2026 MLB Draft News

MLB Opening Day: Here's Every Team's Best Former College Baseball Star

MLB Opening Day: Here's Every Team's Best Former College Baseball Star

A look at top former college baseball stars set to impact the 2026 MLB season, including Braden Montgomery, Chase Burns and Travis Bazzana.

Mar 25, 2026 by Joe Harrington
null
No 1 UCLA vs No. 20 Tennessee Baseball Highlights | 2026 Amegy Bank College Baseball Series19:21

Opening Day is the unofficial American holiday in the spring that kicks off the long road to October baseball. Everyone is trying to reach the World Series.

And some of these players were trying to reach the College World Series not too long ago. When the 2026 MLB season starts with the Yankees and Giants on March 25, teams from around the country — and even Canada — will feature some of the best former college baseball stars. Aaron Judge, among the biggest stars of the game, played college baseball at Fresno State. San Francisco Giants star Matt Chapman went to Cal State Fullerton, and Paul Goldschmidt is perhaps the greatest athlete Texas State has ever produced.

And the best thing that might be happening for the sport of baseball is the immediate impact the MLB Draft is starting to have on the season. In back-to-back seasons, a Rookie of the Year winner was playing college baseball the season before winning.

Nick Kurtz was among the top college baseball prospects in the 2024 draft. He hammered his way to Rookie of the Year. The year before that, in 2024, it was Paul Skenes doing it for the Pirates.

It’s not just award winners, though. Trey Yesavage was pitching for East Carolina in 2024. About 18 months later, he may have been the second-best pitcher in the 2025 World Series and started Game 5 and pitched in Game 7.

The 2024 MLB Draft is looking like an all-time class, with Kurtz, Yesavage and No. 2 pick Chase Burns all debuting and, for the most part, excelling in 2025. They aren’t the only ones. Jac Caglianone, Cam Smith and Christian Moore all debuted, and JJ Wetherholt and Carson Benge will debut on Opening Day. That class also has the current No. 1 prospect in baseball, Konnor Griffin, but he didn’t go to college.

Here’s a look at the best former college players drafted in the last three seasons expected to make an impact for their clubs this year.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Ryan Waldschmidt, Kentucky Baseball

Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, 23, 6'0" / 205 lbs

One of the top prospects of the Diamondbacks, Waldschmidt was the 31st pick by the Diamondbacks. Arizona used their awarded PPI (thanks to Corbin Carroll) to take the UK star. Waldschmidt hit .333/.469/.610 with 14 homers in 46 games for the Wildcats as a junior. He’s the No. 1 prospect for the Diamondbacks and reached Double-A in 2025.

Athletics: Jamie Arnold, Florida State Baseball

Jamie Arnold, LHP, 22, 6'1" / 188 lbs

Arnold was among the best pitchers in the 2025 MLB Draft and perhaps the best college pitcher. He went No. 11 to the Athletics after having been mocked in the top five at various points in the season. He was the star of the Seminoles’ 2024 College World Series team. The 22-year-old is set to start the year in Double-A, and many expect the polished college arm to rise quickly.

Baltimore Orioles: Dylan Beavers, Cal Baseball

Dylan Beavers, OF, 24, 6'5" / 206 lbs

Beavers debuted in 2025 for the Orioles and was the No. 33 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. He was an All-Pac-12 selection for the Bears. Beavers took a more traditional timeline to the majors, debuting a little more than three years after being drafted. He hit his first home run five days after debuting. He is expected to be a big part of Baltimore’s outfield.

Chicago Cubs: Jaxon Wiggins, Arkansas Baseball

Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, 24, 6'6" / 225 lbs

Wiggins is the No. 2 prospect for the Cubs and pitched for the Razorbacks in 2021 and 2022. He didn’t have much success at the college level before missing his junior year with Tommy John surgery, but the physical attributes and stuff were there, leading to the Cubs taking him in the second round. He went from High-A to Triple-A last season. Not on the 40-man yet, Wiggins may be one of the first pitchers called up to Wrigleyville this year.

Chicago White Sox: Braden Montgomery, Texas A&M Baseball

Braden Montgomery, OF, 22, 6'2" / 220 lbs

One of the stars of the 2024 college baseball season who had a strong College Baseball Series showing, Montgomery might have been drafted even higher than his No. 12 slot in the draft had he not suffered a brutal injury in the regional for Texas A&M. The injury didn’t slow him down, and he finished the season in Double-A and had a strong fall season. It shouldn’t surprise anyone if he’s playing for the White Sox before June.

Cincinnati Reds: Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, Wake Forest Baseball

Rhett Lowder, RHP, 24, 6'2" / 200 lbs

Chase Burns, RHP, 23, 6'3" / 210 lbs

It’s a tie here for the No. 7 pick in the 2023 draft and the No. 2 pick in the 2024. Lowder breezed through the Reds system and debuted at the end of the 2024 season. He missed all of last season with various injuries, but had a strong spring training. Burns was called up in June, less than a year after the Reds made him the No. 2 pick in the draft. Lowder is still considered a prospect, but Burns isn’t. They missed each other at Winston-Salem by a year, as Lowder was one of the best pitchers in college baseball and went toe-to-toe with Paul Skenes in the College World Series. Burns transferred to Wake Forest that offseason and dominated the ACC.

Cleveland Guardians: Travis Bazzana, Oregon State Baseball

Travis Bazzana, 2B, 23, 5'11" / 199 lbs

The No. 1 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Bazzana has not taken off like some of his other top-five picks, but the Australian from Oregon State reached Triple-A last season and he’s coming off a huge spring training. He could be up for the Guardians sooner rather than later at this point.

Colorado Rockies: Charlie Condon, Georgia Baseball

Charlie Condon, 1B/OF, 22, 6'5" / 216 lbs

Condon spent most of the 2024 college baseball season as the No. 1 prospect in the draft and bashed the baseball all over the SEC that year. After underwhelming in High-A after being drafted, he hit .296 in rookie ball and .312 in High-A again before playing in 55 games at Double-A. Condon had a great spring training and was pushing to make the Opening Day roster for the rebuilding Rockies. Alas, he’ll start in the minors.

Detroit Tigers: Max Anderson, Nebraska Baseball

Max Anderson, 2B/3B, 24, 5'11" / 215 lbs

The No. 5-ranked Tigers prospect was the 45th pick in 2023. He hit .414 with the Cornhuskers as a junior and dominated Double-A last season. He hit .267 in 32 games at Triple-A. There’s a bit of a logjam for Anderson now with the Tigers after No. 1 Tigers prospect Kevin McGonigle made the Opening Day roster and with Colt Keith and Gleyber Torres at third and second base.

Houston Astros: Ethan Frey, LSU Baseball

Ethan Frey, OF, 22, 6'4" / 225 lbs

Frey won two College World Series titles at LSU in 2023 and 2025, though he didn’t become a starter until last year due to some lingering shoulder issues. He is a big reason why LSU won it all with a .331/.420/.641 slash line, then continued that in Single-A, slashing .330/.434/.470. He went 95th overall and in the third round of the draft. He is the No. 3 Astros prospect.

Kansas City Royals: Drew Beam, Tennessee Baseball

Drew Beam, RHP, 23, 6'4" / 208 lbs

Beam was a big part of the 2024 Tennessee national championship team and pitched well at the 2024 College Baseball Series. He had first-round buzz to start the season but was somewhat of a steal in the third round by the Royals with the 76th pick. He’s rated as the No. 12 prospect for a Royals system loaded with former international signings and prep players. Beam went 7-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 26 starts at High-A last season.

Los Angeles Angels: Tyler Bremner, UC Santa Barbara Baseball

Tyler Bremner, RHP, 21, 6'2" / 190 lbs

The No. 2 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, Bremner had No. 1 pick vibes for most of his college season. The right-hander deserved to go in the top five, but he also was signed under slot value. He didn’t pitch after being drafted and will make his pro debut this year.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Mike Sirota, Northeastern Baseball

Mike Sirota, OF, 22, 6'2" / 188 lbs

A draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds in the third round, 87th overall, Sirota had a big first year of pro ball, batting .316 in High-A. He came to the Dodgers in the Gavin Lux deal, and the Dodgers really wanted him. He was drafted by them in 2021 in the 16th round and now is the club’s No. 3-ranked prospect for one of the game’s top farm systems.

Miami Marlins: Aiva Arquette

Aiva Arquette, SS, 22, 6'5" / 220 lbs

An impact player for the Beavers a year ago who also played at the College Baseball Series, Arquette has elite size for a shortstop and hit .354/.461/.654 with 19 homers for OSU last year. He parlayed that into the No. 7 pick of the draft by the Miami Marlins. He played in High-A last season.

Milwaukee Brewers: Brandon Sproat, Florida Baseball

Brandon Sproat, RHP, 25, 6'3" / 205 lbs

Sproat was on the Florida Gators and was an All-SEC player. The Mets drafted him twice but decided to trade him this offseason in the Freddy Peralta deal. He made his debut for the Mets last season, starting four games and going 0-2 with a 4.79 ERA. He made the Brewers’ Opening Day roster and will likely pitch the third game of the opening series.

Minnesota Twins: Kaelen Culpepper, Kansas State Baseball

Kaelen Culpepper, SS, 23, 5'10" / 185 lbs

One of the best players to come from Kansas State, Culpepper was the 21st pick in 2024 and reached Double-A last season, where he hit .285. He and No. 1 prospect Walker Jenkins will both start the season in Triple-A, and Culpepper could be debuting fairly soon for the Twins.

New York Mets: Carson Benge & Nolan McLean, Oklahoma State Baseball

Nolan McLean, RHP, 24, 6'2" / 214 lbs

Carson Benge, OF, 23, 6'1" / 184 lbs

The No. 1 and No. 2 prospects for the Mets are both former Cowboys. McLean debuted for the Mets in 2025 and was originally a third-round pick by the Orioles in 2022. But he never signed with Baltimore because of injury concerns and was taken in the third round again a year later by the Mets. He went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA last season and enters the year still a prospect and the Mets’ ace.

Benge was a two-way player for the Cowboys when he played in the College Baseball Series in 2024 and is the No. 2-ranked prospect. He made the team after a strong spring training.

New York Yankees: Ben Hess, Alabama Baseball

Ben Hess, RHP, 23, 6'5" / 255 lbs

Showed flashes of dominance for the Crimson Tide, where despite a 5.80 ERA he struck out 35% of his batters, as the Yankees took him No. 26 overall. The No. 5-ranked Yankees prospect has been more or less great since. He had a 2.70 ERA in 36.2 innings in Double-A last season. He had a strong spring training and could be in line to debut this season.

Philadelphia Phillies: Gage Wood, Arkansas Baseball

Gage Wood, RHP, 22, 6'0" / 205 lbs

The No. 4-ranked prospect for the Phillies, Wood was one of the Razorbacks’ best pitchers last season and pitched in the College Baseball Series. He had a 19K no-hitter against Murray State in Omaha at the College World Series. He was the No. 26 pick last year. He pitched just two innings in A-ball after being drafted.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Hunter Barco, Florida Baseball

Hunter Barco, LHP, 25, 6'4" / 229 lbs

Pittsburgh has one of the best farm systems in baseball, and it’s built on prep prospects, but Barco, a lefty, is the No. 5-ranked prospect and pitched in two games last season (3 innings). Tommy John surgery in college delayed his path to the big leagues, but he had a strong 2025 season. He’s expected to be a major part of the Pirates bullpen.

San Diego Padres: Ryan Wideman, Western Kentucky Baseball

Ryan Wideman, OF, 22, 6'4" / 204 lbs

The No. 9-ranked prospect for a strong farm system in San Diego, Wideman was the No. 99 pick for the Padres. He is the first Division I player ever to have more than 35 extra-base hits and 45 steals. He has plus run grade. Wideman didn’t tear it up in A-ball in 26 games, hitting .229.

Seattle Mariners: Kade Anderson, LSU Baseball

Kade Anderson, LHP, 21, 6'2" / 179 lbs

The No. 3-ranked pick in the draft and the No. 2-ranked prospect for the Mariners, the lefty was sensational for LSU and won the Most Outstanding Player honors for the College World Series last year. He had 180 strikeouts in 119 innings. He didn’t pitch after being drafted, but some believe he’ll start the season in High-A or even Double-A.

San Francisco Giants: Gavin Kilen, Tennessee Baseball

Gavin Kilen, SS/2B, 21, 5'10" / 187 lbs

Gavin Kilen was the No. 13 pick in last year’s draft after being an All-American at second base for the Vols. He slashed .357/.441/.671 for Tennessee. He played in A-ball last season and hit .205 and starts the season as the No. 5-ranked prospect for the Giants, who hired his college coach, Tony Vitello.

St. Louis Cardinals: JJ Wetherholt, West Virginia Baseball

JJ Wetherholt, INF, 23, 5'9" / 190 lbs

Wetherholt began the 2024 season as a consensus No. 1 player in the draft after batting .449 as a sophomore at West Virginia and being the Big 12 Player of the Year. But an injury earlier in the year hampered his No. 1 pick chances, and Charlie Condon and Travis Bazzana were taken ahead of him. But almost as soon as he was drafted by the Cardinals, Wetherholt has looked the part. He hit .306 in Double-A and Triple-A last year and was actually better in Triple-A (.314). He made the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster this season.

Tampa Bay Rays: Brody Hopkins, Winthrop Baseball

Brody Hopkins, RHP, 24, 6'4" / 200 lbs

His career started at the College of Charleston before he became a standout two-way player at Winthrop. He was taken No. 187 overall by Seattle and quickly transitioned into a pitcher. He came to Tampa in the Randy Arozarena trade and finished 2025 in Double-A.

Texas Rangers: AJ Russell, Tennessee Baseball

AJ Russell, RHP, 21, 6'6" / 223 lbs

Russell had a 0.89 ERA in 2023 but pitched hurt in 2024 and returned in 2025, where he struggled. The Rangers used the No. 52 pick on him, and Russell didn’t pitch after being drafted.

Toronto Blue Jays: Trey Yesavage, East Carolina Baseball

Trey Yesavage, RHP, 22, 6'4" / 225 lbs

Yesavage looked like the best college pitcher in the game in 2024, but a scary injury — a collapsed lung — nearly ended his season in the AAC Tournament. He bounced back to dominate Wake Forest in the 2024 regionals. Since then, he’s done nothing to dampen his big-game reputation. He climbed through four levels in 2025, debuted at the end of the season, then emerged as one of the best pitchers in the playoffs. He went 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA in five starts. He starts 2026 on the injured list and still qualifies as a prospect.

Washington Nationals: Seaver King, Wake Forest

Seaver King, SS, 6'0" / 195 lbs

One of the biggest transfer portal players heading into the 2024 season, Seaver King had top-five buzz and slipped to No. 10. He dominated the Cape Cod League and hit .308/.377/.577 with 16 homers for Wake. He starts the season as the Nationals’ No. 7 prospect after reaching Double-A.

When Is The 2026 MLB Draft?

The MLB Draft begins the Sunday of MLB All-Star Week, which is being held in Philadelphia from July 11-14.

2026 MLB Draft Order

  1. Chicago White Sox
  2. Tampa Bay Rays
  3. Minnesota Twins
  4. San Francisco Giants
  5. Pittsburgh Pirates
  6. Kansas City Royals
  7. Baltimore Orioles
  8. Oakland Athletics
  9. Atlanta Braves
  10. Colorado Rockies
  11. Washington Nationals
  12. Los Angeles Angels
  13. St. Louis Cardinals
  14. Miami Marlins
  15. Arizona Diamondbacks
  16. Texas Rangers
  17. Houston Astros
  18. Cincinnati Reds
  19. Cleveland Guardians
  20. Boston Red Sox
  21. San Diego Padres
  22. Detroit Tigers
  23. Chicago Cubs
  24. Seattle Mariners
  25. Milwaukee Brewers

The Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies and Yankees are expected to receive a 10-pick penalty for  on their first picks for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the Competitive Balance Tax.

How To Watch More Of The 2026 College Baseball Season On FloCollege

College baseball in 2026 will be streamed on FloCollege and the FloSports app for select Division I preseason tournaments and for much of the Division II and Division III seasons. 

Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects 

Here's the composite rankings for the 2026 MLB Draft prospects. 

RankNamePositionAgeSchoolCommitment
1Roch CholowskySS20UCLA--
2Grady EmersonSS17Fort Worth ChristianTexas
3Justin LebronSS21Alabama--
4Jackson FloraRHP20UC Santa Barbara--
5Drew BurressOF21Georgia Tech--
6Cameron FlukeyRHP20Coastal Carolina--
7Derek CurielOF20LSU--
8Tyler SpanglerSS18De La SalleStanford
9Jacob LombardSS18Gulliver PrepMiami
10Liam PetersonRHP20Florida--
11Eric BeckerSS20Virginia--
12Sawyer StrosniderOF20TCU--
13AJ GraciaOF21Virginia--
14Chris HacopianSS21Texas A&M--
15Tyler BellSS20Kentucky--
16Vahn LackeyC20Georgia Tech--
17Chris Rembert2B20Auburn--
18Blake BowenOF17JSerraOregon State
19Caden SorrellOF20Texas A&M--
20Eric BoothOF17Oak GoveVanderbilt
21Rocco ManiscalcoSS16OxfordMississippi State
22Tegan KuhnsRHP20Tennessee--
23Zion RoseOF20Louisville--
24Gavin Grahovac3B20Texas A&M--
25Kaden WaechterRHP18JesuitFlorida State
26Gio RojasLHP18Stoneman DouglasMiami
27Carson BolemonLHP18Southside ChristianWake Forest
28Chase BrunsonOF20TCU--
29Ace Reese3B20Mississippi State--
30Logan SchmidtLHP17GaneshaLSU
31Coleman BorthwickRHP17South WaltonAuburn
32Jensen HirschkornRHP17KingsburgLSU
33Ryder HelfrickC20Arkansas--
34Gabe GaeckleRHP21Arkansas--
35Trevor CondonOF17EtowahTennessee
36Will BrickC17Christian BrothersMississippi State
37Joseph ContrerasRHP17Blessed TrinityVanderbilt
38Kevin Roberts Jr.OF17Jackson PrepFlorida
39Brady HarrisOF17Trinity ChristianFlorida
40James ClarkSS18St. John BoscoPrinceton
41Joey VolchkoRHP20Georgia--
42Maddox MolonySS21Oregon--
43Cole KoeningerSS/RHP18KellerTennessee
44Cade TownsendRHP20Mississippi--
45Jared GrindlingerLHP18Huntington Beach (Calif.)Uncommitted
46Cole CarlonLHP20Arizona State--
47Ryan LynchRHP20North Carolina--
48Denton LordRHP18South Walton--
49Caden BogenpohlOF20Missouri State--
50Tommy LaPourRHP20TCU--
51Keon JohnsonSS17First Presbyterian--
52Aiden RuizSS18The Stony BrookVanderbilt
53Jarren Advincula2B20Georgia Tech--
54Connor ComeauSS/3B17AndersonTexas A&M
55Ethan KleinschmitLHP20Oregon State--
56Aiden RobbinsOF21Texas--
57Archer HornSS17St. IgnatiusStanford
58Savion SimsRHP18Prestonwood ChristianOklahoma
59Carson TinneyC20Texas--
60Landon Thome2B/3B18Nazareth AcademyFlorida State
61Matt PonatoskiSS17MoellerKentucky
62Logan HughesOF20Texas Tech--
63Beau Peterson3B18Mill ValleyTexas
64Ethan NorbyLHP20East Carolina--
65Jason DeCaroRHP19North Carolina--
66Brady Ballinger1B20Kansas--
67Lucas MooreOF20Louisville--
68Trey RangelRHP18The ColonyTexas
69Sean DuncanLHP17Terry Fox (Canada)Vanderbilt
70Blake BryantRHP18Citizen ChristianClemson
71Cameron JohnsonLHP21Oklahoma--
72Jake BrownOF20LSU--
73Henry FordOF21Tennessee--
74Shane SdaoLHP22Texas A&M--
75Eli HerstRHP17Seattle AcademyVanderbilt
76Ethan BassSS18Glenbrook NorthWake Forest
77Owen KramkowskiRHP20Arizona--
78Will YowSS18St. Anne's-BelfieldVirginia
79Trey BeardLHP21Florida Atlantic--
80Cooper SidesRHP18Orange LutheranLSU
81Mason EdwardsLHP21Southern California --
82Gavin Gallaher3B21North Carolina--
83Malachi WashingtonOF17ParkviewLSU
84Daniel Cuvet3B20Miami--
85Hunter DietzLHP20Arkansas--
86Kade Lewis1B20Wake Forest--
87Gary MorseRHP18Orange LutheranTennessee
88Noah WilsonOF18McCallieVanderbilt
89Dominic Santarelli1B18St. Joseph--
90Aidan KnaakRHP21Clemson--
91James JorgensenSS/RHP18Jesuit College Prep SchoolTexas
92Bo Lowrance3B
Christ Church Episcopal HSVirginia
93Blake MorningstarRHP20Wake Forest--
94Jorvorskie Lane Jr.OF17GrapevineArkansas
95Kaiden McCarthyRHP18Vermont Academy, ChesterTennessee
96Ben BlairRHP21Liberty--
97Wilson AndersenRHP17JesuitMississippi State
98Jason AmalbertSS19DePaul Catholic HSOklahoma
99Ryan MarohnLHP21NC State--
100Ricky OjedaLHP20UC Irvine--

Missed The 2025 Shriners Children’s College Showdown?

Revisit everything that happened during the 2025 Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, from Feb. 14-16. It all streamed live on FloCollege and the FloSports app. 

Replays, highlights and breaking news from the event are available on both platforms. 

Curious About What Happened During The 2025 Amegy Bank College Baseball Series?

Revisit everything that happened during the two weekends of play at the 2025 Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, from Feb. 21-March 2. It all streamed live on FloCollege and the FloSports app. 

Replays, highlights and breaking news from the event are available on both platforms. 

FloBaseball Archived Footage

Video footage from FloBaseball events will be archived and stored in a video library for FloBaseball subscribers.

Join The College Baseball Conversation On Social