt ended up at second with a double, which scored Lara from first and tied the game. The Brewers’ light-hitting players weren’t done, either: Frelick got a hold of a 1-1 slider that didn’t get low enough and hit it to the seats in right field for a two-run homer that gave Milwaukee their first lead of the game. It was Frelick’s fourth homer and first since April 30.
Before Sal's HR…our two 21-year-olds smacked back-to-back doubles to tie the game ‼️ pic.twitter.com/nfiPpympOn
After Ashcraft picked up outs on an Ortiz fly ball and another Yelich strikeout, Mitchell and Turang drew back-to-back two-out walks. That gave Contreras, who’d scorched two balls today, a chance with two on and two outs, but he struck out to end the inning. Still — the Brewers had taken a 5-3 lead against the Pittsburgh All-Star, and they’d pushed his pinch count up to 98 through five innings, getting into the bullpen early in this doubleheader.
Yoho, back out for the fifth, got Reynolds to ground out and struck out Valdez. On a 1-1 pitch with two outs and nobody on, Contreras unsuccessfully challenged a changeup that missed outside, and Milwaukee was without a challenge for the last four-plus innings of the game. It didn’t matter, either, as two pitches later Yoho got O’Hearn waving at a changeup for the third out.
Carmen Mlodzinski relieved Ashcraft in the top of the sixth and on his first pitch got Bauers to fly out to right-center. Lara walked on four non-competitive pitches, and Pratt got into a long battle after falling into an 0-2 hole that ended with a solid single to center. Milwaukee was unable to capitalize on their rally, though: Frelick grounded into a fielder’s choice that would’ve been a double play had Triolo not dropped the ball on the transfer, and Ortiz flew out to center field to end the inning with runners stranded on first and third.
Chad Patrick entered in the bottom of the sixth (relieving Yoho, who had a very nice day of work) and gave up a leadoff baserunner when Gonzales reached on a high chopper for an infield hit. Callihan lined out to Lara in left for the first out, and Patrick quickly got out of the inning with a 4-6-3 double play from Triolo.
Yelich tried to bunt for a hit to lead off the seventh — he put down a good bunt but couldn’t quite beat the throw on a very close play at first. Too bad, because the next batter, Mitchell, lined a ball into left that he turned into a hustle double. Turang also hit one hard into left, but his 104-mph fly ball was too close to Callihan, and there were two outs. Contreras, though, looped a two-out RBI single into left, and the Brewers’ lead was up to 6-3 after Mitchell raced home on what would’ve been a close play with a different player running. Bauers drew a walk to extend the inning, but Lara flew out to center to end what was still a productive inning.
Trouble came in the bottom of the seventh. Davis added a single to his two walks, at which point the Brewers removed Patrick in favor of Aaron Ashby. Mangum grounded a single through the right side that was followed by a looping liner off the end of the bat from Lowe that loaded the bases with nobody out. None of Pittsburgh’s three hits to start the inning were hit all that hard, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles, sometimes.
The batter with the bases loaded was notorious Brewer nemesis Bryan Reynolds, but Ashby made him look foolish chasing a 1-2 curveball for the first out. But Valdez, who’d already homered and hit an RBI single in the game, was up next, and Ashby ominously fell behind. On a 3-1 pitch, an Ashby sinker got way too much of the plate, and Valdez drove it out to right field for a scoreboard-flipping grand slam. Ashby struck out the next two to end the inning, but the damage had been done; the Pirates led 7-6 after seven innings.
Now facing an unfortunate deficit, the Brewer offense needed to get going again. Mlodzinski was still pitching in his third inning, and he started the inning with a strikeout of Pratt. Frelick got into a long battle but also struck out on a foul tip on the eighth pitch of the at-bat, and an Ortiz groundout ended the top of the eighth.
Bryse Wilson’s return to the Brewers came with him trying to keep the Pirates’ lead at one in the bottom of the eighth. He did that quite deftly, with a flyout and two groundouts, and the Brewers went to the ninth needing a run with the top of the order coming up.
Lefty Gregory Soto entered for the Pirates, and the Brewers somewhat surprisingly did not pinch-hit for the struggling Yelich. He came through, though, with a solid single to left to start things off, and with Yelich on first, the Brewers sent Jackson Chourio to the plate in place of Mitchell. Chourio, though, popped out in foul territory near first base for the first out. Turang was next and drew a walk in a weird at-bat for the home-plate ump (he called a 3-1 pitch that wasn’t all that close a strike — and of course Milwaukee was out of challenges — and then called a closer 3-2 pitch a ball, which the Pirates couldn’t challenge after using their last one earlier in the inning).
Double-play machine Contreras was up with one out and runners on first and second, and he hit a ground ball to shortstop — it probably would’ve been hit slowly enough that the Pirates wouldn’t have been able to end the game with a double play, but Triolo dropped the ball when trying to throw to second and everybody was safe, and the Brewers had the bases loaded with one out. Andrew Vaughn, noted lefty destroyer, pinch-hit for Bauers… but hit a ground ball to third that turned into an unconventional 5-2 double play. Game over.
What a drag of a baseball game. The Brewers played pretty sloppy baseball and were then undone by a stinker of an outing from Aaron Ashby, whose struggles in the last month have become far too much to ignore.
Since the start of June, Aaron Ashby now has a 6.50 ERA and 1.759 WHIP.
Milwaukee’s offense did plenty to win the game — they had 10 hits, including doubles for Contreras, Lara, Pratt, and Mitchell, and home runs by Bauers and Frelick. But Sproat and Ashby were bad today, which overshadowed nice outings for Yoho (three strikeouts, no hits in two scoreless innings) and Wilson (three quick outs in his return to the Brewers). Valdez destroyed the Brewers: he had three hits, two of which were homers, and knocked in six of Pittsburgh’s seven runs.
Milwaukee will look to recover in the second game of today’s doubleheader in about an hour. Shane Drohan starts for the Brewers in game two, with Bubba Chandler on the mound for Pittsburgh.
San Diego, CA - August 17: Gio Rojas pitches for the East team during the Dick's Sporting Goods Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park on August 17, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Gio Rojas is a 6’4”, 190 lb. lefthanded pitcher out of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He turned 19 on June 29, making him an the older side for a prep player. He has a mid-90s fastball that hits 98, has good size and athleticism, and quality slider.
I mentioned in my write-up that I wasn’t sure whether to include Rojas in the previews, as I thought he would likely be off the board when Texas picked, but he dropped to them, and he’s now their first first round high school pitcher taken since Cole Winn in 2018.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kyle Freeland (2-7, 7.46 ERA) will be making his 17th start of the season for Colorado (39-57). In Freeland’s last start, he gave up six runs on nine hits, including one homer, over five innings in an 8-7, 11-inning loss to the Dodgers on July 6.
Freeland is 8-9 in 27 appearances (24 starts) against the Giants in his career with a 4.35 ERA. At Oracle Park, the veteran lefty is 2-5 with a 3.63 ERA in 11 starts. Today’s game is Freeland’s first against San Francisco this year.
The Rockies will face 31-year-old RHP Tyler Mahle (1-8, 5.70 ERA). They just saw him in Colorado on July 5 when he surrendered four runs (three earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts and no walks in 4.1 innings. In that game, the Rockies were rescued by Kyle Karros, who hit a three-run homer in the eighth to help the Rockies notch a 7-6 comeback win.
In his career, Mahle is 2-1 with a 5.21 ERA in seven starts against the Rockies. The Rockies lead the season series against the Giants 5-3.
Earlier on Saturday, the Rockies recalled RHP reliever Jeff Criswell from Triple-A Albuquerque and sent RHP reliever TJ Shook back down to the Isotopes.
First Pitch: 2:05 p.m. MDT
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM KOA Rockies Radio Network; KNRV 1150 AM (Spanish)
DENVER, CO - JUNE 19: Bubba Chandler #36 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Friday, June 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are hosting the Milwaukee Brewers for the middle match of this three-game weekend set to close out the first half of the season
The Pirates will have Bubba Chandler on the mound for his final first-half start. Chandler pitched four innings, giving up six hits and four earned runs in his most recent start. While he struggled to keep runs off the board, the offense had his back. The Buccos walked away with an 11-5 win that saw them score seven runs in the final two innings.
The Brewers are countering with left-hander Shane Drohan, who is having a strong start to his rookie season. The 27-year-old from South Florida made his debut on April 8 as a starter but moved to the bullpen for the rest of April and May. Drohan returned to the starting rotation in June, and he has won in five of his seven starts since rejoining the rotation. One of those was his last appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 6. He pitched six innings, giving up six hits and three runs, as the Brewers beat the Cardinals 4-3 inside Busch Stadium.
Now, Drohan gets a taste of the Pirates, who are looking to go into the All-Star break with momentum.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves fans attend the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The 2026 MLB Draft is set to take place in Philadelphia today at 1:00 pm, and it is going to be a monumental day for the Atlanta Braves. On the heels of their disappointing 2025 season they hold they 9th overall pick — the highest pick for them since 2019 — along with an extra first round pick at 26th overall thanks to Drake Baldwin winning Rookie of the Year. You can stick around Battery Power for wall-to-wall coverage of the draft over the next two days, and here we’ll be keeping up with every pick from day one. We will be updating this article as each pick is announced so follow along, have fun, and join us for a chat in the comments.
First Round
Chicago White Sox – SS Roch Cholowsky, UCLA
Tampa Bay Rays – SS Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)
Minnesota Twins – C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech
San Francisco Giants – RHP Jackson Flora, UC Santa Barbara
Pittsburgh Pirates – OF Derek Curiel, LSU
Kansas City Royals – OF Zion Rose, Louisville
Baltimore Orioles – OF Eric Booth Jr., Oak Grove HS (MS)
Athletics – OF Drew Burress, Georgia Tech
Atlanta Braves – OF AJ Gracia, Virginia — The Braves are going to be looking to spread out money once again this draft, going a bit down the consensus boards to draft a top tier hitter with the potential to play up the middle at the next level. Gracia joins a system with replenished position player depth. More info from Battery Power’s draft expert Matt Powers can be found in our main post here https://www.batterypower.com/atlanta-braves-prospects/135309/braves-select-aj-gracia-with-9th-pick-in-2026-mlb-draft
Colorado Rockies – SS Tyler Bell, Kentucky
Washington Nationals – 2B Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M
Los Angeles Angels – OF Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach HS (CA)
St. Louis Cardinals – OF Trevor Condon, Etowah HS (GA)
Miami Marlins – SS Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep HS (FL)
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Journalists Robert Flores and Greer Howard host the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
I’ve done my best this year to avoid many Pitching write ups. After the team went kind of pitching nuts last year, I figured they’d probably filled the cupboard and may focus elsewhere. However, top draft prospect lists right now are jam packed with Pitching in the 25-50 range in their prospect lists. So TINSTAPP be damned, you can never have enough Pitching, and here’s a few interesting arms I haven’t already written about (I already did a very cursory overview of Jared Grindlinger since I suspect he’ll just play OF and a full writeup of Hunter Dietz). These writeups will all be pretty shallow, but enough to get a sense of the player’s potential and issues.
Logan Schmidt, LHP – Ganesha HS, Pomona, CA
Logan is a 6’4” 215 lbs 17 year old (he’ll be 18 within a month of the draft) with a commitment to LSU. He’s the 21st ranked player on BA’s draft board, but they mocked him to the Phillies in their most recent staff draft. I had no intention of writing him before that mock draft. Schmidt is the 3rd 2027 draft reclass I’ve written up this cycle. I’d be shocked and thrilled if he got to 36. He has a Plus or better 4-seam Fastball that he works in the 92-96 MPH range and got up to 98 early this Spring with good arm side run. His best secondary offering is a breaking ball some call a Curve, some call a slider. It has great spin and late tail action and works well off his Fastball. He throws from a 3/4 slot that may also lend itself to a Sweeper down the line. Like most Prep pitchers he has a Changeup that needs work, but it’s more advanced than most as he throws it with similar arm speed and release to his Fastball. There’s something almost old-timey about his pretty relaxed looking delivery below.
Brody Bumila, LHP – Bishop Feehan HS, Attleboro, MA
Arguably the draft’s biggest payout lottery ticket, Brody is a 6’9”, 245 lbs 18 year old with a commitment to Texas. Bumila doesn’t just throw cheese, he throws extra spicy pepper jack. He throws it 96-99 mph with top speeds of 101 mph this year. He gets good arm side run and extension, so the ball appears even faster to hitters with his length and release point. He also works inside, which has to have a bit of that Kruk vs. Randy Johnson feel for the hitters. So why is this kind of flamethrower available this low? Well, his Slider is almost non-existent and his Chaangeup is good and could be a plus pitch, but needs development. However, it’s mostly because he needed left elbow surgery last year and missed all of 2025. As with all very tall pitchers his control is also a question mark. It projects as average, but even slight degrees of deviation in arm action play way up when your levers are this long. The below video is basically the entire game, both Offense and Defense, so you’ll have to jump around to see his stuff, which is almost exclusively the Fastball. This pick would also mean the Phillies somehow beat all 3 other franchises for drafting the largest human in the first round this year, barely beating out the Flyers.
Logan Reddemann, RHP – UCLA
I’m loading up and Logans and Lefties a bit this write-up with 2 of each. This Logan is a 6’2” 185 lbs 21 year old who is almost the exact opposite of Brody above. As one of the possibly safer, low ceiling picks of the draft. He’s a control first starter with a collection of 5 average to above average pitches. His Fastball generally sits 94-96 mph and can pull back for an occasional 98 or 99 mph. He locates it very well and can move it around the plate with equal success. His changeup may be his best pitch. He mixes in a Cutter, Slider/Sweeper, and a 12-6 Curveball. None are strike-out pitches, but all can mix in effectively, Logan would likely move quickly into an MLB rotation as a 3rd or 4th Starter and stay there for years. There’s no Ace ceiling and probably a low-ish risk of Bullpen roles. He is what he is, and can probably carve out a mid-rotation career if he stays healthy. He works quick.
Carson Bolemon, LHP – Southside Christian HS, Simpsonville, SC
Bolemon is a 6’4”, 210 lbs 19 year old with a commitment to Wake Forest. The Phillies have drafted a lot of “old for their class” prep players the last several years (Matthew Fisher last year, Aiden Miller to name just 2) and Bolemon is on the older for his class side. He’s kind of a perfect mix of the last 2 profiles here: Reddemann’s control and broad pitch mix with a little bit more height and a history of the same pitching arm surgery as Bumila. There are some screaming red flags here that may send Boleman on to Winston-Salem for College. Along with the history of pitching elbow surgery, you also have a 2-3 mph loss in Fastball velocity. If healthy, the 89-93 mph Fastball pairs up well with both a potentially plus Curve and Slider, which play well off eachother. His Changeup is clearly his 4th best pitch but should end up an average offering. Without further velocity the ceiling is probably a #3/4 Starter. If he builds up to get back those 2-3 mph he seems to have lost, there could be a number 2 Starter profile in here.
Jensen Hirshkorn, RHP – Kingsburg (Calif.) HS
Another massive Prep arm, Jensen is 6’7”, 205 lbs 18 year old with a commitment to LSU. Hirshkorn is also a starter on his High School baseball team and rolled straight into his baseball season from that. Sometimes with multi-sport athletes you can see a bigger jump in stuff once they focus on one sport professionally (all kids who want to should play multiple sports, I think that’s beyond invaluable). That is something to keep in mind here as Hirschkorn’s 4-seam Fastball sat 90-93, which is solid average. He pairs it with a 2-seamer, a Slider that’s currently his knee buckling best pitch with high spin and bite and a Changeup that flashes plus. I think there’s enough here you can dream on a top of the rotation ceiling if we see the growth I mentioned earlier. Without that, I think you’ve got mid-rotation potential or a Slider/Fastball reliever.
HOOVER, AL - MAY 22: Infielder Chris Hacopian #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies watches his ground ball as he follows through on his swing during the SEC Baseball Tournament Quarterfinals game between Texas A&M Aggies and Auburn Tigers on May 22, 2026, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.(Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The pick is in, and the Washington Nationals selected infielder Chris Hacopian from Texas A&M. Hacopian is one of the best pure hitters in the draft with a rare blend of contact skills, power and plate discipline. He is also a local product, who went to Winston Churchill High School and the University of Maryland before transferring.
This selection is all about the bat. That is where Hacopian is going to be providing his value. There is a chance that Hacopian can stick at second base, but he is not much of a fielder or a runner. However, the kid can mash, and at the end of the day, that is the thing you are most looking for.
Between college and a number of summer leagues, Hacopian has just over 1,000 plate appearances recorded on Baseball Reference. In those plate appearances, he has 128 walks and 83 strikeouts. He has never struck out more than he has walked in his life. Hacopian just has rare contact skills, and never misses a fastball.
When you look at his underlying data from this season, it is very impressive. Hacopian’s exit velocities and plate discipline numbers are good, but the contact skills are where he really shines. His zone contact rate of 92.7% is rare. Most guys who make that much contact are slappy hitters like Luis Arraez, but Hacopian packs a punch as well.
— College Baseball Savant (@therealsavant1) July 11, 2026
This season Hacopian played through some injuries at Texas A&M. He still hit .319 with a .983 OPS while walking more than he struck out though. However, he was not quite as dominant against SEC competition as he was in the Big 10 at Maryland though. The injury and some bad batted ball luck could explain that.
If you could poke one hole in his offensive game, it would be that Hacopian hits more ground balls than you would like. However, the Nats have done a good job at getting hitters to elevate more consistently. They have done it with James Wood, Luis Garcia Jr. and Jacob Young.
Honestly, Hacopian has some similarities to Garcia, though he has better plate discipline. Yesterday, I wrote about how rare Garcia’s hit/power combination is, and Hacopian has a similar thing. Like Garcia though, there is a chance that Hacopian might have to move to first base at some point.
The hope is that Hacopian will tap into a little bit more power. He is already an awesome hitter, but that would make him even better. If he can do that, the bat will play at first base easily. This is just a guy who rolls out of bed and rakes.
With the 11th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals select 2B Chris Hacopian from Texas A&M!
My 11th ranked prospect in the draft class, Hacopian can absolutely mash. In 2026 he had:
As we mentioned at the top, the local connection is very fun as well. Hacopian went to high school in the DMV and played with his brother at Maryland for his first two years. We already have a local star in James Wood, and hopefully Hacopian can be another.
Hacopian was heavily linked to the Nats by Keith Law, who has been on this for a while. We wrote about Hacopian as a potential option all the way back in December. This is a 60 grade hitter who has a chance to have at least average, if not better power. The defense and speed are not there, but clearly Paul Toboni and the draft room just fell in love with the bat. Welcome home Chris Hacopian.
There aren't many left-handed pitchers who make an upper 90s fastball look so routine.
Watching Gio Rojas, the velocity almost becomes secondary. The ease of his delivery, the confidence with which he attacks hitters and the late life on his fastball made him one of the most difficult prep arms to square up in not just South Florida, but the entire country.
Here's a look at the Stoneman Douglas standout's journey from one of South Florida's most dominant left-handers to professional baseball.
From the Rockies to the Sunshine State
Born in the Denver area, Rojas grew up in the suburb of Lakewood, gaining statewide recognition as the top player in Colorado by multiple outlets. After his freshman season with the Tigers, he transferred to national power Stoneman Douglas, in part due to his commitment to the University of Miami on Oct. 29, 2022, before playing an inning of high school baseball.
With Stoneman, Rojas dominated. On the bump, he was 28-1 with a 0.65 ERA, striking out 285 over 162 innings. Opponents hit just .132 against the 6-foot-4 lefty, who had a WHIP of .672 during Stoneman's run of six consecutive FHSAA state championships, three of which he was a part of.
With Team USA's 18U team, he pitched 11 scoreless innings during the WBSC U-18 World Cup, earning All-World Starting Pitcher recognition after a complete game shutout against Korea in the Super Round.
Rojas' selection would add to what's starting to become a lengthy list of Stoneman Douglas alumni drafted early on, a list that includes longtime Cubs first basemen Anthony Rizzo, Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony, and Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo, who has mentored Rojas throughout high school.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 10: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at Globe Life Field on July 10, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for July 11, 2026 against the Houston Astros: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and Peter Lambert for the Astros.
The Battle for the Silver Boot continues!
Pederson — DH
Langford — LF
Jung — 3B
Nimmo — RF
Burger — 1B
Duran — SS
Carter — CF
Lopez — 2B
Diaz — C
6:05 p.m. Central start time. The Rangers are +105 underdogs.
BATON ROUGE, LA - APRIL 17: Texas A&M Aggies Chris Hacopian infielder (8) takes a lead from first base during a game between the LSU Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies on April 17, 2026, at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
On Saturday, July 11, in Philadelphia, Pa., the Washington Nationals selected Texas A&M infielder Chris Hacopian with the 11th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. The Potomac, Md., native lands with his hometown squad, with Nationals Park sitting just 21 miles south of home. Hacopian can certainly be an impact hitter that could debut within the next two years for a rebuilding Nationals team.
The selection of Hacopian marks three consecutive MLB Drafts that the Maroon and White have had a player taken in the first round, joining the company of Braden Montgomery (2024, 12th overall, Boston Red Sox) and Jace LaViolette (2025, 27th overall, Cleveland Guardians). As the 11th overall pick, Hacopian is the highest-drafted Aggie position player in program history.
After two solid years at the University of Maryland, where he earned two Second-Team All-Big Ten honors, the infielder transferred to College Station searching for bigger heights. Despite battling injuries, Hacopian played in 42 total games and batted .319 with 11 home runs for the Maroon and White in 2026. He started all 29 games in SEC play and ranked among the top 30 players in every offensive category. His efforts made him one of four Aggies to be named to the 2026 All-SEC First Team.
Over three collegiate seasons, Hacopian had at least 11 homers in each campaign for a career total of 41. He also had three straight seasons with 40 RBI, racking up 144 total between his time with the Terrapins and Aggies.
The 6’1”, 210-pound infielder is no stranger to playing on big stages, as he hit his first Texas A&M homer inside an MLB venue. In his first at-bat following six missed games due to back stiffness, Hacopian launched a first-inning solo shot over the visitor’s bullpen at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers. That longball set the tone for a 10-0 run-rule victory over Virginia Tech on March 6.
Later in the season, Hacopian notched his third collegiate multi-homer game, leaving the yard twice in the first game of a May 9 doubleheader in Oxford, Miss., as part of an 18-5 run-rule win for the Aggies. The second longball was the seventh total by Texas A&M in that contest, tying a program record for most in a single contest.
As expected, Hacopian was off the board in the second wave of college prospects, joining the likes of Georgia Tech’s Drew Burress, Virginia’s AJ Gracia, and Kentucky’s Tyler Bell. Three high-impact collegiate seasons made it clear that Hacopian’s bat is worth trusting and developing in the Nationals organization. Most scouts and evaluators had Hacopian as the best college bat available on the board, especially among second basemen. His consistent ability to barrel up baseballs should translate in the professional ranks. Former big leaguer Chris Burke, now an analyst on ESPN’s college baseball broadcasts, said it best about Hacopian: “Low chase with high contact and high exit velocity – that’s what Major League Baseball is looking for in the draft.”
Despite committing a lone error last season and holding a .990 fielding percentage, there are concerns about Hacopian’s fielding prowess. Across his three college seasons, the infielder made 30 total errors on 439 chances (a .932 fielding percentage). As his development progresses, expect Hacopian to likely check in as a designated hitter. On the off chance he does play the field, he projects as a second baseman or could get placed in left field.
Prior to the draft, Chris Hacopian was ranked the 14th-highest prospect on the board and the top second baseman, per MLB Pipeline. In their scouting report, they say, “He has advanced feel for the barrel and control of the strike zone, and some clubs believe he has the best bat in the college ranks.”
Hacopian was the highest-ranked out of the four main prospects from Texas A&M, with outfielder Caden Sorrell (No. 33), infielder Gavin Grahovac (No. 38), and southpaw Shane Sdao (No. 95) checking in behind him. At nearly 22 years of age, it shouldn’t take Chris Hacopian very long to climb through the Nationals system. If he can stay healthy, there’s a high probability he could get to Triple-A Rochester in the next two season with a potential MLB call-up at the end of that early window. The bat is too good to be ignored, and based on the current outlook, two successful stints of Spring Training could have Chris Hacopian donning the red and white threads of the Washington Nationals come Opening Day of the 2028 campaign.
The St. Louis Cardinals have selected prep OF Trevor Condon with their first pick in the 2026 MLB draft. Drawing comps to Lenny Dykstra and Pete Crow-Armstrong, Trevor Condon is a bat-to-ball speedster who is a true centerfielder with plus raw tools and will bring a tenacity and brash energy to a St. Louis Cardinals team that has traditionally built around modest, quiet personalities. Earlier in this draft cycle, Condon drew some offensive comps to AL Rookie of the Year frontrunner Kevin McGonigle with the aforementioned bat-to-ball skills.
Though Condon has an unconventional left-handed stroke with an upright barrel, he makes good swing decisions and regular contact to all fields. He has enough bat speed and strength to get to average power, though it shows up more in batting practice than in games at this point. He hits balls hard but has yet to pull them in the air consistently.
Condon has double-plus speed and likes to use it, playing with constant intensity as he tries to make things happen on the bases and runs down balls in the gaps. He’s a quality center fielder who will stay there at the next level, with the added bonus of solid arm strength. A Tennessee recruit, he’s reminiscent of former Volunteers star Drew Gilbert with his 5-foot-11 frame, tools and flair.
His father, George Lombard Sr., played for eight seasons in the majors and has been coaching professionally since 2010, currently with the Detroit Tigers as a bench coach. His older brother, George Lombard Jr., is currently in the New York Yankees organization with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after being selected in the first round by the Bronx Bombers in 2023.
Here's a look at the Gulliver Prep star, and his very short journey from South Miami to Little Havana.
One of the best to come out of Miami
For all the talent Miami has bred lately, Lombard is the best of the bunch, becoming the highest selection to come out of the 305 since Brito standout Manny Machado was picked third overall by the Baltimore Orioles in 2010.
Lombard joins his brother George (2023), Westminster Christian product Sal Stewart (2022), Mater Academy Charter star Albert Almora Jr. (2012), Machado (2010), Coral Park's Luiz Montanez (2000), and Gulliver Prep's David Espinosa (2000) as the only prep first-rounders out of Miami-Dade County this century.
Why do clubs like Lombard so much? Well, his 6-foot-3 frame is a plus, especially at an elite position like shortstop. His ability to cover ground not just in the field but also from home to first also appeals to clubs. But most importantly, his bat is one that fascinates many scouts. With the Raiders this year, Lombard hit .477 with 10 home runs, 25 RBI, and 52 runs scored, adding 4 doubles and 14 stolen bases.
Lombard was also a solid soccer player along with being elite on the diamond, winning back-to-back state titles with Gulliver. In three varsity seasons on the pitch, Lombard and the Raiders went 60-7-5.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.
LEXINGTON, KY - APRIL 07: Infielder Tyler Bell (6) of the Kentucky Wildcats warms up between innings in a game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Kentucky Wildcats on April 7, 2026, at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington, KY. (Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies selected Tyler Bell, a switch-hitting shortstop from the University of Kentucky, with the 10th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday.
Welcome to the Rockies, Tyler ‼️
With the 10th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft the Rockies select SS Tyler Bell. pic.twitter.com/jqyHfVNEJZ
Bell is the first first-round selection of the Paul DePodesta era. The 10th overall pick carries an assigned slot value of $6,393,100.
Colorado made the selection after the Atlanta Braves took AJ Gracia ninth overall. The Rockies also hold picks No. 37, No. 38, No. 76 and No. 104 on Day 1.
Who is Tyler Bell?
Bell is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound switch-hitter who throws right-handed. He turned 21 on June 30 and entered the draft ranked as the No. 10 prospect by MLB Pipeline and the No. 15 prospect by Baseball America.
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Bell 66th overall in 2024 out of high school, but he chose to attend Kentucky.
Across two seasons with the Wildcats, Bell hit .314/.438/.556 with 19 home runs, 26 doubles and 21 stolen bases.
He took a big step forward in 2026, batting .343/.510/.608 with nine home runs, 19 doubles, 30 walks and 36 strikeouts despite playing with a shoulder injury. While diving for a ball in February, Bell dislocated his non-throwing shoulder and suffered structural damage including a torn labrum.
“It was definitely tough. I had a lot of people on my side telling me to shut it down,” he said. “I know that coach [Nick Mingione] had said the same night that I got hurt that if I didn’t play another game the rest of the year I would still be a first-round Draft pick.
“I just wanted to be out there with my boys and I knew I was good enough to play. It might have hurt sometimes, it might have affected me at times, but just that competitiveness in me — knowing that Kentucky was a special team this year and we had a chance to win a National Championship, and if we were going to do that as a team I knew I had to be part of that.”
Bell also played briefly in the Cape Cod League and appeared at second base, shortstop and third base for Team USA.
A smooth shortstop with some edge
Bell is a switch-hitter who plays with an edge and moves with the smoothness expected from a shortstop.
He is athletic enough to remain at the position, with quick feet, good body control and enough arm strength to complete plays from different angles.
At the plate, Bell’s left-handed swing is quick and compact, with enough bat speed and strength to produce some pull-side pop. He does not need a long swing to generate damage, and his direct path gives him a chance to make consistent contact while still driving the ball.
The numbers support the visual profile. Bell’s 2026 season included a .510 on-base percentage and nearly as many walks as strikeouts, pointing to improved strike-zone control without sacrificing power.
MLB Pipeline gave Bell 50 grades for his hit, power and run tools, along with 55 grades for his arm and defense. His overall grade was also a 55.
Bell does not have one overwhelming carrying tool. His appeal comes from the completeness of the profile.
He earns positive marks for his swing decisions and bat-to-ball ability, and his offensive game is not dependent on selling out for power. From both sides of the plate, he has enough feel for the barrel to contribute in several ways. He is also an extremely patient hitter who had a chase rate of just 13.5% during the 2026 college season and drew 30 walks to just 36 strikeouts.
Defensively, Bell has the athleticism and actions to stay at shortstop. Even if he eventually moves off the position, his glove and experience around the infield should still give him value at second or third base.
That gives Colorado several possible outcomes. If Bell remains at shortstop, his offensive profile becomes especially valuable. If he eventually moves, the Rockies should still have a capable defender with enough bat to fit elsewhere in the infield.
The first statement of the DePodesta era
Bell’s selection offers the first real clue about the type of amateur player Colorado may prioritize under DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes.
The Rockies chose a smooth, athletic shortstop with a compact swing, some pop and a competitive edge. It is less a bet on one elite tool than on a broad collection of useful skills.
One year after selecting Ethan Holliday fourth overall, Colorado has added another young shortstop with the potential to become part of the club’s long-term foundation.
What comes next
The Rockies next select 37th overall in Competitive Balance Round A and then return immediately with the 38th pick to begin the second round.
Coverage of picks 11 through 40 continues on MLB Network, Peacock, MLB.com, MLB.TV and MLB+.
What do you think of the pick? Let us know in the comments!
