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2026 MLB Draft
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
Nathan Taylor - RHP (starter, so far) - 6'5" - 230 lbs. Cincinnati
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Rocky Colavito is a Hall of Famer in my book!
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
- N. Taylor.jpg (212.9 KiB) Viewed 360 times
Rocky Colavito is a Hall of Famer in my book!
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
Here is the Baseball America blurb on Nathan Taylor:
Ht: 6'5" | Wt: 230 | B-T: L-R
School: Cincinnati. Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.3.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Taylor is a workhorse starter with a 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame and three years of track record as a full-time starter with Cincinnati. He stepped into a starting role from day one and logged at least 72 innings each season while steadily improving his strikes and stuff. In 2026 Taylor posted a 3.60 ERA in 16 starts and 90 innings. He struck out a career-high 29.9% of batters and walked a career-low 7.0%. Taylor has a loose operation and attacks hitters with a two-pitch mix from a three-quarters slot. He averages 92-93 mph with his fastball and has touched 97, but gets elite extension with the pitch. He averaged just over seven feet of extension with his fastball in 2026, and also did a nice job landing it in the zone for strikes. He throws a power mid-80s slider with tight two-plane break just as frequently as his fastball. The pitch falls off the table with hard, late tilt and has been a consistent swing-and-miss breaking ball against both lefties and righties. He’ll likely need to develop his arsenal further to profile as a starter in pro ball. Taylor does have an upper-80s changeup, but he rarely throws it. He’s become an above-average strike-thrower and is one of just 16 college pitchers to log at least 240 innings over the last three seasons. Taylor is one of the best pitchers in Cincinnati’s history, and is the all-time program leader with 22 wins and 276 strikeouts.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55
Ht: 6'5" | Wt: 230 | B-T: L-R
School: Cincinnati. Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted. Age At Draft: 21.3.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average
Adjusted Grade: 35
Taylor is a workhorse starter with a 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame and three years of track record as a full-time starter with Cincinnati. He stepped into a starting role from day one and logged at least 72 innings each season while steadily improving his strikes and stuff. In 2026 Taylor posted a 3.60 ERA in 16 starts and 90 innings. He struck out a career-high 29.9% of batters and walked a career-low 7.0%. Taylor has a loose operation and attacks hitters with a two-pitch mix from a three-quarters slot. He averages 92-93 mph with his fastball and has touched 97, but gets elite extension with the pitch. He averaged just over seven feet of extension with his fastball in 2026, and also did a nice job landing it in the zone for strikes. He throws a power mid-80s slider with tight two-plane break just as frequently as his fastball. The pitch falls off the table with hard, late tilt and has been a consistent swing-and-miss breaking ball against both lefties and righties. He’ll likely need to develop his arsenal further to profile as a starter in pro ball. Taylor does have an upper-80s changeup, but he rarely throws it. He’s become an above-average strike-thrower and is one of just 16 college pitchers to log at least 240 innings over the last three seasons. Taylor is one of the best pitchers in Cincinnati’s history, and is the all-time program leader with 22 wins and 276 strikeouts.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
At #129, the final pick of the day, the Mariners took 3B Trevor Lucas from UNC Wilmington. He's unranked by MLB Pipeline, but Baseball America has him at #414.
Here's the blurb:
Lucas played a season for Gaston (N.C.) JC in 2024 before heading to UNC Wilmington and taking over third base duties. He’s a 6-foot, 195-pound righthanded hitter with solid bat-to-ball skills and savvy swing decisions, but might not have prototypical power for the hot corner. Despite that, Lucas has improved year-over-year and in 2026 finished with a .312/.429/.556 slash line, 12 home runs and 12 doubles. He moves well defensively with the hands, actions and arm strength that could make him a solid defender.
Here's the blurb:
Lucas played a season for Gaston (N.C.) JC in 2024 before heading to UNC Wilmington and taking over third base duties. He’s a 6-foot, 195-pound righthanded hitter with solid bat-to-ball skills and savvy swing decisions, but might not have prototypical power for the hot corner. Despite that, Lucas has improved year-over-year and in 2026 finished with a .312/.429/.556 slash line, 12 home runs and 12 doubles. He moves well defensively with the hands, actions and arm strength that could make him a solid defender.
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
Wonder when they will start going over slot with the $500,000ish they have saved so far.