Draft Day Grades 2026:

Bedstuy:
Got the main player they wanted in SP Nolan McLean along with SP Jonah Tong. Stowers was solid at 7th overall. Also got Met OF Carson Benge. BED cornered the Nationals bullpen co-closers with Beeter and Henry. Not sure about the other National players fetish? LOL
Grade: B
Value Picks: McLean, Stowers
Wildcard Picks: Young SS Eli Willits ETA 2028, C Harry Ford

California:
Drafted 1 of the 2 closers available in the draft in Abner Uribe. SP Cade Horton is a good pitcher, but low Ks hurts his value. OF Beck is good at home but bad on the road should only be used half the time. Trade for Okamoto with UCLA prospect Roch Cholowsky was very useful for next 2 years. Some decent prospects selected after round 6 but nothing earth shattering.
Grade: B-
Value Picks: Uribe, Horton, Trade for Okamoto
Wildcard Picks: Jordan Beck, Ryan Clifford, Sung Mun Jong

Chicago:
Solidified CF with Jakob Marsee and Justin Crawford and got a solid OF in Daylen Lile. Rolled the dice with possible closer Riley O'Brien and went back to backup 3B Yoan Moncada with not much 3B available in the draft was just ok. Handcuff RP Tony Santillan at 73 overall was solid pick.
Grade: B
Value Picks: Marsee, Crawford, Lile, Santillan
Wildcard Picks: Riley O'Brien, Yoan Moncada, Liam Doyle

Colorado:
First pick was C Kyle Teel who is already going to IL to start the year. 3B Caleb Durbin was solid but his low ceiling stifles the pick. Then drafted some average SP in Ryan Weathers, Cody Ponce, Braxton Ashcraft, and Dean Kremer. Hopefully some can breakout for this team. Finally, some Pirates prospects with Seth Hernandez solid but ETA 2028 could have been drafted much later than 36th overall.
Grade: C-
Value Picks: C Kyle Teel when healthy, Caleb Durbin, Cody Ponce
Wildcard Picks: Ryan Weathers, Braxton Ashcraft, Jared Koenig could step up in that bullpen

Connecticut:
Actually, had some picks to make which was a nice change of pace for this team. Getting Kade Anderson for the future to pair with his other Seattle SP was very nice. SP Connelly Early is another good prospect get. Johan Oviedo and Brooks Baldwin are decent players. Could have drafted Ryan Sloan but selected IR Logan Evans instead.
Grade: C
Value Picks: Kade Anderson and Connelly Early
Wildcard Picks: Johan Oviedo, Brooks Baldwin, TJ Rumsfield.

Florida:
Sal Stewart at 2nd overall was an expected solid pick with Freddie Freeman getting older. C Cater Jensen was good, but early catcher picks aren't best value in the draft. SP Trey Yesavage proved himself in the playoffs but will have to do it for a full regular season and will starting off slowly in April. Barger is good but a reach at 12th overall. Trading Okamoto after drafting him 19th overall for a UCLA prospect will not help the World Series Drought in Florida. Other drafted players were ok and could be useful.
Grade: B-
Value Picks: Sal Stewart, Carter Jensen, Trey Yesavage, Addison Barger
Wildcard Picks: Eduardo Quintero (will Dodgers commit to a prospect to actually play in the MLB), Cole Young (needed 2B player)

Harlem:
First overall SS Konner Griffin was no surprise. Solid Ben Rice pick. Two SP Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows will have to prove themselves in the MLB but have a bunch of potential. OF Dylan Beavers, if given the chance could be a solid player. Shane Smith has the opening day start for the White Sox (for what that's worth), and cornered the market on Athletics 3 potential closers, high leverage relievers in Hogan Harris, Justin Sterner, and Mark Leiter Jr.
Grade A-
Value Picks: Konner Griffin, Ben Rice, Tatsuya Imai, Shane Smith
Wildcard Picks: Mike Burrows, Dylan Beavers, and the Athletics bullpen

Indiana:
Drafted 1 of the 2 closers in the draft Daniel Palencia. With Clase's dumbass gambling suspensions, pick was needed. SP Emmet Sheehan could be a surprise selection. Draft Peyton Tolle and trading him with his American video for Eldridge was a very nice move. SP Noah Cameron could help. Then drafted some nice prospects with potential but still a wait and see approach. Not much to help in 2026.
Grade: C+
Value Picks: Daniel Palencia, Emmet Sheehan, Traded Bryce Eldridge, Ryan Waldschmidt (6oth)
Wildcard Picks: IL C Josue Briceno (47th overall), George Lombard Jr (Yankee hype or not), Robby Snelling, and Michael Arroyo

Louisiana:
NL Rookie of the Year C Drake Baldwin (6th overall) started the high picks draft heavy catchers to start going (not great value normally but needed in 2026 it seemed). SP Cam Schlittler solid pick at 13th overall fits the team with Rodon and Gil already on the team. Solid late picks with OF prospect Jacob Melton, RP Mason Montgomery (possibly anyway) and two SP in rotation with Joey Cantillo and Randy Vazquez.
Grade: B
Value Picks: Drake Baldwin, Cam Schlittler
Wildcard Picks: Jacob Melton, Mason Montgomery, Joey Cantillo and Randy Vazquez

Matawan:
14th overall Moises Ballesteros was a surprise as a 3rd catcher/DH type of player. He can hit but was a reach. OF Chandler Simpson has a low ceiling with no power and all speed, which isn't that conducive for our league. INF Other Max Muncy is having a nice Spring, but will it translate. Interesting SP Logan Henderson, Patrick Messick have potential. 2B Chase Meidroth and OF Zach Cole and possibly Jake Mangum could help in 2026.
Grade: C
Value Pick: Chandler Simpson, Carlos Lagrange
Wildcard Picks: All other selections

Morris County:
Drafted a need at Catcher (hopefully at C) Augustin Ramirez 11th overall and 4th catcher taken, if you count Ben Rice, in the first round. They did draft Dillon Dingler (50th) good value there as a backup just in case as well. OF Sal Frelick $18 will be a solid bench bat and sometimes start. 1B Spencer Horwitz paired with Ryan O'Hearn already on the team solidifies the backup 1B, another need. INF Ernie Clement $15, (all time playoff hitter 30 hits in 2026 a new record) at 84th was good value as well. SP Slade Cecconi (93rd) is in the rotation and should help.
Grade: B
Value Picks: Augustin Ramirez, Dillon Dingler, Sal Frelick, Ernie Clement
Wildcard Picks: Quinn Priester, Spencer Horwitz, Jordan Leasure, Isaac Collins (could have good value at 118th overall)

Topeka:
With no 1st round pick, drafted injury prone OF/CF Chase Delauter at 18th. If he can stay healthy this could be a steal. Big IF! OF Zyhir Hope (Will Dodgers prospects get a chance) has great potential. 3B Miguel Vargas batting 4th or 5th will have RBI potential and is still young, was a solid pick. Drafted two Miami SP Thomas White and Braxton Garrett, both good but on Miami. SP Will Warren and Michael McGreevy will be in the rotation in 2026 and RP Taylor Rogers closer to start and handcuff Calvin Faucher were smart decisions.
Grade: B-
Value Picks: Chase Delauter (fingers crossed on health), Michael Vargas, Taylor Rogers, Calvin Faucher
Wildcard picks: Zyhir Hope (needs an opportunity), Thomas White, Braxton Garrett, Will Warren (where does he go when Cole and Rodon get healthy)


There we have it. Have fun with the analysis. Hope no one's butt is hurt. If it is, draft better next year! But seriously, good luck to all this year. What a Great CJIBL League that we have to do all this. Thanks again for all your heart, commitment and dedication to our CJIBL!