It’s been one week since baseball’s future stars heard their names called. Despite several head-scratching selections, some teams struck gold and made the best picks of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft.
Round One, Pick 14: Miami Marlins Select Infielder Jacob Lombard
Despite being a top-five prospect on nearly every draft board, Lombard fell to pick 14, where the Miami Marlins happily selected him.
Lombard comes from a baseball family. His father, George Lombard Sr., played in the majors for six seasons and now serves as a bench coach for the Detroit Tigers. His brother, George Lombard Jr., is the top-ranked prospect in the New York Yankees’ farm system and could be called up as soon as this year.
This might seem like a tough act to follow, but Lombard might emerge as the best of the three. With 60 grade power and 65 run, he has legitimate 30-30 potential. Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards have emerged as baseball’s best middle infield pairing in South Florida, but Lombard looks set to join them down the road.
Round One, Pick 16: Texas Rangers Select Pitcher Gio Rojas
High school pitchers are tough to evaluate. Gio Rojas falling to pick 16 is a steal, especially considering many experts viewed him as a top-10 pick.
In 2026, Rojas allowed six earned runs in 72 2/3 innings, striking out 124 batters for Florida’s Stoneman Douglas High School. Rojas also has experience pitching for Team USA’s 18U team, where he threw 11 shutout innings.
With a fastball that touches 98 mph, as well as a refined slider and changeup, Rojas looks primed for stardom.
Round One, Pick 35: New York Yankees Select Pitcher Hunter Dietz
Thought to be a top-20 selection, Hunter Dietz fell all the way to pick 35. He sustained consecutive elbow injuries in 2023 and 2024. However, despite those injury concerns, Dietz has all the makings of a future ace, especially at 6-foot-6.
In 2026, Dietz cemented himself as the Razorbacks’ Friday starter. He owned a 7–4 record and a 3.57 ERA in a competitive SEC. He also displayed incredible command, striking out 131 batters while walking 31 in 85 2/3 innings. With three runs or fewer allowed in 13 of his 16 starts, he was the anchor of consistency for a Razorbacks team that won 40 or more games for the ninth consecutive season.
Dietz was named First Team All-SEC, as well as a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy. As long as his health remains favorable, Dietz has the talent to be the next great Razorback pitcher.
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