On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons discuss the winners of the draft and go through notable college players returning to school or going undrafted.

The duo highlights top players returning to college baseball in 2027, led by Oklahoma State slugger Kollin Ritchie (31 HR) and several UNC returners, plus names like Ryan Zuckerman, Ricky Ojeda, Jarren Purify, Tyler Minick, Caden McDonald, and Ethan Mendoza.

They discuss how NIL money, extra eligibility, and changing draft economics are keeping players in college longer, and debate what that means for MLB development and today’s faster-moving minor league system.

The episode shifts to draft/recruiting “winners,” highlighting Tennessee, Vanderbilt, LSU, Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Arkansas, as well as non-SEC programs Oregon State, Stanford, and Oklahoma State. They close by noting Mario Pesca as a gritty ninth-round pick.

2026 MLB Draft Tracker: https://d1ba.se/26draft

00:00 Welcome Back!

00:38  Big Names Returning

03:37 Why Stay in College?

04:57 MLB Pipeline Debate

09:29 Draft: Winners & Losers

12:37 Tennessee Class Breakdown

15:08 Vanderbilt and Corbin Buzz

18:06 Non-SEC Winners Wrap

18:23 Mario Pesca Shoutout

18:54 Take A Hike!

D1Baseball's MLB Draft coverage is presented by MAI Capital. If you are a player (or parent) navigating NIL, the draft, or your first contract, MAI Capital can help. MAI has spent over 50 years cultivating deep relationships with a network of successful athletes and performers — helping them simplify and manage the complex challenges they face across different stages of their careers. A quick conversation can help you gain clarity on your next financial decision, identify costly mistakes early, and understand what you should be doing now. Get real guidance from advisors who’ve worked with over 110 first-round picks. https://d1ba.se/MAI

D1Baseball is proud to partner with MAI Capital to provide college baseball players with real financial guidance.

For athletes and sports programs of all levels, AstroTurf has managed the entirety of the synthetic turf manufacturing process for decades. By focusing on quality, safety, and performance, AstroTurf continues to provide customized surfacing solutions for baseball and softball programs across the professional and collegiate ranks, including being the Official Synthetic Turf of MLB®. For more information, please visit https://astroturf.com/

Kerriston Coffee is proud to be the official coffee of D1Baseball. With over 30 years in the business, this family-owned roastery delivers fresh, small-batch coffee made for college baseball fans, coaches, and everyone in between. Kerriston Coffee ships nationwide, and as a listener to The D1Baseball Podcast, you can use code D1 at https://kerristoncoffee.com to receive 15% off your first order!

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Burkie and Roons recap a rapidly changing MLB Draft landscape, focusing on how NIL, expanded college eligibility, and a shortened development path are influencing player leverage and pushing more talent toward college baseball. They discuss MLB’s apparent shift toward prioritizing contact and track record over swing-and-miss profiles and pure home-run totals, using examples such as Derek Curiel, Zion Rose, AJ Gracia, and the "slide" of toolsy but "lower-contact" hitters like Justin LeBron and Daniel Jackson.

The episode runs through notable first-round storylines, including Roch Cholowsky, Vahn Lackey, top arm Jackson Flora, surprise pick Jake Schaffner, Ace Reese’s landing spot, and prospect promotion incentive selections Carter Beck, Carson Wiggins, and Jack Radel. They also note draft-volume leaders and caution fans against equating draft totals with team success.

2026 MLB Draft Tracker: https://d1ba.se/26draft

00:00 Welcome

00:05 Thank you, AstroTurf!

00:39 ESPN Draft Broadcast Talk

01:51 How NIL Reshaped Leverage

03:28 Age Stigma and Player Comps

05:45 Draft Expectations & Contact Trend

07:20 Top Picks and Track Record

09:40 Zion Rose Deep Dive

13:00 Contact Over Power in Round One

15:55 Jake Schaffner: Surprise Pick

17:55 Late First Round Storylines

22:35 Daniel Jackson Head Scratcher

25:28 Draft Totals & High School Decline

28:29 Wrap + Next Episode Tease

D1Baseball's MLB Draft coverage is presented by MAI Capital. If you are a player (or parent) navigating NIL, the draft, or your first contract, MAI Capital can help. MAI has spent over 50 years cultivating deep relationships with a network of successful athletes and performers — helping them simplify and manage the complex challenges they face across different stages of their careers. A quick conversation can help you gain clarity on your next financial decision, identify costly mistakes early, and understand what you should be doing now. Get real guidance from advisors who’ve worked with over 110 first-round picks. https://d1ba.se/MAI

D1Baseball is proud to partner with MAI Capital to provide college baseball players with real financial guidance.

For athletes and sports programs of all levels, AstroTurf has managed the entirety of the synthetic turf manufacturing process for decades. By focusing on quality, safety, and performance, AstroTurf continues to provide customized surfacing solutions for baseball and softball programs across the professional and collegiate ranks, including being the Official Synthetic Turf of MLB®. For more information, please visit https://astroturf.com/

Kerriston Coffee is proud to be the official coffee of D1Baseball. With over 30 years in the business, this family-owned roastery delivers fresh, small-batch coffee made for college baseball fans, coaches, and everyone in between. Kerriston Coffee ships nationwide, and as a listener to The D1Baseball Podcast, you can use code D1 at https://kerristoncoffee.com to receive 15% off your first order!

SUBSCRIBE

Apple: https://d1ba.se/Pod-Apple

Spotify: https://d1ba.se/40Ne9Dq

YouTube: https://d1ba.se/yt-sub

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mike Rooney and D1Baseball/Prep Baseball’s David Seifert preview this weekend's MLB Draft. They discuss D1Baseball’s Top 250 Collegiate Prospect Ranking list, mock drafts and draft recaps, and how signability & team preferences could shuffle the top of the board among Grady Emerson, Roch Cholowsky, and Vahn Lackey.

Roons & Seif break down top college arms Jackson Flora and Tyler Bremner, Seifert’s preference for pitchers with feel for spin, and debates key top-10 talents Tyler Bell, Drew Burress, and Chris Hacopian. They also highlight late risers from Omaha and beyond, including Owen Hull, Cam Kozeal, Brendan Brock, Gavin Gallaher, Jackson Willits, Taylor Rabe, Joey Volchko, and LJ Mercurius. They end with highlighting some potential late-round value picks.

00:00 Welcome, David Seifert!

00:20 Saturday Draft Start

01:09 Why Draft Day Matters

01:56 D1 Draft Coverage Guide

03:06 Latest Mock Draft Intel

03:31 White Sox Top Three

04:13 Lackey vs Cholowsky

06:53 Fit and Signability

07:45 How Fast Pros Move Up

08:24 Flora vs Bremner

10:42 Spin vs Changeup

12:27 Bell | Burress | Hacopian

17:58 Late Risers and Helium

19:29 Owen Hull: Draft Riser

20:21 Brendan Brock: Up & Down

21:15 Gavin Gallaher: Sleeper Value

21:53 Jaxon Willits: On The Rise

22:09 Camden Kozeal: Makeup Matters

24:13 Seif's Favorites at Pitcher

25:07 Joey Volchko: CWS Breakout

26:12 LJ Mercurius: Bullpen Hero

27:55 Cade Townsend vs Taylor Rabe

30:33 Picks 51 to 100

32:57 Late Round Values

36:29 Draft Weekend Wrap

This MLB Draft Preview podcast is presented by MAI Capital. If you are a player (or parent) navigating NIL, the draft, or your first contract, MAI Capital can help. MAI has spent over 50 years cultivating deep relationships with a network of successful athletes and performers — helping them simplify and manage the complex challenges they face across different stages of their careers. A quick conversation can help you gain clarity on your next financial decision, identify costly mistakes early, and understand what you should be doing now. Get real guidance from advisors who've worked with over 110 first-round picks. https://d1ba.se/MAI

D1Baseball is proud to partner with MAI Capital to provide college baseball players with real financial guidance.

Kerriston Coffee is proud to be the official coffee of D1Baseball. With over 30 years in the business, this family-owned roastery delivers fresh, small-batch coffee made for college baseball fans, coaches, and everyone in between. Kerriston Coffee ships nationwide, and as a listener to The D1Baseball Podcast, you can use code D1 at https://kerristoncoffee.com to receive 15% off your first order!

SUBSCRIBE

Apple: https://d1ba.se/Pod-Apple

Spotify: https://d1ba.se/40Ne9Dq

YouTube: https://d1ba.se/yt-sub

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.