Some MLB fans may already be giving up on their favorite team’s season. Well, the good news for those fans is that in July, when the draft rolls around, they can renew their sense of optimism, dreaming about how stacked their farm system is. In the fourth and final edition of our series covering the top draft prospects in each NCAA regional, we’ll get into the Lincoln, Starkville, Lawrence, and Morgantown regionals.
The Top Draft Prospects in Each NCAA Regional
Lincoln Regional
Nebraska – College coaches whose teams are playing in regionals always have the tough decision to make on when to throw their ace. Whenever the Cornhuskers’ skipper decides to roll out his ace, he’ll be handing the ball to Carson Jasa, who rolls into the NCAA Tournament with a 9-2 record, a 3.85 FIP, and 109 strikeouts that typically stem from his strong slider. When Jasa isn’t on the hill, the always rowdy Cornhusker fans will at some point see the other 2026 draft prospect on the staff in Ty Horn. The right-hander has the lowest walk rate amongst the starters, to go along with his 78 punchouts.
Ole Miss – In terms of depth, the Rebels have the most ideal pitching staff for this regional. It all starts with projected first-round pick, Cade Townsend, whose 81 strikeouts in just 59 innings give him the best K/9 among Rebels starters. Redshirt junior Hunter Elliott entered the season as the team’s ace, but he’s seen his draft stock plummet, pitching to a 5.17 FIP but still managing a 12.17 K/9.
Taylor Rabe and Wil Libbert could also get a start this weekend, depending on how everything shakes down, and once any of these starters are pulled from the game, Ole Miss could turn to draft-eligible arms, Landon Koenig, JP Robertson, or Hudson Calhoun. In the field, Tristan Bissetta is a name to watch, as he’s slugged 20 home runs.
Arizona State – If Ole Miss decides to start their projected first-rounder in game one, the Sun Devils can counter with their own projected first-rounder in lefty Cole Carlon. The southpaw whose fastball lives in the upper 90s and consistently touches 100 MPH has rung up 124 hitters in 77 innings. Behind Carlon in the field will be second baseman Nu’u Contrades, who is hitting .373 on the campaign with 17 home runs, a 1.173 OPS, and 150 wRC+.
Starkville Regional
Mississippi State – Over the next few seasons, scouts will spend a lot of time in Starkville. While most of the Bulldogs draft prospects won’t be eligible until 2027 or 2028, they do have a projected 2026 first-rounder in Ace Reese starting at third base. Using a smooth lefty swing that generates a lot of easy power, Reese leads the Bulldogs with 20 home runs, 69 RBIs, and a 139. wRC+. The Bulldogs’ closer, Ben Davis, should also come off the board later in the draft as an ideal money-saving pick, as he’s struck out 111 hitters over the past two seasons.
Cincinnati – One of the more underrated catching prospects in the ’26 class belongs to the Bearcats in Jack Natili. While there are some swing and miss concerns, Natili has 20 home runs on the year, along with a .309 ISO and .452 wOBA. Not long after Natili is off the board, his battery mate and Bearcats ace, Nathan Taylor, should also hear his name called. Across 15 starts and 84 innings, Taylor has 112 strikeouts with an impressive 6.4% walk rate.
Louisiana – Every draft class has a pitcher or two who go after the first few rounds and then fly through the minors, making teams question how they missed out on him. This cycle, Cody Brasch could be one of those arms. The burly right-hander has registered 70.2 innings for the Ragin’ Cajuns and is pitching to a 2.04 ERA with 77 strikeouts and just five home runs allowed.
Lawrence Regional
Kansas – The Jayhawks are in the midst of one of the best seasons in program history, and this is in large part thanks to a trio of draft-eligible players. On the mound, Dominic Voegele has led the Jayhawks staff for the past few seasons, and in 85.1 innings, he’s managed a K/9 of 11.39 by using an elite breaking ball based on Stuff+. Shortstop Tyson LeBlanc is likely to be the first Jayhawk off the board in July as he leads the team in home runs (21), OPS (1.099), and wRC+ (134). After Voegele and LeBlanc get selected, it should be first baseman Brady Ballinger‘s turn, as he recorded 57 extra-base hits over the past two seasons.
Arkansas – As per usual, the Razorbacks roster is filled with future pros. Ryder Helfrick could be the second catcher off the board in the first round, following a regular season and SEC Tournament that saw him launch 16 home runs and manage a 119 wRC+. The only Razorback to produce a higher wRC+ this season is fellow draft prospect and second baseman Camden Kozeal (132 wRC+).
Other members of the Arkansas lineup who will be picked include Kuhio Aloy (.838 OPS) and Maika Niu (15 SBs). Left-handed pitcher Hunter Dietz will be joining Helfrick as a first-round pick, given his elite strikeout stuff, while Gabe Gaeckle, Carson Wiggins, and Ethan McElvain will be the next four Hogs’ arms to join the pros.
Missouri State – As far as mid-major programs go, the Bears have consistently been one of the better programs as of late. Entering 2026, outfielder Caden Bogenpohl was landing early in the second round in some mock drafts, and while his ranking has fallen a bit across multiple publications, he’s still a Top-100 prospect. Standing at 6’6″ with a smooth left-handed swing, Bogenpohl hit 33 home runs during his first two seasons, and despite only having six this season, he still enters Lawrence with a .405 wOBA and 111 wRC+.
Morgantown Regional
West Virginia – A regional in Morgantown should bring an electric atmosphere, and while the Mountaineers two best players are Top-50 prospects in the 2027 class, they still have two arms to keep an eye on for the 2026 MLB Draft. Southpaw Maxx Yehl has been the Mountaineers’ ace this season, pitching to the tune of a 2.16 ERA and 3.86 FIP in 79.1 innings. Dawson Montesa struggled with command this season, but his 11.03 K/9 should help him hear his name called as well.
Wake Forest – Much like WVU, the true high-potential early-round picks on the Wake Forest roster will be draft eligible next year. However, the Demon Deacons still have at least six players who will become pros in July. It all starts with the team’s leading hitter, Kade Lewis, who, aside from his .362 average, hit 13 home runs and boasts a wRC+ of 129. After Lewis, the three other Demon Deacon hitters who are Top-400 prospects are Luke Costello (141 wRC+), Dalton Wentz (17 HRs), and Javar Williams (31 SBs).
Duncan Marsten is the first Wake Forest pitcher to keep an eye on for ’26, as he held hitters to a .205 average this season. Blake Morningstar is the last name of note, as he is working back from an injury and what has been a disaster of a draft year.
Kentucky – If you’re an MLB fan who thinks your team should be targeting a shortstop or third baseman early in the draft, then make it a point to watch Tyler Bell. Despite dealing with an early-season injury, Bell has his wRC+ up to 154 and certainly boasts projectable power. First baseman Hudson Brown is another Wildcat that MLB franchises have been taking note of this season, as he’s managed a .525 SLG and .983 OPS. Pitching-wise, Jaxon Jelkin is an intriguing right-hander who sits in the mid-90s and can change the shape of pitches well from a 3/4 arm slot.
Main Photo Credits: Ken Ruinard / USA Today Co / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
