March 2026 MLB Draft Update: Risers, Fallers and New Additions

Baseball America’s in-season update to the 2026 MLB Draft rankings expands the board to 300 players. The latest list highlights who’s rising, who’s falling, and which fresh names are suddenly in the mix.

The update spotlights a reclassified two-way prospect, some eye-popping velocity from both college and high school arms, and a wave of new top-100 entrants. These changes could shake up the draft landscape as the season moves along.

What Baseball America’s 2026 MLB Draft update signals for teams

Expanding the rankings to 300 players really shows off the depth of the 2026 talent pool. It gives everyone a clearer look at which players are making noise as the season unfolds.

We’re seeing dramatic climbs, some notable drops, and both youngsters and upperclassmen who could become impact picks in July. Teams have to weigh velocity, production, health history, and positional scarcity as they size up the risers and new faces.

Risers and fallers

Two-way potential, velocity jumps, and breakout seasons pushed several players up the board. On the other hand, underwhelming springs or fragile profiles dragged others down.

The class mixes college arms and high school talents. Some fallers remind us that volatility is still a big theme here.

• Jared Grindlinger — reclassified from 2027, now at No. 35. He’s one of the youngest on the list and offers a ton of versatility.
• Cade Townsend (Ole Miss) — rising among college arms, thanks to better stuff and stronger production.
• Logan Reddemann (UCLA) — climbing as his velocity and strike-throwing improve.
• LJ Mercurius (Oklahoma) — advanced with better stuff and clearer performance metrics this season.
• Jacob Dudan (NC State) — moved up after showing improved production and a cleaner secondary pitch.
• Duncan Marsten (Wake Forest) — kept climbing as his velocity and consistency showed up more often.
• Bo Holloway (Tenn. HS) and Hunter Dietz (Arkansas) — high school arms making noise for their velocity and projection.

New top-100 additions and the biggest jumps

Baseball America added over 20 new names to the top-100. Some of them made especially big moves this time around.

The biggest gains come from players showing power, athleticism, and projectability this spring.

• Mason Edwards — up +78 spots, a standout riser after boosting both velocity and consistency.
• Jake Brown — up +92 spots, making a huge leap and turning into one of the most-discussed college bats this cycle.
• Jack Radel — up +86 spots, rising with his bat-to-ball skills and athletic upside.

Drops and caution flags

It’s not all good news. The update also features some big drops and plenty of caution about risk profiles.

Several players slid down the board based on spring results, medical concerns, or the fragility of their current role.

• Aidan Knaak (Clemson) — fell 128 spots after a spring that raised questions about projection and command.
• Owen Kramkowski, Gavin Grahovac, Blake Morningstar — other notable fallers after inconsistent performance or concerns about stuff and durability.

Position players, catchers and pitchers on the rise

The update breaks out who’s moving up among position players, catchers, and pitchers. Among hitters, LSU’s Jake Brown, UCLA’s Will Gasparino, NC State’s Ty Head, Oklahoma’s Camden Johnson, and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey all vaulted into top-five consideration. Lackey’s even in the mix as the first catcher off the board.

On the pitching side, college arms like Cade Townsend, Logan Reddemann, LJ Mercurius, Jacob Dudan, and Duncan Marsten keep climbing. Their velocity and structure make them targets for teams when draft day comes around.

Notes on profile fragility and evaluation amid changes

Baseball America pointed out that some players’ profiles seem more fragile. Role changes, injury histories, or shaky secondary pitches can all play a part.

Teams have to look at durability and adaptability. They’ll also want to see how secondary pitches develop, especially for college arms and high school talents.

Players like Cole Carlon and Ben Blair look like top options in their draft slots. Still, they come with caveats that teams can’t ignore as the season rolls on.

The 2026 MLB Draft landscape feels pretty unsettled right now. The top names are still jostling for position as velocity, production, and health stories keep changing.

For scouts and fans, this update sketches a sharper picture of who might break out in college or high school—or maybe even bloom late and shake up the draft in the coming months.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Risers, Fallers & New Additions To The March 2026 MLB Draft Rankings Update