The Cape Cod Baseball League once again reaffirmed its reputation as the premier showcase for the nation's top college talent. During Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft, 16 former Cape Leaguers were selected during the first round and Competitive Balance Round A. The Cape League was represented in the very first pick of the draft.
The draft began with the Chicago White Sox selecting former Orleans Firebirds shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 overall pick. Cholowsky spent the summer of 2024 in Orleans before starring at UCLA and becoming the seventh Cape League alum selected No. 1 overall in the last nine drafts.
Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey became the next former Cape Leaguer selected when the Minnesota Twins took the former Hyannis Harbor Hawk with the No. 3 overall pick. Lackey put together a historic season behind the plate for the Yellow Jackets, establishing himself as one of the top college bats in the country.
The Kansas City Royals selected former Falmouth Commodores outfielder Zion Rose with the No. 6 overall pick after his standout career at Louisville.
At No. 8 overall, the Athletics selected former Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox outfielder Drew Burress following another record-breaking season at Georgia Tech.
The Atlanta Braves selected former Cotuit Kettleers outfielder AJ Gracia with the No. 9 overall pick after a strong season at Virginia.
One pick later, the Colorado Rockies drafted former Harwich Mariners shortstop Tyler Bell with the No. 10 overall selection following his sophomore season at Kentucky.
The Washington Nationals selected former Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox infielder Chris Hacopian with the No. 11 overall pick after an outstanding season at Texas A&M. Hacopian established himself as one of the premier college hitters in the country.
At No. 15 overall, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected former Brewster Whitecaps catcher Ryder Helfrick following his junior season at Arkansas.
The Houston Astros selected former Bourne Braves outfielder Logan Hughes with the No. 17 overall pick. Hughes emerged as one of the top offensive players in the draft after a standout season at Texas Tech.
The Cincinnati Reds selected former Bourne Braves shortstop Justin Lebron with the No. 18 overall pick. Lebron spent the summer of 2025 with Bourne before becoming one of the top players in the country at Alabama.
At No. 20 overall, the Boston Red Sox selected former Hyannis Harbor Hawks shortstop Jake Schaffner after a strong spring at North Carolina.
The Seattle Mariners selected former Chatham Anglers third baseman Ace Reese with the No. 24 overall pick after his standout season at Mississippi State, where he emerged as one of the nation’s top power hitters.
Competitive Balance Round A continued the Cape League presence, adding more former Cape standouts to the next wave of professional baseball.
The St. Louis Cardinals selected former Brewster Whitecaps right-hander Tegan Kuhns with the No. 32 overall Competitive Balance pick after his dominant summer on the Cape and standout season at Tennessee, where he established himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the country.
The New York Yankees selected former Hyannis Harbor Hawks left-hander Hunter Dietz with the No. 35 overall Competitive Balance pick after his standout season at Arkansas.
The Colorado Rockies selected former Chatham Anglers catcher Daniel Jackson with the No. 37 overall Competitive Balance pick after his historic season at Georgia, where he became the first catcher to win the Golden Spikes Award and established himself as one of the top players in college baseball.
The Toronto Blue Jays selected former Cotuit Kettleers left-hander Cole Carlon with the No. 39 overall pick after his standout season at Arizona State, where he emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in the country.
With just the first day down, more current and former Cape Leaguers are expected to begin their professional careers, adding to the league’s growing list of alumni who have used the Cape as a stepping stone to Major League Baseball. Once again, the Cape Cod Baseball League proved why it remains one of baseball’s premier proving grounds for future stars.
