2026 MLB Draft

[phins]

Fastball/splitter senior sign reliever in the 10th round. Nick Bonn, a guy I have seen from Dallas Baptist.

Small guy, optimal outcome is probably a middle reliever. Will be an underslot guy.

[phins]

Is it weird that from what I’ve been reading; Rocco seems to be the only guy that may be over slot; and shouldn’t be by much. In fact Condon I’ve been reading should come under slot and his savings alone should cover Rocco….so why so many meh picks today? We should have plenty of money to take a swing before the 10th starts and we’re capped?

Assuming they're making puzzle pieces fit, but also that they like the relievers they're taking more than consensus, which is not unusual for model-driven teams.

All of the arms they've taken have interesting data. Everyone but the catcher are players I've liked or have intriguing data. Not a fan of that one pick, but that's a pretty small nitpick.

[phins]

I'd expect Condon will be $4M to sign, Maniscalco to be $3M. Kuhns to be over slot.

Let's see what they do in the 11th, maybe they take one more swing.

[phins]

Bonn is a legit prospect:

Nick Bonn took a long journey from Pepperdine to Dallas Baptist to become the Cal Poly closer in 2026 and has an ultra-slim but athletic frame at 6'1/160. He uses his flexibility to his advantage with an ultra-low stride to the plate and a lower-3/4 arm angle, releasing over a foot below MLB average, and creating a flat approach.

Bonn is famous for touching 100 during the season, but sits in the mid-90s with decent rise and run (18,14), but could be susceptible to poorer FB shape given the carry reduction. He’ll go to the FB often, but pairs it with a lower-80s Sweeper that sweeps nearly 25" off the FB, and a mid-80s Splitter, which creates great depth and is excellent in killing spin. Bonn tried starting for size in 2024 with Pepperdine, but produced half as many strikeouts as he has now, with, I estimate, a much less powerful package.

[cardsfantx]

Is it weird that from what I’ve been reading; Rocco seems to be the only guy that may be over slot; and shouldn’t be by much. In fact Condon I’ve been reading should come under slot and his savings alone should cover Rocco….so why so many meh picks today? We should have plenty of money to take a swing before the 10th starts and we’re capped?

Assuming they're making puzzle pieces fit, but also that they like the relievers they're taking more than consensus, which is not unusual for model-driven teams.

So wouldn’t that make their picks cheaper/come in under slot?

And you’re right they seem to take guys that were strictly relievers like Franklin was last year; guess they like the fastballs and figure they can teach them a couple of diff pitches and see if they can make the transition to starting?

[phins]

Is it weird that from what I’ve been reading; Rocco seems to be the only guy that may be over slot; and shouldn’t be by much. In fact Condon I’ve been reading should come under slot and his savings alone should cover Rocco….so why so many meh picks today? We should have plenty of money to take a swing before the 10th starts and we’re capped?

Assuming they're making puzzle pieces fit, but also that they like the relievers they're taking more than consensus, which is not unusual for model-driven teams.

So wouldn’t that make their picks cheaper/come in under slot?

Not if they agreed to sign them for slot. Cal Randall and Dee Kennedy definitely won't be under slot.

I wouldn't be shocked if Kennedy was a seven figure guy.

Randall will most likely be the Tanner Franklin path, yes. Harrison is a starter all day. Bonn, they might try adding some strength and starting him.

[phins]

No big swing in the 11th. Took a small school pitcher who has been hurt his entire career and into high school.

Throws hard, but should just be a $150K arm. That's been their M.O. lately is to use the post-10 rounds as straightforward picks (around max to sign). One of the notable few was Brandt Thompson, who signed for $10K and has made it all the way to AAA (probably where he tops).

Cards drafted Brendan Lawson late as a backup plan, but goodness you wish they'd have given him the $3M he wanted, in hindsight, of course.

[phins]

Watched Drew Horn live vs. Missouri State.

He's a nice arm. High spin breakers, athletic, solid fastball characteristics as you'd expect with a flat VAA.

Command is a serious problem and TD lets his breakers flatten out and then they get flattened.

Reliever look to me. Kind of another vanilla pick.

Day two has been vegetables to yesterday steak.

[cardsfantx]

With our last pick; 20th round we pick Kollin Ritchie OF from OK state

MLB had him ranked #84?

Know anything about him Phins/how we got him in the 20th round? Don’t see anything about an injury?

Hit 326/462/804 for an OPS of 1.266 with 31 HRs?

A lot of SOs, but for a 20th round pick that was ranked in the top 100?

[Felix The Cat]

FG had Kollin Ritchie as an Honorable Mention

Ritchie is a patient hitter who blasted 31 bombs this year. His swing is long, though, and he expands more with two strikes, which raises questions about how discerning his approach really is. He’s faster than he looks and has a shot to stay in center. If the power translates, he projects as a fourth outfielder.