St. Louis Cardinals 2026 Draft Pick: 2-50 SS Rocco Maniscalco

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One of the younger players in the 2026 draft, Rocco Maniscalco, is only 17 years old and is a plus defender and was one of the more exciting performers at the MLB Combine as an Alabama Prep infielder. This is a bet on projection and upside with the opportunity to allow such a young player to grow into a better hit tool and developing power.

While Maniscalco had a reputation for having a very advanced approach for his age, he has looked too aggressive at times and too passive at others while struggling to make contact against Alabama high school pitching. Evaluators are willing to cut him some slack because of his youth, but they don’t like the deep trigger in his swing. A switch-hitter, he has a markedly better stroke from the left side. Though there now are concerns about his hitting ability, most scouts believe he’ll develop average or better power once he fills out his 6-foot-2 frame.

Maniscalco is presently an average runner, with some scouts wondering if he might get a bit quicker as he adds strength and others speculating that he might lose a step. There’s no question about the Mississippi State recruit’s ability to remain at shortstop, where he has smooth actions and projects as a plus defender with well above-average arm strength. The son of Matt Maniscalco, who made it to Triple-A as a shortstop in the Rays system and runs his travel ball program, Rocco has developed a high baseball IQ while growing up around the game.

Grades:

Hit: 45

Power: 50

Run: 50

Arm: 65

Field: 60

FV: 50

(blurb and grades via MLB Pipeline)

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