2026 MLB Draft – Top 50 College
Prospects
https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb-draft/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/#entry-135444
41. Owen Kramkowski –
RHP
HT/WT: 6’3/168 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Arizona |
Hometown: Sahuarita, AZ | Projected Age: 20.11
After barely being utilized on the bump in 2024,
Kramkowski entered the 2025 campaign in Arizona’s starting rotation. Despite
being shelled in his first outing of the season, he bounced back beautifully to
cement himself as one of the best arms on the West Coast.
It’s an incredibly skinny frame with significant
projection present, as well as stout athleticism on the bump. Kramkowski puts
himself into excellent positions as he drives own the mound, displaying easy
motions with strong arm speed and whip through release.
It’s a heavy east/west arsenal, rarely utilizing a
vertical option, which is something that Kramkowski needs to add. His sinker
reaches up to 97 MPH at its peak, generating quality sink and run, and sits in
the 92-95 MPH range most nights. It doesn’t miss a ton of bats, primarily
nibbling on the edges, but he’ll get in trouble when leaving it over the plate.
With that said, he creates very flat angles to the plate and generates good
extension. If he can separate the fastball into two distinct shapes and add a
riding option, there would be more to unlock in his potential.
He bridges the gap to his sweeper with an upper-80s
cutter that he commands very well, landing it backdoor consistently to lefties.
The sweeper itself is a gnarly offering. It possesses huge spin rates in the
81-85 MPH range, generating nasty bite and over ten inches of sweep on average.
He’s still reining in the command, as it moves so much that it can be hard to
land, but it’s a potential plus offering.
Adding verticality to his arsenal will be paramount in
2026, but this is how you draw up a pitching prospect. He’ll be one of the more
polarizing arms in the country next season, but it’s a definitive starting
profile moving forward.
42. Aidan Knaak – RHP
HT/WT: 6’0/205 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Clemson |
Hometown: Fort Myers, FL | Projected Age: 21.9
Aidan Knaak’s evolution since his prep days is a fun one
to talk about. He endured his hardships in high school, but as a senior, Knaak
found another gear and showed out in front of scouts at multiple events. He
would make the rotation as a freshman once on campus, and he has not looked
back.
He’s turned into a bulky athlete with drop-and-drive
mechanics, flashing decent arm speed, and he’s raised his arm slot slightly
since getting to Clemson. His fastball is more on the generic side, though he
hammers the strike zone with good carry upstairs that’s mixed in with tailing
life. He’s been up to 96 MPH at his peak, sitting 90-94 MPH consistently,
though he hasn’t missed bats at a big clip.
His best offering is an upper-70s change-up that he sells
incredibly well, flashing significant tumble and tail late in its life that
befuddles hitters. He has excellent feel of the pitch and throws it in the zone
often, plus he ran a whiff rate of 50% in 2025. He’ll also throw a harder
change-up in the upper-80s that acts more like a bridge pitch.
He’s thrown a plethora of breaking balls to date, though
the one with the most upside is a firm mid-80s slider/cutter hybrid that stays
short to the plate. He’ll flash a hard low-80s curveball with depth, but it
lacks bite.
He’s a high-floor starter at the next level with a
smattering of average pitches and a plus offering in the cambio. Given the
track record, Knaak should hear his name called relatively early.
43. Henry Ford – 1B,OF
HT/WT: 6’5/220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Tennessee |
Hometown: Charlottesville, VA | Projected Age: 21.11
A draft-eligible sophomore at Virginia, Ford went
undrafted and headed to Tennessee, where he’ll aim to be a key part of the
Volunteers’ lineup in 2026.
Ford’s build is similar to that of an automobile
mechanic. He’s very physical, with plenty of strength throughout his frame, and
he’s a solid athlete despite his size.
Although his swing is a bit stiff, Ford rotates well and
has a heavy barrel through the zone. He generates a lot of leverage with his
mechanics, sinking deeply into his back leg, though he sometimes steps into the
front leg, which can break his kinetic chain and reduce his leverage and power.
Ford handles velocity well, especially pitches over 95
MPH, although he tends to expand the zone a lot. He’s not in a hurry to take
his walks, but his swing adjusts when he reaches outside the zone. While his
bat-to-ball skills improved in 2025, he didn’t tap into his power as often,
leading to a big drop in extra-base hits and home runs. He’ll need to find a
better balance in Knoxville in 2026, but his offensive upside remains clear
based on past performance.
Defensively, Ford spent much of his freshman year at
first base, but he handled right field well for the Cavaliers in 2025. Ford has
good athleticism and covers ground effectively, showing solid route-running and
a strong arm. He’s not a liability out there. He should remain in right field
for Tony Vitello’s camp in 2026, though he might still get some reps at first
base.
44. Gavin Grahovac –
3B,OF
HT/WT: 6’2/220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Texas A&M |
Hometown: Orange, CA | Projected Age: 21.6
The 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year, Grahovac played a
significant role in the Aggies’ CWS Finals run and had high expectations for
his sophomore season. Unfortunately, Grahovac suffered an early-season shoulder
injury that sidelined him for the year. Once recovered, he is expected to be
fully healthy for Opening Day 2026 and will return with similar expectations to
2025.
An ultra-physical right-handed hitter, Grahovac is a
power-over-hit profile with tremendous bat speed. He stands in an even stance
with a crouched posture, using a swaying motion with his lower half to initiate
his swing. His hips explode open, allowing his hands and bat to move through
the zone and drive the ball to all fields.
He tends to let velocity travel through the zone and
shoot the ball the other way, while pulling breaking balls and off-speed
pitches. Grahovac possesses legitimate above-average to plus power.
However, his hitting tool and approach need some
refinement. In 2024, he displayed a notable amount of swing-and-miss,
especially in the zone, and often chased pitches out of the zone. This likely
stems from his lower half getting stuck in neutral, limiting his adjustability
once his swing operation is triggered—a flaw that needs correction. Despite
this, he has a potentially loud offensive profile.
He has played third base and corner outfield, though most
believe he will see more action in a corner outfield spot. His speed is below
average with limited range, but he has very good arm strength suited for right
field.
The bat will carry most of the weight, and staying
healthy in 2026 will be crucial for him. Nonetheless, Grahovac is poised to
provide impact for the Aggies, who missed his presence in 2025.
45. Wes Mendes – LHP
HT/WT: 6’1/198 | Bat/Throw: R/L | School: Florida State |
Hometown: Tampa, FL | Projected Age: 21.9
Once pitching for Ole Miss, Mendes returned to his home
state of Florida and earned a starting role for the Seminoles behind Joey
Volini and Jamie Arnold. He experienced ups and downs, but he was a consistent
Sunday starter for Link Jarrett’s team.
Mendes has excellent athleticism on the mound, moving
smoothly with a deeper arm stroke that results in a three-quarters slot.
His fastball has some life, reaching up to 96 MPH with a
cut/ride shape upstairs, while showing tailing action down in the zone. He
regularly sits 91-94 MPH throughout his outings, though his pitch doesn’t miss
many bats. It primarily sets up his secondary offerings, which are advanced.
His best pitch is an upper-70s changeup with excellent
velocity separation, tumbling action, and tunnel point off his heater. It’s his
most effective out pitch, generating whiffs over 50% of the time in 2025, and
potentially plus.
His mid-80s slider flashes tilt, though it mostly stays
short to the plate with good bite. Currently, it’s an average offering, but
throwing it harder could increase its upside. He also has a softer mid-70s
curveball with depth and bite, though it can be inconsistent with its shape.
The biggest necessary improvement for Mendes will be his
secondary command, which can be inconsistent. Improving in this area will be
crucial in 2026, as it will allow him to access more pitchability and use his
advanced secondaries more often. A velocity boost is also possible.
Mendes is poised for a strong 2026 season, where he is
expected to lead the Florida State rotation.
Seaver likes # 41.
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