2026 MLB Draft prospect Ryan Piech. Why he could get drafted

[ASFN Admin]

Ryan Piech is one of five former Walsh Jesuit High School baseball players on the radar of major league teams heading into the 2026 MLB Draft.

The two-day draft runs July 11-12, with the first four rounds being conducted on Saturday and the final 16 rounds on Sunday.

Here's a look at Piech, a 2023 Walsh Jesuit graduate who starred at Xavier University last season:

Ryan Piech's 2026 MLB Draft outlook​

• Where is Piech slotted in the draft? Perfect Game has Piech going with the 184th pick.
• What organization would draft him? If it held true, Piech would be taken with the 20th pick in the sixth round by the Cleveland Guardians.
• What is Piech's college status? Piech just finished his junior season at Xavier.
• A look at Piech's numbers: Piech, a right-handed pitcher, went 8-3 with a 3.18 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 14 starts and 76⅓ innings at Xavier last season. His wins and strikeouts led the Musketeers. In two seasons at Xavier, Piech was 12-4 with a 3.71 ERA and 163 strikeouts in 136 innings. He was first-team All-Big East in 2026 and second-team all-conference in 2025.
• What Walsh Jesuit manager Joe Bowers had to say about Piech: "Ryan is special. He's built like a pro pitcher. He throws like a pro pitcher. He talks how I imagine a pro pitcher would talk. He's just got it. He's had it for a long time. Everyone has known it. He knows how to work it and puts in the work to make himself better, too."

You must be registered for see images

What's the most Walsh Jesuit baseball players selected in a single MLB draft?​

Walsh's record for most former players selected in a single draft occurred in 2010 when there were 50 rounds and three former Walsh standouts were selected — Johnny Fasola (36th round, Los Angeles Dodgers), Greg Greve (45th round, San Francisco Giants) and Tyler Skulina (46th round, Athletics).

You must be registered for see images

How many former Walsh Jesuit stars have played professionally?​

• To date, there have been 12 who played at the minor league level and above.
• OF Dominic Canzone (Arizona Diamondbacks 2019-23; Seattle Mariners, 2023-current)*
• RHP Ryan Feltner (Colorado Rockies, 2018-current)*
• RHP Johnny Fasola (Texas Rangers, 2014-18; St. Louis Cardinals, 2019)
• RHP Chris Machamer (Boston Red Sox, 2018-19)
• LHP Joe Mockbee (Chicago White Sox, 2017-18)
• C Cassidy Brown (Cincinnati Reds, 2016-19)
• RHP Tyler Skulina (Chicago Cubs, 2013-17, Washington Nationals, 2017)
• RHP Greg Greve (Florida Marlins, 2014)
• LHP Chad Rodgers (Atlanta Braves 2006-12, Minnesota Twins, 2013)
• LHP David Starn (Atlanta Braves, 2012-14)
• RHP Patrick O'Brien (Pittsburgh Pirates, 2000-05)
• LF/C/1B Matt Bok (Los Angeles Dodgers, 2002-03)
• * Current major leaguers

The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 2026 MLB Draft prospect Ryan Piech. Why he could get drafted

Continue reading...