Young players took center stage in Philadelphia as baseball held its annual amateur draft and Futures Game. UCLA SS Roch Cholowsky was selected first overall by the Chicago White Sox. While Cholowsky offers tantalizing power potential, he is unlikely to provide fantasy impact until 2027.

In the Futures Game, the American League defeated the National League 6-1. Tampa Bay Rays C Nathan Flewelling earned MVP honors with a two-run homer, though at 19 years old, he will not impact 2026 leagues. Other standouts included Athletics SS Leo De Vries and Brewers star Jesus Made.

Pitching highlights included Seattle Mariners LHP Kade Anderson and Pirates RHP Seth Hernandez, the latter of whom threw his first pitch 100.5 mph. For fantasy managers, hitters generally remain safer investments than pitchers due to innings limits. Notable first-round names include Minnesota Twins prospect Vahn Lackey and Giants RHP Jackson Flora, who posted an NCAA-leading 1.06 ERA this past season.