MaxPreps is previewing the draft with a look at the nation’s top high school prospects. Today’s installment focuses on the top 10 pitchers. The series continues Tuesday with catchers, Wednesday with infielders and Thursday with outfielders.
MLB DRAFT: Top 10 prep pitchers
Southside
Christian carefully managed Bolemon’s workload as a senior, limiting
him to 41.1 innings after he threw more than 50 in each of the previous
two seasons. Head coach Scott Freeman told MaxPreps early in the season
that the plan was to “be smart with him and limit his innings so he will
be available later in the season.” Bolemon features an over-the-top
delivery and commands three pitches. He finished his career with 445
strikeouts and eight no-hitters, demonstrating both dominance and
consistency. He projects as a late first- or second-round pick.
After
drawing attention as a hitter during his junior season, Borthwick
cemented himself as a pitching prospect this spring. He threw 65 innings
as a senior, finishing 11-0 with 121 strikeouts after logging just 33
innings as a junior. The 6-foot-6, 255-pound right-hander commands four
pitches, including a fastball that has reached 98 miles per hour along with a
slider, changeup and forkball. He also hit 20 career home runs but his
long-term future is expected to be on the mound. He projects as a late
first-round or supplemental-round selection.
Bryant
pairs a fastball that reaches 95 mph with a pair of plus offspeed
pitches. A varsity starter since seventh grade, he has logged more than
244 high school innings. At 6-5 and 180 pounds, Bryant still has
room to add strength, making him an intriguing projection arm. He is
expected to be selected in the second or third round.
Few
prospects offer more upside than Bumila. At 6-9, he is one of the
tallest players in the draft and arguably its hardest thrower, with a
fastball that has reached 102 mph. Also a basketball star, he was named MaxPreps National Male
Athlete of the Year. Bumila complements his fastball with a promising
changeup and slider, though he rarely needed them at the high school
level. He missed his junior season after undergoing an internal brace
procedure on his elbow but has since re-established himself as a late
first-round or supplemental-round prospect. The hometown Red Sox could
be a fit at No. 20.
Contreras
gained national attention earlier this year when he faced four Team USA
hitters while pitching for Team Brazil at the World Baseball Classic,
including inducing Aaron Judge into an inning-ending double play. The
son of former major leaguer José Contreras, he features a fastball that
has reached 99 mph and typically sits between 92 and 95. He complements
it with three secondary pitches, including a forkball, and is one of the
younger players in the draft class. He is a candidate to sneak into the
first round and is unlikely to last beyond the second.
A
two-way standout who reclassified from the Class of 2027, Grindlinger
could be drafted as either a pitcher or an outfielder. His fastball has
reached 97 mph but his best pitch is considered to be his changeup. At
the plate, his disciplined approach and projectable frame suggest
future power. While his speed and arm strength give him the tools to
play center field, he likely fits best in a corner. Mock drafts
have him landing anywhere from the top half to the back half of the
first round, depending on which position teams prefer.
At
6-7, Hirschkorn combines size with a smooth, repeatable delivery.
His fastball sits between 93 and 96 mph, and he struck out 112 batters
as a senior while throwing multiple no-hitters. At just 210 pounds,
scouts see plenty of room for additional strength and velocity. He is
expected to come off the board in the second round.
Gio Rojas, Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.), LHP
Rojas is widely regarded as the top high school left-handed pitcher in the draft. His fastball sits between 92 and 96 mph but scouts believe his tall, athletic frame could eventually produce triple-digit velocity. He also features an above-average slider he can throw for strikes and is developing a promising changeup. Rojas went 28-1 in high school with a 0.65 career ERA, giving him the profile of a future front-line starter. He could be the first high school pitcher selected, though the 2026 class is considered thin on prep pitching, making the back half of the first round the most likely landing spot.
Logan Schmidt, Ganesha (Pomona, Calif.), LHP
Schmidt is one of the draft’s biggest risers despite his limited résumé. Homeschooled until his senior year, he didn’t play high school baseball until the 2026 season, yet quickly established himself as a first-round talent. He allowed just one earned run with 103 strikeouts while batting over .500. Schmidt features three quality pitches including a fastball that has reached 98 mph and typically sits in the low 90s. He projects as a potential front-line starter and could be selected in the first round, though a slight slide into the second wouldn’t be surprising.
Kaden Waechter, Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), RHP
Waechter entered the spring as one of the nation’s top prep arms but slipped slightly in the rankings despite posting a 6-3 record with a 1.15 ERA. He reportedly throws five pitches, repeats his delivery well and consistently fills the strike zone, issuing just 15 walks this season. His fastball tops out at 95 mph. He projects as a second-round selection.
