Sportsvival continues to dig into the 2026 MLB Draft class, looking at the players who could become the next wave of impact talent at the professional level. This draft has a strong group of college bats, and Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese is one of the names who brings real middle-of-the-order potential. Reese has the size, left-handed power, SEC production and offensive profile that should make him one of the more talked-about hitters in the class.
Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 220 pounds
Bats/Throws: Left/Right
School: Mississippi State
Position: Third Base
Projected Draft Range: First Round
Background
Ace Reese came to Mississippi State and quickly became one of the biggest impact bats in the SEC. After transferring in, Reese gave the Bulldogs a true middle-of-the-order presence and became one of the most productive hitters in college baseball.
In 2025, Reese started 57 games at third base and was named SEC Newcomer of the Year. He led Mississippi State in batting average, hits, multi-hit games and multi-RBI games, while also putting together a 22-game hitting streak. That kind of production in the SEC immediately put him on the radar as one of the top college bats for the 2026 MLB Draft.
Reese also spent time with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, giving him another chance to prove himself against high-level competition. His combination of size, left-handed power and run production gives him the look of a player who could move quickly if the bat continues to translate.
2026 Stats
Ace Reese has continued to show big-time production for Mississippi State in 2026. Reese is hitting .328 with 22 home runs, 72 RBI, 69 runs scored and 77 hits. Those numbers show exactly why scouts view him as one of the better power bats in the draft class.
The home run production stands out, but the RBI total may be just as important. Reese is not just hitting mistakes over the fence, he is driving in runs, changing games and giving Mississippi State a hitter that opponents have to plan around.
Hitting Ability
Reese’s bat is the carrying tool. He is a left-handed hitter with strength, leverage and the ability to do damage when he gets the barrel out front. The swing has natural loft, and when he gets extended, the ball can leave the yard to the pull side in a hurry.
What makes Reese interesting is that he is not just a one-dimensional slugger. He has shown the ability to hit for average, work through tough SEC pitching and still produce extra-base damage. His 2025 season proved he could handle a heavy workload, and his 2026 production has backed up the idea that the bat is real.
There will always be some swing-and-miss questions with a power hitter of his size, but Reese has shown enough feel to hit that teams should feel comfortable projecting him as more than just a mistake hitter.
Power
This is where Reese separates himself.
Reese has plus raw power and the type of left-handed thump that teams look for early in the draft. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he already has the physical frame of a professional corner bat. The ball jumps off his bat, and his power plays to the pull side with real carry.
His 22 home runs in 2026 show that the power is not just projection, it is already showing up in games. Reese can change a game with one swing, and that is the type of trait that pushes college hitters into first-round conversations.
For Sportsvival, Reese profiles as one of the better power bats in the 2026 class.
Defense
Reese is listed as a third baseman, but his defensive future will be something teams look at closely. He has the arm strength for the position, and his size gives him the look of a corner infielder, but questions remain about his quickness, range and long-term fit at third base.
If he can stay at third, his draft value goes up. A left-handed bat with this kind of power at the hot corner is very valuable. If he has to move across the diamond to first base, the bat will have to carry even more of the profile.
The good news is that Reese’s power gives him a path either way. The question is whether he becomes a power-hitting third baseman or a first baseman/corner bat whose value comes almost entirely from the offense.
Arm
Reese has enough arm strength to handle third base, but the defensive questions are more about range and movement than pure arm. He can make the routine throws, and he has enough carry across the diamond when his feet are set.
If he remains at third base, continuing to improve his footwork and lateral quickness will be key. The arm should not be the reason he moves off the position.
Run Tool
Reese is not going to be drafted for speed. He is a bigger-bodied corner bat whose game is built around power and run production. He is more of a station-to-station runner, and his value will come from what he does in the batter’s box.
He can move well enough to play the game, but speed will not be a major part of his professional profile.
Strengths
Reese’s biggest strength is his left-handed power. He has the size, strength and swing path to hit for big home run totals.
He has already produced in the SEC, which matters. Teams do not have to dream on the production, because he has already done it against high-level college arms.
He has middle-of-the-order traits. Reese looks like a hitter who can drive in runs, punish mistakes and become a run-producing bat in a professional lineup.
He brings experience and confidence. Between Mississippi State, SEC play and Team USA experience, Reese has seen quality competition and continued to perform.
Areas to Improve
The biggest question is defensive home. Reese has to prove he can stay at third base long term. If not, the pressure on the bat becomes even greater.
He will need to continue managing swing-and-miss. Power hitters are always going to strike out, but Reese must show enough contact ability to keep pitchers honest.
He also needs to prove the bat will translate with wood against professional velocity and advanced breaking balls. His power is real, but the next step is showing that the approach will hold up every day.
MLB Comparison
A fair MLB comparison for Ace Reese is Nolan Gorman.
Like Gorman, Reese is a left-handed power bat with a strong frame, natural loft in the swing and the ability to drive the baseball out of the park when he gets extended. Both players have the type of power that can carry them into a middle-of-the-order role, while also bringing some questions about contact rate and long-term defensive home.
Gorman came up as a third baseman before eventually seeing time at second base and settling into more of a bat-first profile. Reese’s path could be somewhat similar in the sense that the bat will lead the way, while teams determine whether he can stay at third base or eventually move to first base or another corner spot.
The comparison is not saying Reese is the same player, but the profile makes sense: a left-handed corner infielder with real power, run-production ability and some swing-and-miss risk.
Draft Outlook
Ace Reese looks like a first-round bat in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Teams looking for left-handed power will have Reese high on their boards. College bats with this kind of production, size and power do not usually last long, especially when they have proven themselves in the SEC.
The defensive questions could determine exactly where he lands in the first round, but the bat gives him a strong floor. If a team believes he can stay at third base, he could come off the board earlier than expected. If teams view him more as a first baseman or corner-only bat, he may slide a little, but the offensive upside should keep him firmly in first-round range.
Sportsvival Take
Sportsvival sees Ace Reese as one of the better power bats in the 2026 MLB Draft class. He brings a left-handed swing, SEC production, home run power and the type of run-producing profile that teams want in the middle of the order.
The key question is where he plays defensively. If Reese can stay at third base, he has a chance to become a very valuable professional player. If he moves to first base, the bat still gives him a path, but he will have to keep producing at a high level.
Either way, Reese has the look of a hitter who will get plenty of attention on draft day. The power is real, the production is real, and Sportsvival believes Ace Reese has a strong chance to be selected in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft.