MACK - 2026 DRAFT - METS PICKS 6.181 - RHP Alex Petrovic - & 7.210 - RHP Aiden Keenan

 

Pick 6.181 – RHP Alex Petrovic - Auburn

Alex Petrovic (full name Alexander Basil Petrovic) is a right-handed pitcher for the Auburn Tigers (NCAA) who was selected by the New York Mets in the 6th round (181st overall) of the 2026 MLB Draft.

Born: May 27, 2004 (age 22) in Cypress, Texas.

Height/Weight: 6-5, 235 lbs

Bats/Throws: Right/Right.

Class: Redshirt sophomore in 2026.

High School: Concordia Lutheran (TX); was a highly regarded prospect in Texas with strong pitching and hitting credentials.

He has overcome significant injury challenges: stress fractures/inflammation in his throwing arm limited him to very low innings in his first two college seasons (only about 30 combined before 2026). A key mechanical fix at the Florida Baseball Armory in summer 2025 (addressing lower-body use and release to reduce elbow stress) helped him stay healthy and break out.

College Stats (2026 Breakout Season)

In 2026, Petrovic was one of Auburn’s key starters (often in game 3/start of series finales) for a strong Tigers team. He showed excellent command, durability, and competitiveness.

2026 stat line – 10-2, 3.21, 1.01, 92.2-IP, 92-K, 24-BB

A 1.01 WHIP in the SEC is quite the accomplishment

Notable: Complete-game shutout vs. Kentucky (SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week), strong road performances (e.g., vs. Florida), and leadership on the mound.

He posted low walk rates (strong strike-thrower) and solid strikeout production while handling high-leverage spots.

Repertoire (Pitch Mix)

Petrovic is described as a strike-thrower with a simple, repeatable delivery and a big, physical frame that aids projection. He mixes pitches well and works the edges.

From 2026 scouting reports and game looks (e.g., Perfect Game/college baseball coverage):

Fastball: Primary pitch. Sits low 90s (often 90-94), touches 93-96 mph. Used for whiffs when elevated; good command.

Changeup: Strong secondary with heavy fade/tumble and depth. Often 79-82 mph; plays well off the fastball and generates misses.

Slider/Sweeper: Sweeping action, 80-82 mph. Used as a putaway pitch.

Cutter: Bridge pitch around 86 mph; flashes to help against opposite-handed hitters or for weak contact.

He has shown 4 pitches overall and the ability to mix them effectively. In high school/early college, velocities were a bit lower (FB up to 92-93), but the mechanical changes and development have helped velocity and consistency.

Outlook

Petrovic profiles as a potential innings-eater/starter with plus command and pitchability rather than overwhelming raw stuff. His size, poise (often highlighted as unflappable), and improved health make him an intriguing mid-round pick. MLB Pipeline and others have called him a "finesse righty" with upside.

He is known for mental toughness (influenced by his Serbian heritage/family "inat" mindset) and has been a leader for Auburn.

MACK – Holy cow! Another damaged pitcher. What’s next? An arm some hospital named themselves after? The good news here is the pitching coaches seem to have straightened him out for his 2026 season. Maybe the Mets ought to hire those guys.

Rating:  B

Pick 7.210 - Pick 7.210  RHP Aiden Keenan - Stanford

Aidan Keenan (often spelled Aidan) is a right-handed pitcher (RHP) for the Stanford Cardinal. He is a junior (class of 2026) from Morgan Hill, California, who attended Live Oak High School.

He stands 6-2 and weighs 202 lbs, with a B/T of R/R.

Keenan had a meteoric rise in high school. He went from mid-70s velocity to touching 95+ mph, posting a 0.74 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 47 innings as a senior. He earned honors like Blossom Valley Athletic League Pitcher of the Year and was a highly regarded prospect (top-50ish nationally in some rankings), but he honored his commitment to Stanford instead of turning pro early.

At Stanford, he has been primarily a reliever but has moved into starting roles:

2024 (Freshman): Limited appearances (5 games, 2 starts), 6.75 ERA in 6.2 IP, but strong strikeout stuff and low batting average against (.174).

2025 (Sophomore): Team-high 24 appearances (mostly relief), 2-3 record, 5.59 ERA in 37 IP, 43 strikeouts, and 5 saves. He showed good command in spots and stranded inherited runners well.

2026 (Junior, through available data): More starting experience (6 starts in 7 appearances), 1-3 record, 5.82 ERA in ~21.2 IP, 25 strikeouts. He has had some strong outings (e.g., scoreless multi-inning relief) but has also dealt with walks and inconsistency in longer outings.

He has also pitched in the Cape Cod League (Falmouth Commodores) and summer ball (e.g., Santa Barbara Foresters). He is known as a good student (ACC All-Academic) with upside as a potential high draft pick in 2026.

 

Repertoire and Pitching Style

Keenan throws from a low three-quarters (borderline sidearm) slot with a long, loose arm action, fast arm speed, and good extension. This creates deception and a lower release point that can be tough on hitters. He has a lean, athletic, projectable frame.

Key pitches (based on scouting reports from high school/early college):

Fastball (primary pitch): Sits 92-95 mph (has touched 97-98 mph). It has good run/rise ("explodes" out of the hand) and is especially effective when elevated to the arm side. Generates swing-and-miss and weak contact.

Curveball/Slurve: High-spin (approaching 3,000 rpm), high-70s to low-80s. Big horizontal sweep with biting action; a swing-and-miss weapon, especially vs. righties. Sometimes described as a slurve with variance in shape.

Changeup: Low-80s, used sparingly but shows tumbling/fade that plays off the fastball.

Later reports (e.g., 2026 MLB Draft Combine) mention a four-pitch mix including a slider (harder breaking ball, e.g., 84-87 mph in college outings) and possibly a cutter. His slider has been called a "knockout" pitch in some appearances.

Strengths: Explosive stuff, strikeout ability (career K/9 around 10+ in college samples), deception from slot/arm speed.

Areas to improve: Consistency with command (walks have been an issue at times), developing a reliable third pitch for starting, and sustaining stuff/velocity deeper into outings.

Overall, Keenan is viewed as a high-upside arm with "thunderous stuff" who profiles as a potential starter or high-leverage reliever. His combination of velocity, movement, and slot makes him a tough matchup when he's on. Keep an eye on him in the 2026 MLB Draft cycle! For the latest stats, check Stanford's site or MLB.com.

MACK – Another reliever. This one, with a career of poor ERAs. Ya know, I’m thinking of eliminating this who series of posts. I’ll give it a few more picks to see if they can pick a healthy person and a starter that really is a starter.

Rating:   F