2026 NCAA Names to know

Photo: Roch Cholowsky (SS, UCLA)

Ed.—A version of this article appeared in the 2026 Minor League Baseball Analyst.


This is, by my count, my 14th year writing this article in this space. There have been some hits for sure. Ranking Trea Turner first, Carlos Rodon second, Kyle Schwarber fourth and Aaron Nola fifth in the 2014 draft—all before their final college seasons began—ranks as one of my better calls.

Recently there have been some misses. Three drafts ago in this space, I had Paul Skenes eighth, and last year, I didn’t have either Liam Doyle or Andrew Fischer among the 21 players I either profiled or listed as “guys to watch.”

That prompted some self-reflection. So what’s going on here? 

Well, one thing that’s changed...

Almost!

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