With the 2026 MLB Draft coming up on Saturday, the Cape Cod Baseball League continues to play a pivotal role in the development of the next generation of major league superstars. Every summer, the Cape League’s finest are drafted by MLB teams and begin their journey to the majors. Any attendee paying close attention to the crowds at a Cape League game will notice the radar guns, clipboards and branding from each of MLB’s franchises as scouts search for their next draft prospect.

In 2025, more than 400 CCBL alumni played in MLB, including over 75 rookies. That brings the all-time total to more than 1,600 major leaguers who spent their summers playing in the CCBL.

With 2025 MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh, 2025 AL MVP Aaron Judge and 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, among others, scouts are often the first to see how the Cape League shapes the MLB Draft. Here are some of the top Cape League alumni to watch heading into the 2026 MLB Draft.

2. Roch Cholowsky, SS, Orleans ‘24 (UCLA)

Roch Cholowsky had one of the best two-way seasons across the country in the spring. Cholowsky hit .320 with 21 home runs while starting all 60 games at shortstop for UCLA. Cholowsky spent the 2024 season with Orleans. The 6’2” right-handed hitter routinely barrels balls and rarely chases pitches with his advanced plate approach. Cholowsky hit 52 total home runs with UCLA and has a true 60-grade hit tool. Cholowsky has a real chance at going No. 1 after being a Golden Spikes finalist this spring.

3. Vahn Lackey, C, Hyannis ‘25 (Georgia Tech)

Anyone tuned into college baseball or the MLB Draft buildup knows the name Vahn Lackey. Lackey has been alternating weekly between No. 1-3 in the draft with standout prospects Roch Cholowsky and Grady Emerson. Lackey spent time with the Harbor Hawks last summer. Lackey hit .397 with twenty home runs and 15 swiped bags and flashed potential as a true five-tool catcher with a plus hit tool. Lackey is extremely athletic on the bases and behind the plate and has improved mightily with his bat-to-ball skills. There is a chance the Cape League product goes first overall but the catcher has done more than enough to cement himself as the best catcher in the class.

7. Drew Burress, OF, Y-D ‘24 (Georgia Tech)

Drew Burress is another pivotal member of the Georgia Tech lineup. Burress passed Jason Varitek and broke the school record with 60 home runs and has a premium hit tool at just 5’9”. Burress played for Scott Pickler’s Y-D Red Sox in 2024. He has averaged a .357 average at Georgia Tech with a compact and quick swing. Burress is a capable athlete and a talented defender in the outfield showing of his strength and baseball IQ. He could land anywhere in the outfield, but Burress looks to be the first college outfielder selected after a record-breaking spring.

9. Justin Lebron, SS, Bourne ’25 (Alabama)

Lebron has made a name for himself with Alabama the last three seasons. Lebron has started his last three seasons in Tuscaloosa, hitting for a combined .309 average with 46 total home runs. Lebron is an exceptional athlete with the potential to become an above-average defender. Lebron was the king of the basepath this spring with Alabama, with 42 stolen bases being caught just once. He has good pop for his frame, and at 6’2” he has the chance to add to his power and become a high-end prospect at shortstop.

10. Tyler Bell, SS, Harwich ‘25 (Kentucky)

Bell is a talented switch-hitter who has tore up at the plate for Kentucky. He played with Harwich last summer hitting for a .316 average. He improved to a .343 average with at school this spring and has the bat-speed and swing to hit for such a high average while maintaining power. Bell drives balls with a lower launch angle and has all the ingredients to become a major league shortstop. Bell has quick hands and a strong arm allowing him to play anywhere on the diamond.

11. Ryder Helfrick, C, Brewster ‘24 (Arkansas)

Helfrick comes in as one of the best catchers in the class, and a very advanced game manager behind the plate. Helfrick batted in 37 runs for Brewster in 2024, when he tied for the most homers on the Cape with 11 and has improved his power every year, hitting 18 for the Razorbacks this spring. Helfrick’s best abilities are his defense and baseball IQ, but is developing as a consistent power bat. Helfrick pulls the majority of his homers and barrels most fastballs in the zone. Helfrick can raise his average with better looks against offspeed but his defensive traits leave him a valuable prospect.

14. Chris Hacopian, 2B, Y-D ’25 (Texas A&M)

Many analysts claim Hacopian has one of the best raw-hit tools in the draft. Hacopian played for Y-D last summer as a stalwart in the Y-D infield. In his first season at Texas A&M, Hacopian hit .319 with 41 RBIs. Hacopian has an advanced hit tool that exceeded his raw production at the plate. He has few holes in his swing and can cover most of the plate. He can hit high velocity and breaking balls well. If Hacopian can continue to grow his power and infield defense, his IQ in the box will make any major league team happy.

17. Hunter Dietz, LHP, Hyannis ‘25 (Arkansas)

Dietz has dealt with elbow injuries that have limited his action on the mound, but a 3.57 through 16 starts this spring finally raised his draft stock. Some have Dietz as the best left-handed pitcher in the draft with a fastball that reaches 98 and an impressive arsenal with a slider, curve, and change-up mix. His 6’6” frame and three-quarter arm slot give him a presence on the mound while he gets more experience as a pitcher.

18. Ace Reese 3B, Chatham ‘24 (Mississippi State)

Reese possesses some of the best hitting numbers in the draft with 24 home runs and a .336 average this spring. Reese’s bat was also red-hot on the Cape with a .303 average and two home runs for the Anglers. Reese’s claim to fame is his raw power. His 6’4”, 220-pound frame allows for supernatural pop, especially when you factor in his lightning-quick left-handed swing. He can homer to any part of the field against lefties and righties. Reese is aggressive at the plate but with the potential for over 25 knocks, it only benefits his results.

19. AJ Gracia, OF, Cotuit ’24 (Virginia)

Throughout his collegiate career, Gracia has mashed the cover off the ball. Gracia has hit 43 home runs through three seasons at Duke and Virginia with a .307 average. With Cotuit in 2024, Gracia managed an .888 OPS. He has raw power with a very advanced approach at the plate. His 6’3” build will allow him to grow into his frame and further develop his power. Gracia drives balls to all parts of the field while limiting strikeouts. His career 18.7% walk-rate with very quick hands at the plate allows him to take advantage of most at-bats. Gracia projects as a corner outfielder, but his results at the plate will give the former Kettleer a good push to his professional career.

25. Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Brewster ’25 (Tennessee)

Tegan Kuhns was one of the most captivating arms on the Cape last summer. posting a 1.35 ERA with 20 strikeouts for Brewster. Kuhns feels larger than his 6’3” height on the mound with an athletic delivery and a fastball hovering around 95 mph. He has a sinking curveball and gives hitters real problems with just these two pitches. Kuhns threw for a 3.56 ERA with the Volunteers this spring, including a complete game and a shutout. He makes massive strides every few months and has true potential as a front-end starter as he continues to develop his pitch arsenal.

26. Cole Carlon, LHP, Cotuit ‘25 (Arizona State)

Carlon has produced hefty results on the mound after putting up 178 innings with Arizona State through three seasons. Carlon was dominant for Coutuit last summer, posting a 1.42 ERA. Carlon started 16 games this spring now as a full-time starter. He is a top arm in the draft with an overpowering pitch mix. His fastball runs up to 98 and he uses his slider just as much, which misses even more bats. Carlon can slot into a role as a reliever if needed, but teams in the first round will take a shot for a pitcher with high-end potential.

28. Daniel Jackson, C, Chatham ‘24-‘25 (Georgia)

Daniel Jackson won the Golden Spikes Award for a reason after having the best spring season in the country. He hit 32 home runs with astonishing power and a .379 average. His 1.276 OPS kept him in the headlines as Jackson split time in the outfield and as a backstop. Jackson spent two summers with Chatham and played 38 games last summer for the Anglers. Jackson possesses extreme power from the right side of the plate and could slot in multiple positions in the majors. Jackson mashes collegiate pitching and his power can carry him anywhere. Jackson is a blue-chip prospect with 60-grade raw power.

29. Aiden Robbins, OF, Harwich ‘24-’25 (Texas)

Aiden Robbins has produced mind-boggling numbers at Texas this spring. His 24 home runs and .333 average are results of his highly-aggressive results at the plate. Through two summers with Harwich, Robbins hit .307 with a .936 last summer with significant pop at the plate. Robbins had a high strikeout rate on the Cape but if the results continue, there is no reason to change the approach. Robbins had a lot of power for his frame and his quick right-handed swing allows for the pop to carry balls into the outfield. His aggressive, unique swing accounts for his high strikeout rate and Robbins will need to carry his results over to the major leagues.

The rest of the top 100 is as follows:

30. Zion Rose, OF, Falmouth ‘24 (Louisville)

31. Logan Reddemann, RHP, Orleans ‘25 (UCLA)

41. Eric Becker, SS, Harwich ‘25 (Virginia)

42. Logan Hughes, OF, Bourne ‘25 (Texas Tech)

47. Chris Rembert, 2B, Hyannis ‘25 (Auburn)

48. Jarren Advincula, 2B, Cotuit ‘24-’25 (Georgia Tech)

50. Chase Brunson, OF, Y-D ‘25 (Texas Christian)

52. Andrew Williamson, OF, Hyannis ‘25 (Central Florida)

59. Jake Brown, OF, Y-D ‘24-’25 (Louisiana State)

60. Ty Head, OF, Brewster ‘25 (North Carolina State)

69. Joey Volchko, RHP, Cotuit ‘24-’25 (Georgia)

71. Carson Bailey, LHP, Brewster ‘25 (McLennan CC)

73. Will Gasparino, OF, Chatham ‘24 Y-D ’25 (UCLA)

74. Carson Tinney, C, Brewster ‘25 (Texas)

75. Jack Natili, C, Cotuit ‘25 (Cincinnati)

76. Jake Schaffner, SS, Hyannis ‘25 (North Carolina)

79. Jacob Dudan, RHP, Brewster ‘25 (North Carolina State)

80. Dee Kennedy, SS, Harwich ‘25 (Kansas State)

82. Peyton Bands, OF, Bourne ‘25 (Rutgers)

84. Myles Bailey, 1B, Hyannis ‘25 (Florida State)

85. Kollin Ritchie, OF, Falmouth ‘24 Wareham ‘25 (Oklahoma State)

92. Tre Broussard, OF, Harwich ‘25 (Houston)

94. Caden Bogenpohl, OF, Cotuit ‘25 (Missouri State)