ESPN's updated top 150 draft prospects

[BenSherman]

103. Schaffner
107. Lynch
120. DeCaro

2026 MLB draft rankings: Updated top 150 prospects

Here's who is soaring up MLB draft boards as college baseball tournament week begins.

www.espn.com

 

[UNC76]

At 107, Lynch is looking at a signing bonus in the $700k range. Before the season started, he was projected to be late 1st / early 2nd round, which is 3 times the signing bonus. We will never know just how much the hamstring injury impacted his performance this year, but if he returns next year and regains his 2025 form, he could be looking at significantly more money.

 

[floridahighschoolcoach]

Where is Gavin protecting to land in the draft order?

 

[premn]

We need 1 very generous fan to finance a run it back year next year

 

[premn]

What do we think the lineup retention looks like next year?

Graduating:
Hynek
French

Certain draft:
Schaffner
Hull
Gallaher

likely draft but I have heard 0 buzz:
Winslow (?)

Are they on draft radar?:
Nicholson
Paulsen (on PG’s top 200 in 180s)

Underclassmen:
Howe

Seems like if we retain Nicholson and Paulsen that’s a really good core with Howe to build the rest of the lineup around.

 

[chapelheels]

We need 1 very generous fan to finance a run it back year next year

Well someone did give 9 million this winter

 

[premn]

Well someone did give 9 million this winter

Yeah but we need someone to totally light their money on fire by financing one year of roster pay, not just strategically and sensibly invest in the sustainability of the program

 

[bluebooksandbluecups]

I know that when it comes to your baseball career, the rule of thumb has usually been to begin that professional path as quickly as possible…but the “5 for 5” does create another “leverage year” for juniors…I know that is just wishful thinking on my part…but would be so awesome to see some of the guys we assume will enter the draft actually stick around another year (not the first and second round guys, of course).

 

[HolderBuns]

I know that when it comes to your baseball career, the rule of thumb has usually been to begin that professional path as quickly as possible…but the “5 for 5” does create another “leverage year” for juniors…I know that is just wishful thinking on my part…but would be so awesome to see some of the guys we assume will enter the draft actually stick around another year (not the first and second round guys, of course).

Came here to make this exact same observation. Lynch is in a different boat because he is a draft-eligible Sophomore, so he had another leverage year regardless (now may have 2 more after this year!).

But for guys like Gallaher, Winslow, Paulsen, Nicholson - their situations could be drastically different with 2 years of eligibility beyond this season. This is especially true if Gallaher believes he can get back to a 1.000+ OPS next season.

Allows for the pipe dream with Shaffner and Hull under a scenario where they genuinely enjoy college and believe they can expand their game. Example jumping to mind is Hull want to show that he can display consistent power and put up 15+ HRs, rather than jaw-dropping peaks every couple weeks.

 

[billclay]

What do we think the lineup retention looks like next year?

Graduating:
Hynek
French

Certain draft:
Schaffner
Hull
Gallaher

likely draft but I have heard 0 buzz:
Winslow (?)

Are they on draft radar?:
Nicholson
Paulsen (on PG’s top 200 in 180s)

Underclassmen:
Howe

Seems like if we retain Nicholson and Paulsen that’s a really good core with Howe to build the rest of the lineup around.

Are we sure on Hull and Schaff?
I thought they both would probably be back. Heck, Gav should come back too.

 

[TarHeelColby10]

What do we think the lineup retention looks like next year?

Graduating:
Hynek
French

Certain draft:
Schaffner
Hull
Gallaher

likely draft but I have heard 0 buzz:
Winslow (?)

Are they on draft radar?:
Nicholson
Paulsen (on PG’s top 200 in 180s)

Underclassmen:
Howe

Seems like if we retain Nicholson and Paulsen that’s a really good core with Howe to build the rest of the lineup around.

I don’t think Gavin’s decision is so sure, if he surprised if he came back but I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion, yet. Either way we’re probably going to replacing everything up the middle again. Will be interesting to see how we replace Jake and Owen. We’ve had one of the best runs of CF of anyone.. Justice, Vance, Kane and Owen is one hell of a 6 year run.

 

[TarHeelColby10]

Are we sure on Hull and Schaff?
I thought they both would probably be back. Heck, Gav should come back too.

Why should Owen or Jake come back? If the 5 year deal comes about.. maybe but these guys are looking at getting their professional career started making some real money or coming back and getting drafted around the same range and getting alot less money because they have no choice other then take what’s offered.

 

[premn]

I don’t think Gavin’s decision is so sure, if he surprised if he came back but I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion, yet. Either way we’re probably going to replacing everything up the middle again. Will be interesting to see how we replace Jake and Owen. We’ve had one of the best runs of CF of anyone.. Justice, Vance, Kane and Owen is one hell of a 6 year run.

Curious, Where do you think Gallaher projects defensively as a pro? He’s obviously not had the offensive season he probably wanted or expected, but defensively I think he’s much better than I expected. Would a better season as a senior move the needle much for him, do you think? Or would a pro organization think they can get what they want given the high highs we’ve seen from him at times.

 

[TarHeelColby10]

Curious, Where do you think Gallaher projects defensively as a pro? He’s obviously not had the offensive season he probably wanted or expected, but defensively I think he’s much better than I expected. Would a better season as a senior move the needle much for him, do you think? Or would a pro organization think they can get what they want given the high highs we’ve seen from him at times.

He’s a second baseman, he only played 3rd out of necessity for 2 years. It could move the needle for sure if he can get the OPS up and get some of the miss out of his swing on the inner part of the plate. But, if he’s a top 150ish draft pick he should and probably will go because of the signing bonus. If 5 for 5 gets passed he’ll have more of a decision. But I’m just not sure he’ll be picked that early. If he was a pure SS I’d think he’d be a guaranteed top 150

 

[RunGioRun]

FWIW - if 5 in 5 passes, the group of Hynek, French, Kellis, Padgett, and Percival would all have another year of eligibility.

 

[TommyAshley]

They’ve said any passage of 5 for 5 would not be retroactive.

So unless that changes, guys that were seniors this year are done.

 

[RunGioRun]

They’ve said any passage of 5 for 5 would not be retroactive.

So unless that changes, guys that were seniors this year are done.

Thanks Tommy, wasn’t sure if that would be the case for spring sports as well but that makes sense.

If it passes before the draft, I will be curious to see if it impacts the stay-go decision for any Juniors as they’d gain an additional draft year with leverage on the MLB.

 

[oldwell]

I don’t really worry about reloading.

Forbes and Co have shown year in and year out that they can identify talent.

 

[msheel]

I don’t really worry about reloading.

Forbes and Co have shown year in and year out that they can identify talent.

What happened to Decaro? He was a top 25 pick heading into season. Did the velocity improvements not materialize? any chance he comes back given he is so young?

 

[akillesheel17]

What happened to Decaro? He was a top 25 pick heading into season. Did the velocity improvements not materialize? any chance he comes back given he is so young?

the last time decaro was a top 25 pick was before last year's Stanford game. he came into this year ranked ~90th by MLB Pipeline and he's a little lower than that now. there hasn't been a velo jump and scouts seem to think there isn't really one coming because of how filled out his frame already is, despite what forbes has said.

there are people here who know more than me but imo his draft stock has taken a hit over the years because of how committed forbes and co. are to having starters who attack. feel like if his pitch mix featured his offspeed more and they'd committed to playing off that instead of being a 60-65% fastball guy, his positive attributes would have stood out and been developed more. i'm also really surprised they haven't found a way to harness his high spin rate into some sort of shape on his fastball, every time i see an analytics account tweet about his fastball it's spinning at like 2600, which feels like it should have elite ride at the very least, but it plays really straight. i don't have the numbers but i do feel like they've been using his changeup more in this latest stretch where he's been as good as we've ever seen him, which can only help him - i've seen multiple scouting accounts say they want it featured more.