The American League East added an impressive collection of young talent during the opening portion of the 2026 MLB Draft. Tampa Bay landed one of the biggest prizes in the entire class before using another early selection on a second high-upside infielder. Baltimore grabbed arguably the fastest player available, while Boston made one of the more surprising selections of the first round. The Yankees and Blue Jays had to wait because of Competitive Balance Tax penalties, but both organizations still came away with talented college left-handers.
Here is Sportsvival’s look at every AL East team’s opening selection, along with Tampa Bay’s additional pick in Competitive Balance Round A.
1) Tampa Bay Rays, Pick No. 2
Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian High School
The Rays landed one of the most complete players in the draft when they selected Grady Emerson with the second overall pick. The 6-foot-3 left-handed hitter entered the draft as MLB Pipeline’s top-ranked prospect and produced a .532/.648/1.013 slash line with seven home runs and 21 stolen bases during his senior season. Emerson combines an advanced approach, hard contact to all fields, developing power, speed and the defensive ability to remain at shortstop. He has been compared stylistically to Bobby Witt Jr., and Tampa Bay will give him every opportunity to become the next cornerstone player in its organization.
2) Baltimore Orioles, Pick No. 7
Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove High School
Baltimore continued its recent tradition of investing heavily in athletic position players by selecting Eric Booth Jr. The Mississippi high school star was considered the fastest player in the entire 2026 draft class, receiving a 70-grade evaluation for his speed and recording a 6.33-second 60-yard dash during the showcase circuit. Booth projects as a long-term center fielder because of his range and athleticism, but there is more to his game than speed. His swing and defensive fundamentals improved during his senior season, and scouts believe he could eventually develop 20-home-run power.
3) Boston Red Sox, Pick No. 20
Jake Schaffner, SS, North Carolina
The Red Sox delivered one of the first round’s biggest surprises by selecting Jake Schaffner, who was ranked No. 75 by MLB Pipeline, with the 20th overall pick. Schaffner transferred from North Dakota State to North Carolina and immediately established himself as a disciplined contact hitter with excellent bat-to-ball ability. The left-handed hitter batted .356 with a .467 on-base percentage and a .552 slugging percentage while helping the Tar Heels reach the College World Series. He is also a plus runner who should remain somewhere in the middle of the infield, although Boston will work to unlock more power as he develops.
4) Tampa Bay Rays, Pick No. 33, Competitive Balance Round A
Taj Marchand, SS, James Island High School
Tampa Bay doubled down on high school shortstops by selecting Taj Marchand with a Competitive Balance Round A pick acquired from Baltimore in the Shane Baz trade. Marchand hit .531 during his senior season, striking out only four times while drawing 31 walks in 96 at-bats. He has excellent hand-eye coordination, a quick right-handed swing and developing strength that could eventually produce 25-home-run power. Emerson should receive the first opportunity to remain at shortstop, but Marchand has the athleticism and arm strength to play multiple positions across the infield.
5) New York Yankees, Pick No. 35
Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas
The Yankees’ original first selection was moved from No. 25 to No. 35 because the organization exceeded the second surcharge level of the Competitive Balance Tax, but New York still landed a pitcher who carried legitimate first-round talent. Hunter Dietz works primarily between 94 and 96 mph with his fastball and can reach 98, using an unusually high release point to create difficult angles and induce ground balls. After barely pitching during his first two seasons at Arkansas, Dietz broke out with 131 strikeouts in 85⅔ innings during the 2026 season. His injury history creates some risk, but the Yankees may have landed one of the best college left-handers in the class.
6) Toronto Blue Jays, Pick No. 39
Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State
Toronto also received a 10-pick penalty for exceeding the second Competitive Balance Tax surcharge, pushing its opening selection from No. 29 to No. 39. The Blue Jays still found excellent value in Cole Carlon, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound left-hander who was ranked as the No. 26 prospect in the class by MLB Pipeline. Carlon moved from the bullpen into Arizona State’s rotation in 2026 and posted a 3.87 ERA across 16 starts while averaging 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings. His four-pitch arsenal is led by a fastball that can reach 98 mph and a devastating 70-grade slider, although improving his command will be important if he is going to remain a starting pitcher.
Sportsvival Final Thoughts
Tampa Bay produced the most exciting opening-round haul in the division by pairing Emerson, one of the draft’s safest high-upside players, with another talented prep infielder in Marchand. Baltimore added game-changing speed and center-field potential with Booth, while Boston trusted its internal scouting evaluation with Schaffner. The Yankees and Blue Jays were forced to wait longer than originally scheduled, but Dietz and Carlon both possess the power stuff to become impactful Major League pitchers. Overall, the AL East came away with a strong combination of premium athletes, middle-of-the-field defenders and high-strikeout left-handed arms.