Teams across the MLB are still preparing for the 2026 MLB Draft, but a recent decision by high school phenom Striker Pence has just changed how they’ll approach the 2027 MLB Draft. Pence, who is the nephew of longtime MLB outfielder Hunter Pence, was considered the top prospect in the 2028 draft class, but on Thursday, he decided to take his 100+ MPH fastball and reclassify to the 2027 draft class.
Decision to Reclassify Just Significantly Altered the 2027 MLB Draft
The 2027 draft class has some premier college arms, but as far as prep prospects go, Pence instantly alters the class and will certainly have several franchises hoping the draft lottery falls in their favor.
Striker Pence: A Phenom Even Closer to Pro Ball
Being able to throw 100 MPH doesn’t turn heads the way it used to. However, when it’s a 16-year-old doing it, that warrants some extra attention. When Pence took the mound in the 2025 Area Codes games, he gave scouts a show by rifling seven straight fastballs that read 100 MPH on their radar guns. Not long after that dominant performance, Baseball America dubbed him the number one player in the 2028 class.
Standing at 6’6″, Pence is already an imposing figure on the mound, and with his age, there is plenty of time for him to continue to add strength. Aside from his fastball that has been seen touching 101 MPH, the athletic right-hander also mixes in a slider and a splitter, both of which come in firm. There is no denying that Pence’s stuff is on the elite end with an 80-grade fastball, according to some scouts, but if there is one knock on the prep baseball phenom, it’s his command.
Before reclassifying, Pence would have had two years to hone his command and prove to scouts that there was reason to believe his game was trending in the right direction. Now, after reclassifying to a draft class that is appropriate for his age, the right-hander has less time to sharpen his fastball command. A prep arm with command issues certainly won’t turn teams away, though, especially not one who comes from a lineage of high-end baseball players.
Pence has been a standout talent at every level he’s been in, and with the current state of baseball, he has the potential to provide the exact thing teams are looking for, which is a flame-throwing frontline starter. With players like Jacob Misiorowski thriving in the big leagues, Pence’s extension, average fastball velocity, and overall potential will have MLB franchises dreaming big about his long-term projection.
The Current State of the 2027 MLB Draft Class
With the decision to reclassify, Pence is joining a class that is rich in pitching talent. In terms of prep arms, Pence will spend the next year jockeying for position in an elite tier of arms that includes Connor Salerno, Samir Mohammed, and Chubb Jones. Of the three, Salerno is the only lefty in the group, but the entire trio is either 6’4″ or 6’5″, so they rival Pence in having ideal frames that franchises will see as projectable.
The true strength of the ’27 class, though, is the college arms. Oregon State ace Dax Whitney had his sophomore season cut short due to Tommy John, but he’s certainly shown enough in 1.5 years of college baseball to prove he’s a likely Top-3 to Top-5 pick (224 K’s in 139.2 innings). Outside of Whitney, the class also contains high-level arms such as Chris Levonas, Tomas Valincius, Casan Evans, William Schmidt, Aidan King, and Dylan Volantis, to name a few.
While there is still an entire draft to be had before any of these players hear their names called, it is safe to say the ’27 draft will see a big run of pitchers come off the board in the first round. Where Pence truly falls in this class will only be determined over time, but with the shockwaves his reclassification announcement caused, his draft buzz could be stronger than any prep arm we’ve seen in the past few drafts.
Main Photo Credits: Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
