Way-too-early 2026 Mock Draft
The CBA kicked off Opening Weekend last Friday, and two games are already in the books. This year looks to be one of the most competitive seasons the CBA has seen since its inception as the three tiers figure themselves out. For some teams, competition will be fierce all season long. But others are already looking forward to the mid-season draft. So, let’s join them!
The following mock draft isn’t necessarily a big-board. My approach is to try to step into the shoes of the GM in question, and think about what player they would take in the draft at their spot. Some will draft for need, some will draft best player available.
This year’s draft class looks to be one of the better classes in recent memory, if not at the top, in the depth of projected major league regulars. Today we’ll look at the top of the draft, with the top 10 picks. We’ll be rolling out the rest of the first round throughout the early part of the season. Without further ado, let’s get started!
Round 1, Pick 1: Carolina selects C Allen Weber, Oregon Ducks
In a bit of a surprising move, Carolina bucks the trend of the top team taking the best player available, and selecting with a little bit of need in mind. While the crop of young starting pitching is very good at the top of this draft, half of Carolina’s top 10 prospects are starting pitchers, including last year’s top pick Chris Anderson.
Weber is no slouch in his own right. The Oregon junior has an absolute cannon behind the plate, and has shown competency with the bat. Some scouts question his plate discipline, and it’s something Carolina’s hitting coaches will need to tend to, but it’s hard to argue that the Aces need a solid catcher to handle their young pitching staff. Weber would be more than up to that task.
Round 1, Pick 2: San Diego selects SP Chad Armbruster, Virginia Cavaliers
The consensus top prospect in the draft finds a home in California. The Skylarks top prospect list is almost an inverse of Carolina in that they have been building up their group of young hitters first. Armbruster will immediately headline the Skylark’s group of prospects, and become a staple in the rotation over night.
Armbruster was a bit of a revelation as a junior for the Cavaliers. Not highly touted out of High School, he was able to find an uptick in velocity in the offseason between his sophomore and junior seasons. The results were almost night and day. He was able to increase his strikeouts from 71 to 101 in only 3 more innings pitched, and lowered his ERA from 4.52 to 3.34. He has two nasty diving pitches in his sinker and splitter, both having been clocked at 100+ MPH. He’s still working on a changeup, which would be a nice secondary option in addition to his CBA-ready curveball.
Round 1, Pick 3: Great Lakes selects SP Josh Schroeder, Arkansas Ridgebacks
It’s a best available player selection for the Monsters, and Schroeder fits that bill perfectly. The Arkansas senior has been highly successful in his collegiate career, and could have more upside than the Armbruster pick before him.
Despite his sparkling stats throughout his four years in the SEC, some CBA scouts are concerned about his pitch selection. His 4-seam/splitter combination has been enough to get college hitters out at a high rate, but a lack of an off-speed option has a few scouts thinking he’ll be relegated to a bullpen ace role. I’d say the scouts are split 50/50 in Schroeder’s future role, but it’s worth mentioning that this kid is one of the more intelligent players in college baseball. If anyone can succeed in the process of adding a third pitch, it’s Schroeder.
Round 1, Pick 4: Midwest selects SP Jim Stucker, Connor State Cowboys
Some scouts were surprised when Stucker, a high school phenom with a fastball reaching 100+ MPH, opted not to enter the CBA draft AND the NCAA to instead stay close to home for a few years at Connor State. His mother was diagnosed with stage 3 lymphoma during his senior year of High School, and rather than leave his family behind, Stucker decided to pitch for the local Junior College.
Fortunately for Stucker, CBA scouts followed his career at Connor State, and are just as impressed with the young man now as they were when he was in high school. Featuring some of the nastiest stuff in the draft, Stucker has four CBA-ready pitches right now. Borderline obsessive, Stucker is the first in the facility in the morning, and the last to leave at night, constantly honing his repertoire. His mother has recently entered remission from her cancer, and is his #1 fan.
Round 1, Pick 5: Wichita selects OF Bobby Francis, Dallas 16U Dodgers
Widely regarded as the best pure-hitter coming from the high school ranks, Francis has the approach and the contact ability to win a few batting titles in the professional ranks. His father, Jeff Francis, played in the MLB and exposed Bobby to professional ballplayers at a very young age. The younger Francis hung on to every word those hitters had to say, and it shows in his current approach.
Even at 17, Francis could make an impact for Wichita in the BL. His swing and plate approach are ready now, and a CBA weight training program will certainly welcome more power to his game.
Round 1, Pick 6: Oklahoma selects 3B Josh Diana, Florida State Seminoles
Oklahoma selects the next big basher in their lineup in the form of Josh Diana. Diana has been on scouts radar for what seems like a lifetime. Highly coveted for his elite power out of high school, Josh committed to FSU and came out of the gates mashing. He hit .377/.484/.754 with 21 HRs in his freshman year.
He struggled slightly his sophomore year, managing to hit only .272/.374/.554 with 15 HR. Still great production, but not quite consensus #1 pick production. It will be interesting to see how Diana’s junior season unfolds. If he can regain some of that pop from his freshman year, his stock may rise.
Round 1, Pick 7: Philadelphia selects SP Sean Erickson, Rice Owls
The Liberty have hit a bit of a rough patch in their franchise timeline, and are in need of a real difference maker. Erickson has the potential to be just that. Owner of the best off-speed pitch in the draft, he’s capable of making hitters look just plain silly. He can also dial up his cutter to upwards of 96 MPH, and also features a curveball and a developing Forkball.
Erickson is highly decorated, having won both the NCAA Pitcher of the Year award and the College World Series in 2015. His decision to return to Rice for his senior year has been fueled by his desire to double that effort. He’ll make whatever CBA team drafts him very happy.
Round 1, Pick 8: New York selects SP Ron Garrison, Howard Bison
Howard continues their rich tradition in the top of the CBA draft with ace Ron Garrison. Named team captain in only his sophomore year, Garrison exemplifies what coaches are looking for in a true rotation anchor. He wants the ball every fifth day, and he does it with immense pride for whatever logo is on his cap.
The stats won’t blow you away, mostly because Garrison has struggled to develop his changeup. His fastball, curveball and splitter are all CBA ready, but the lack of a true CBA ready changeup could be a concern. Garrison continues to throw it in games, leading to an inflated ERA and low scout scores for movement. Garrison would thrive in a big ballpark like the one in Manhattan.
Round 1, Pick 9: Boston selects SP Nick Payne, Arizona Western Matadors
Payne lost his scholarship to pitch for the Arizona Wildcats after a senior prank his senior year went very wrong. Payne was found guilty of reckless endangerment after throwing a baseball at one of his teacher’s cars while in motion. The teacher was struck in the head with the ball, causing him to crash into the car in front of him, injuring three children in the back seat.
Generally in these stories we hear of the player trying to redeem himself and trying to become a better person. But this doesn’t seem to be the case with Payne. Says one anonymous Arizona Western coach: “He’s a real PAYNE in the ass.” While character issues certainly still seem to be a factor, there’s no denying the pitching ability Payne possesses, with both a high 90’s fastball and cutter, as well as a changeup and forkball. He’s been very successful at getting Junior College hitters out, and the stuff looks like it should translate into the CBA. He should be taken higher, but the character issues shouldn’t be ignored.
Round 1, Pick 10: Iowa selects 2B Chase Gumbrecht, South Carolina Gamecocks
Rounding out the top 10, Iowa selects their 2B of the future. The Gamecock’s junior leadoff hitter and captain has cruised through the NCAA, stealing bases and scoring runs at a record pace. His speed is rare, and he definitely knows how to use it.
Gumbrecht set an SEC record for games with 4+ runs scored with 8. Once he’s on the basepaths, there’s a pretty good chance that he’s going to score. His ability to put the bat on the ball helps in that effort, and he should be able to get on base with ease in the CBA.
