- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,207,419
- Reaction score
- 59
The 2026 MLB Draft is taking place this weekend, and several Southwest Florida players have a chance to take their first steps on the path to the Show.
Last year's draft saw Fort Myers graduate Zach Root selected in the first round by the Los Angeles Dodgers and FGCU's Justin Herschel go in the seventh to the Cincinnati Reds.
The first day of the draft, featuring the first four rounds, will kick off July 11 at 1 p.m. followed by the fifth through 20th rounds on July 12 starting at 11:30 a.m. You can follow along at MLB.com.
Between high school standouts and FGCU prospects, here are some names to know.
Dempsey just completed a banner junior season for the Eagles. He led the team with 226 plate appearances, 57 runs scored, 18 doubles, and 15 stolen bases along with 76 hits, 45 RBIs, and 10 home runs. On the mound, he recorded 116 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings and logged two complete games and two shutouts. Dempsey was the ASUN Conference's Pitcher of the Year and was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, the Golden Spikes Award and won the John Olerud Two-Way Player Award for the second consecutive season.
Knaak was a 2023 Southwest Florida Baseball Player of the Year finalist after finishing the season with a 9-3 record to go along with a 1.24 ERA. He struck out an area-leading 116 batters, which ranked fourth statewide. At Clemson, the right-hander got off to a tremendous start, earning the National Freshman Pitcher-of-the-Year honor by NCBWA. He went 14-2 in his first two seasons with the Tigers and has struck out more than 300 batters in his Clemson career.
Lawson has been tremendous on the mound for the Vikings in his high school career, earning back-to-back Southwest Florida Player of the Year honors. This past season, the 6-foot-2 righthander posted a 0.95 ERA, and hit .325 with four home runs and a team-high 25 RBI this past season while facing considerable competition. He signed to play college ball at North Carolina.
As a redshirt sophomore, Possehl made 14 starts and struck out 65 batters in 67 innings. He posted a 9-6 record with an ERA of 3.21 for the Eagles. The 6-foot-7 southpaw earned All-ASUN Second Team honors.
Travers' breakout senior season with the Celtics has him being looked at by multiple MLB clubs. The 6-foot-3 infielder raked against the toughest schedule in the area, hitting .464 with 46 hits, 12 doubles, one triple, and nine home runs with 34 RBI. Travers walked 21 times and had the best OPS in the area, sitting at 1.452. He signed with Stetson.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: MLB Draft 2026: Here are the SW FL players whose names might be called
Continue reading...
Last year's draft saw Fort Myers graduate Zach Root selected in the first round by the Los Angeles Dodgers and FGCU's Justin Herschel go in the seventh to the Cincinnati Reds.
The first day of the draft, featuring the first four rounds, will kick off July 11 at 1 p.m. followed by the fifth through 20th rounds on July 12 starting at 11:30 a.m. You can follow along at MLB.com.
Between high school standouts and FGCU prospects, here are some names to know.
RHP Evan Dempsey, FGCU
You must be registered for see images
Dempsey just completed a banner junior season for the Eagles. He led the team with 226 plate appearances, 57 runs scored, 18 doubles, and 15 stolen bases along with 76 hits, 45 RBIs, and 10 home runs. On the mound, he recorded 116 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings and logged two complete games and two shutouts. Dempsey was the ASUN Conference's Pitcher of the Year and was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, the Golden Spikes Award and won the John Olerud Two-Way Player Award for the second consecutive season.
RHP Aiden Knaak, Bishop Verot/Clemson
You must be registered for see images
Knaak was a 2023 Southwest Florida Baseball Player of the Year finalist after finishing the season with a 9-3 record to go along with a 1.24 ERA. He struck out an area-leading 116 batters, which ranked fourth statewide. At Clemson, the right-hander got off to a tremendous start, earning the National Freshman Pitcher-of-the-Year honor by NCBWA. He went 14-2 in his first two seasons with the Tigers and has struck out more than 300 batters in his Clemson career.
RHP Joey Lawson, Bishop Verot
You must be registered for see images
Lawson has been tremendous on the mound for the Vikings in his high school career, earning back-to-back Southwest Florida Player of the Year honors. This past season, the 6-foot-2 righthander posted a 0.95 ERA, and hit .325 with four home runs and a team-high 25 RBI this past season while facing considerable competition. He signed to play college ball at North Carolina.
LHP Hunter Possehl, FGCU
You must be registered for see images attach
As a redshirt sophomore, Possehl made 14 starts and struck out 65 batters in 67 innings. He posted a 9-6 record with an ERA of 3.21 for the Eagles. The 6-foot-7 southpaw earned All-ASUN Second Team honors.
INF Cole Travers, St. John Neumann
You must be registered for see images
Travers' breakout senior season with the Celtics has him being looked at by multiple MLB clubs. The 6-foot-3 infielder raked against the toughest schedule in the area, hitting .464 with 46 hits, 12 doubles, one triple, and nine home runs with 34 RBI. Travers walked 21 times and had the best OPS in the area, sitting at 1.452. He signed with Stetson.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: MLB Draft 2026: Here are the SW FL players whose names might be called
Continue reading...
