The Red Sox selected Jace Mataczynski with the No. 96 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Jace Mataczynski is a shortstop at Hudson High School in Wisconsin, coming in at 6'3, 190 lbs. The slot value for the pick is $815,700. He was ranked 108 on our MLB Draft Consensus Board. Mataczynski is currently committed to the University of Auburn and will have to be talked out of that commitment in order to sign with Boston.
Here’s what our write-up of Jace Mataczynski by Jamie Cameron has to say:
"Jace Mataczynski, like many cold-weather prospects, exploded onto the scene in a hurry and has remained in the cross hairs of the scouting community ever since. The Auburn commit out of Wisconsin displays premium athleticism and twitch, present in both his offensive and defensive profiles. At the plate, it’s a right handed swing that could still stand to add a touch more refinement. He starts in a wide base with a higher handset, close to his ear. From there it’s a drift back into his load before a small jabbing step into his swing. Mataczynski’s wide base helps him get into his legs well and there’s plenty of present bat speed. I’d envision some of the mechanical rawness working itself out via his impressive athleticism. Defensively, he has a good chance to stick at short. He’s a fluid mover with smooth actions and a decisive first step. His hands are soft and there’s a really quick arm there, too (he’s been clocked up to 98 mph in the infield). This is the type of talent, and twitch that can end up looking like a draft steal. If Mataczynski’s offensive game continues to trend in the right direction, he’ll check most of the boxes you’re looking for in a projection-reliant shortstop profile."
The Boston Red Sox selected pitcher Lucas Davenport with the 156th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Davenport pitched two years at Baylor and was a redshirt as a freshman. Overall, he appeared in 29 games and made 13 starts over his two seasons. Davenport follows the mold of pitchers that Craig Breslow likes, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 230 pounds.
Davenport uses his size well and generates great extension and his mechanics creates deception. His fastball sits 93 to 95 mph and has topped out to 98 mph, but the shape could use some tinkering, something the Red Sox have done in the past with pitchers.
His secondaries include a mid-80s cutter that has depth and could be a true weapon for him. He's also got a slider, which is his best pitch as it sits 81 to 83 mph and has late lateral break. It won’t produce great chase rates, but he can generate whiffs in the zone with it.
He also throws a changeup that has amazing depth and could become an above-average offering at the next level.
Davenport will be a pet project of Breslow’s pitching lab in an effort to enhance his pitch arsenal. If he can turn his fastball into a more consistent primary offering, he has a good chance to remain as a starter.
