Six College Players To Keep An Eye On For Pick #26
Thanks to Drake Baldwin, the Braves have a second 1st round draft pick to play with. Let's take a look at some possible college selections for pick #26.
If you live under a rock, let me fill you in on a little news….college baseball is BACK!
Yes, I know we are all Braves fans and are eagerly awaiting games to begin, and possibly some good news for once. However, do not just brush over this beautiful sport like its nothing. College baseball gives you the electricity and wackiness of college football, but for baseball of course.
Two weeks ago, I detailed in my debut piece here at Braves Today six college players Braves fans should follow as the season began. If you haven’t read that, please do (it’s good I promise). Since we are here, let me fill you in on how each of my targets did on Opening Weekend
Drew Burress (GT): 3 G || 15 PA || 3 H || 2 2B || 3 RBI || 2 R || 3 K || 1 BB || 2 SB
Justin Lebron (BAMA): 3 G || 14 PA || 3 H || 2 HR || 3 RBI || 6 R || 0 K || 2 BB || 3 SB
Tyler Bell (UK): 1 G || 5 PA || 1 H || 1 RBI || 1 R || 0 K || 1 BB
Eric Becker (UVA): 3 G || 16 PA || 7 H || 2 2B || 6 RBI || 7 R || 2 K || 2 BB || 1 HBP
Chris Hacopian (TA&M): 2 G || 11 PA || 4 H || 4 RBI || 2 R || 0 K || 2 BB
Sawyer Strosnider (TCU): 3 G || 11 PA || 2 H || 1 HR || 1 RBI || 4 R || 4 K || 3 BB
As you can see, most of these guys did not disappoint on opening weekend. Unfortunately, Kentucky’s Tyler Bell suffered a non-throwing shoulder injury and is out indefinitely. As a draft-eligible sophomore, it will be something to watch come draft time if he declares or returns for one more season.
Having the #9 overall pick is cool, but what’s even better is also having a second first-round pick. Thanks to Drake Baldwin’s performance last season winning Rookie of the Year, the Atlanta Braves were awarded the 26th overall pick as a part of the PPI program. So let’s take a look at some more possible targets to follow this college baseball season that we may see in Atlanta soon enough.
Maddox Molony, SS, Oregon
6’2 || 205 LBS || .314 AVG || .405 OBP || .569 SLG || .974 OPS || 25 HR || 76 RBI
The college shortstop class this year is very heavy at the top, but after the first few come off the board, it begins to tail off. The last of the first round talents is Oregon’s Maddox Molony.
He is a three-year starter for the Ducks who has been one of the key pieces for the offense from day one. As a freshman, he earned second-team freshman All-American honors and set the Oregon freshman record with 10 homers and a .573 SLG. Molony followed that up with a sophomore season in which he was a third-team All-Big Ten with a .969 OPS and slugged 15 home runs.
On opening weekend, he recorded three hits, including a double and a home run, while recording five RBIs. He did strike out four times, but also walked three times and was hit by a pitch.
In the box, Molony typically gets a good barrel on the ball when in the zone. The hit tool is solid, but it lacks the power and impact some of my previously mentioned shortstops possess. He is susceptible to chase every now and then, but it is nowhere near panic level.
Molony’s calling card is his defense. He makes all the plays you would expect from a defensive-minded shortstop and rarely makes mistakes. He lacks elite range, but I expect him to give you above-average defense at short. He would fit the mold of a defensive-minded shortstop the Braves like to target.
It’s hard to think the Braves will draft two shortstops at the top of the draft again (although it’s not out of the question) so if they did select elsewhere on the diamond Malony may be a serious target at pick 26.
Chris Rembert, 2B, Auburn
6’0 || 208 lbs || .344 AVG || .467 OBP || .555 SLG || 1.022 OPS || 10 HR || 46 RBI
You may think I am just pandering to Lindsay with this pick, but I promise you I’m not. Auburn’s Chris Rembert is a DUDE.
He is another draft-eligible sophomore who burst onto the scene as a true freshman at Auburn, earning first-team freshman All-American honors. Rembert started all but one game, the majority of which at second base for the Tigers.
His .344 batting average and .467 on-base percentage ranked second on the team. Even more impressive was that he walked 37 times, showing great patience and an eye at the plate. He struck out 36 times.
In two games so far this season, Rembert recorded two hits, one RBI, two strikeouts, and one walk across seven plate appearances. Unfortunately, he injured his ankle and is set to be out for a couple of weeks. A massive blow for the Tigers.
Rembert may “only” be 6’ tall, but he packs a serious punch with his frame. He comes with a compact and simple operation at the plate that has the ability to cause damage to any ball thrown his way. Adding a little lift to his swing would unlock even more.
Drafting a second baseman isn’t necessarily something a team should aim to do in the first round of the draft, but with this “extra” pick the Braves have it is worth the shot. He is an effortless fielder at second and will provide plus defense.
With questions surrounding the future at second base, Rembert would be a candidate to step right in and take over in a possible post-Albies era of Braves baseball. The bat and glove would certainly play.
Aiden Robbins, OF, Texas
6’2 || 205 LBS || .369 AVG || .467 OBP || .590 SLG || 1.057 OPS || 12 HR || 69 RBI
Shifting back to the outfield, Texas’ Aiden Robbins is an exciting name entering the fold for the Longhorns that could possibly play his way closer to the top 10 than pick #26.
Robbins spent his first two seasons at Seton Hall University before jumping into the transfer portal and making his way down to Austin. As a freshman, he started in 43 games, leading the team in slugging (.512) while batting .302. The following season, Robbins started 53 of the Pirates’ games, leading the team in batting average (.422), on-base percentage (.537), slugging percentage (.652), hits (86), runs (63), total bases (133), and stolen bases (20). He ranked fifth in the entire nation in on-base percentage and sixth in the nation in batting average.
In his first four games as a Longhorn, Robbins has lived up to his hype. In 18 plate appearances, he has recorded six hits, including two doubles and a home run, five runs, five RBIs, and two stolen bases.
The offensive numbers speak for themselves. He has the ability to hit for both contact and power to both sides of the field. The swing has a lot of moving parts, but shows a good ability to adjust to pitches.
Defensively, he can hold his own in center field but ultimately looks to move to the corner as a bat-first outfielder.
Repeating that success in the SEC will be a tough task, but even performing at 80% of that success would put Aidan Robbins firmly in round one conversations.
Alex Hernandez, UTIL, Georgia Tech
6’2 || 188 LBS || .335 AVG || .415 OBP || .609 SLG || 1.024 OPS || 16 HR || 69 RBI
The Braves could really appease some hometown fans if they start the 2026 MLB Draft by taking two Yellow Jackets in Drew Burress and Alex Hernandez.
Hernandez is a two-way athlete who has spent time at almost every position on the diamond except for shortstop and catcher. Before you get ahead of yourself, no he is not going to be the next Ohtani. He most likely will not see much time on the mound this year, if any at all.
Another draft-eligible sophomore, Hernandez burst onto the scene, winning ACC Freshman of the Year and earning first-team All-American honors. He played in all but one game for the Yellow Jackets across six different positions: second base (27), right field (17), first base (7), left field (7), DH (4), and pitcher (1). He broke the freshman school record for RBIs with 69, which also led all true freshmen in the country.
In 19 plate appearances so far this season, he has recorded a whopping TEN hits, including a double and a home run, driving in ten runs and scoring eight times. He also has one walk and one strikeout.
He uses his 6’2 frame to produce raw power and EV outputs north of 110 mph on a consistent basis. Hernandez possesses the ability to utilize both sides of the field, focusing on a middle-away approach.
There is really no specific position that Hernandez will settle into as of now, but I would bet he ends up at second base or a corner outfield spot.
While his position may be unknown at the time, the bat will certainly play in the big league. The Forsyth native will have the opportunity to prove his worth to the hometown team.
Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas
6’6 || 235 LBS || 4 G || 0 GS || 1.2 IP || 21.60 ERA || 4.20 WHIP || 4 K || 2 BB
Before you look at the above stats and turn away in disgust, just hear me out. I am very big on starting out this coming draft with taking a bat at both #9 and #26. However, there are a couple of arms with ceilings high enough for me to jump on. Arkansas’ Hunter Dietz is one of those.
There really isn’t much to go on in terms of stats, which is typically a red flag. However, he is a 6’6 lefty who had serious draft hype prior to the 2023 MLB Draft before opting to make it to campus.
The obvious red flag here is health. Finally healthy, he started the first collegiate game of his career this past weekend, lasting only two innings, giving up three hits, four runs, three walks, one hit by pitch, and striking out five. It’s not great, but this is all just a bet on arm talent you just can’t teach.
Dietz brings a funky over-the-top delivery to the mound that gives him the capability to hit triple digits on the radar gun from the left side. He does have a cutter (looking at you, Lindsay) to go along with a hammer curve ball and changeup.
What Dietz needs to do is simply show it on the mound. His profile suggests that if healthy, he has the raw ability to be a no-doubt first-rounder.
Joey Volchko, RHP, Georgia
6’4 || 225 LBS || 35 G || 21 GS || 113.0 IP || 5.89 ERA || 1.70 WHIP || 109 K || 72 BB
Did you really think I could write two full pieces on college players that I want our Braves to draft and not select a single Bulldog? Think again.
However, this is not just a homer pick. Like Dietz, Joey Volchko has the raw ability to reach a ceiling that is higher than any current Braves prospect to date. Yes, that includes Cam Caminiti, JR Ritchie, and Didier Fuentes.
Last season, he was set to start for a Stanford team that had a lot of hype heading into the season. However, like Stanford, things seemed to get off the rails for Volchko. In 15 starts, he recorded a 6.01 ERA (although a 3.97 FIP), 1.61 WHIP, and only a 7.2 K/9.
This season, in one start for the Bulldogs, he returned closer to his freshman form, going four innings of one-run ball, allowing just two hits, two walks, and striking out five.
This fall, Wes Johnson has worked to alter his delivery by extending his stride further down the mound and lowering his release point. This is not anything groundbreaking to most, but then you have to look back at Wes Johnson’s history. A few years back, Johnson at LSU received a transfer pitcher with loud stuff just did not know how to fully utilize his body. After similar adjustments, he became the number one overall pick and future Rookie of the Year. Yes, it’s Paul Skenes.
Now, Volchko is NOT Skenes by any means, but he is a power righty that has 100mph in his arsenal at will. He throws a hard cutter and pairs it with a hard slider and hammer curve. Developing another pitch will be key as the season goes on, which seems to be a changeup.
Volchko is still raw, and like Dietz, needs to prove it on the mound. If the Diamond Dawgs are to make it back to Omaha, Volchko needs to be the arm they lean on. He has that kind of ability to be a top of the draft arm.
Keep it coming Taylor.....
I'm all for left handed pitchers. For one thing, they aren't as prone to Tommy John surgery
Or so it seems to me. And i've been following Baseball for 6 decades.