Recapping Boston Red Sox's 2026 Draft Class: A Typical Craig Breslow Draft Takes An Atypical Form

For the third straight season, Craig Breslow and his scouting department oversaw a draft where they stuck to their guns and drafted players that fit the stereotypical mold they prefer. However, unlike the previous two drafts, this was the first time scouting director Jake Bruml led the charge, having been named the new director of amateur scouting last year.

Bruml's perspective could be felt, but this was still a typical draft class for this organization. The Red Sox selected more pitchers than position players much like the previous two drafts. This time it was a bit more even, as only 11 of the 19 selections were pitchers. They did veer off course slightly, selecting six prep players with the highlights being third-round pick Jace Mataczynski, ninth-round pick Martin Shelar, and 10th-round pick Kaleb LaFavor. The latter two are likely to receive over-slot deals in an effort to keep them from heading to the college ranks.

From the pitching angle, it was no surprise the direction that the organization went in, mainly drafting tall, strong pitchers with elite extension. The first college arm the organization drafted, Lucas Davenport, came in the fifth round. As of his latest college season, he measured 6-foot-6 and was known for elite extension and a fastball that topped out at 98 mph.

Of the 11 pitchers drafted, only two of them were listed to be shorter than 6-foot-2, that being seventh-round selection Kide Adetuyi and 19th-round selection Luis Calderon (though the latter may have some room to grow, being just 19 years old). Pitching-wise, the plan has always been simple, and Breslow has a track record of turning this style of pitcher into true prospects as he showed with 2024 selection Payton Tolle.

Offensively, the Red Sox went in a direction that a few teams across baseball have already moved towards. While most teams continue to focus on power at the major-league level, forward-thinking franchises like Milwaukee and Tampa Bay have shifted to a focus of getting on base by having their lineups contain players with great bat-to-ball skills and the ability to walk. The Red Sox chose to follow that idea when it came to the draft, selecting multiple college bats that either ranged from above-average to elite when it came to bat-to-ball skills, including their first two selections in Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull.

Schaffner, who many felt was a reach at 20, will most likely sign an under-slot deal with the team that will allow them to sign high upside but risky selections such as Shelar and LaFavor. Schaffner made elite contact during his lone season at UNC and hit .356/.467/.552 with 19 doubles, eight triples and six home runs while walking 45 times to just 32 strikeouts. It’s a change in philosophy compared to the hitters that were selected in 2025, when guys like Jack Winnay and Mason White were chosen more for their potential power.

One player who could be an interesting prospect to follow is 12th round selection and prep player Jacob Webster out of Oak Hills High School in California. Listed at 6-foot-4 and weighing 190 pounds, Webster was drafted as a shortstop but has two-way player potential. As a pitcher in high school, he had a fastball that got up to 90 mph. While it takes more than a good fastball to be a professional pitcher, it would be a shame to not look at his pitching potential as well. As a position player, he’s likely to stick at shortstop but could also make a move to the outfield if needed. Offensively, he’s a switch-hitter who has shown power from the right side of the plate.

Yet the biggest steal of the draft may have been getting Shelar at 274 overall. Coming into the draft, DiamondCentric’s Jamie Cameron had the prep outfielder as the No. 77 overall prospect in the class, which should have made him a day one pick Concerns over his ability to sign due to a commitment to Mississippi State allowed him to fall to the Red Sox nearly 200 selections later. Thanks to the early selections of Schaffner and Hull, the team will have extra money to offer a player like Shelar in hopes that he signs with the organization. He would be worth taking the chance on, as he has some of the best bat speed and raw power in the entire 2026 prep class and has constantly been able to barrel the baseball despite an unconventional swing. He isn’t just good on offense either, as he has good speed and an above-average arm that could render him an All-Star if everything breaks right in his development.

With the draft now over, it was clear that the Red Sox entered it with a clear plan in mind to bring in talented, high-floor players. The organization will do the work to increase their respective ceilings, with the specific development from the pitching lab and bat speed programs. While day one left some questioning the team’s approach, the totality of this class should have the entire fanbase buying into the scouting department's know-how.

Check out our 2026 MLB Draft tracker, with scouting reports, player information, total pool allotments, and much more!