MACK - 2026 DRAFT - Pick 20.600 – SS – Kooper Schulte – Iowa - UDFA - LHP AJ Colarusso – Boston College

 

Pick 20.600 – SS – Kooper Schulte – Iowa

Kooper Schulte is a right-handed hitting and throwing shortstop (primarily) from New London, Iowa, born December 8, 2003. He stands 6-1 and weighs around 198 lbs. He played college baseball at the University of Iowa (Hawkeyes) and was selected by the New York Mets in the 20th round (600th overall) of the 2026 MLB Draft.

High School: New London HS. He was a First Team All-State selection in 2022 and helped lead his team to the state championship. He showed strong defensive tools as a SS/2B with good range, hands, and arm strength (up to 89 mph IF velo in showcases).

JUCO Path: 2023: Central Arizona College (.242 AVG, limited power).

2024: Southeastern Community College (played for his father, head coach Justin Schulte). He hit .317 with 8 HR, 45 RBI, .986 OPS, and was a First Team All-Region selection. The team reached the NJCAA DII World Series.

Iowa Hawkeyes (2025–2026): Transferred to Iowa and played two seasons. He started at third base in 2025 before moving to shortstop in 2026.

Key 2025 stats (Iowa): .268/.321/.390 in 41 GP, 3 HR, 25 RBI.

Key 2026 stats (Iowa): .274/.355/.484 in 56 GP (started all), 9 HR (team leader), 18 doubles (team leader), 39 RBI, .840 OPS, 11 SB. Defensively solid with a .975+ fielding % at SS.

He was a Brooks Wallace Award semifinalist (top shortstop in college baseball) in 2026, recognized for his offensive and defensive production.

He played in summer leagues like the Prospect League (Burlington Bees: strong .341/.424/.519 in 2025 with power and speed) and Northwoods League (Waterloo Bucks).

Known as a competitive, high-motor player with good defensive instincts at shortstop and developing power from the right side. His path involved multiple transfers but he thrived at Iowa.

As a later-round draftee, he'll likely head to the Mets' minor league system to continue developing. He's a classic "son of a coach" grinder with Big Ten experience and tools that could translate to pro ball with refinement.

MACK - not the worst pick, but looks to me an AAAA player

Rating - C-

 

UDFA – LHP AJ Colarusso – Boston College

A.J. (Antonio James) Colarusso is a senior left-handed pitcher (LHP) for the Boston College Eagles (ACC).

He stands 6'0" and weighs 205 lbs, from Leominster, Massachusetts, and attended Groton School.

As of mid-to-late 2026, he is a durable, experienced starter known for his consistency, competitiveness, and significant program records at BC.

Colarusso has been a key part of BC baseball since 2023, evolving from a midweek/freshman contributor into the team's ace and a program legend for workload and durability:

Program Records: He set the Boston College record for career starts (44+ by April 2026, later more) and ranks high in career innings pitched. He also threw his first career complete game in a standout outing.

2026 (Senior): 5-4 record, 4.45-ERA in 16. Stronger command and effectiveness, with a career-high wins and lower ERA. Named Third Team All-ACC.

2025 (Junior): 1-6, 4.89 ERA in 19 appearances (15 GS), 73.2 IP, 58 K. Showed improvement with more strikeouts.

2024 (Sophomore): 3-8, 7.20 ERA in 14 starts, 65 IP, 63 K. Solid strikeout stuff but higher ERA and walks.

2023 (Freshman): Limited innings (21.1 IP) with a higher ERA but showed promise.

He has performed better with runners on base in some splits and has improved year-over-year through development.

He has also had limited summer league action (e.g., Cape Cod League/Wareham and Ocean State).

Pitching Style and Repertoire

Colarusso is not a high-velocity power pitcher—he sits in the upper 80s to low 90s (e.g., touched 90 mph in games; sat 87-89 in some reports)—but succeeds with pitchability, deception, command, and a well-developed four-pitch mix. He has a simple, compact delivery with a three-quarters arm slot, good repeatability, and body control.

Key pitches (based on his own comments and coaching descriptions):

Fastball: Primary pitch with sinking/run life. He has always liked it and uses it to attack both sides of the plate. Not overpowering but effective when located well.

Cutter (or hybrid cutter-slider): A key development. He converted a slower slider into a harder, sharper cutter. It became a "bread-and-butter" secondary option for getting outs and disrupting timing.

Changeup: Added/improved significantly; he is now most confident in it. Good fading action, complements the fastball well for off-speed deception.

Curveball: Big, overhand/slow "12-6" type he's had since high school. Used for strikes and to change eye levels.

His arsenal emphasizes mixing and unpredictability rather than raw stuff. Coaches note he can now throw four pitches for strikes, making him hard to square up. Development focused on pitch shapes, off-speed velocity, and command. He compares stylistically to situational lefties like Jon Lester or Tom Glavine.

Colarusso exemplifies player development and "pitcher-first" mentality at Boston College, turning steady improvement into a record-setting career.

MACK - another 10K bonus, if that

Rating:   D