The 2026 MLB Draft is set to begin on Saturday, July 11, with rounds 1-4 taking place in Philadelphia as part of All-Star week festivities. The draft then wraps up with rounds 5-20 on Day 2 on Sunday.
Although the 2025 draft was historic by Hawai‘i standards with Aiva Arquette and Kuhio Aloy earning first-round selections, the 2026 draft is viewed as a potential down year for prospects in the state, according to multiple MLB scouts who spoke with Aloha State Daily in the days leading up to the draft.
Though not lacking for talent, the vast majority of the top draft prospects with Hawai‘i ties are expected to play college baseball in 2027 rather than turn pro, including Pac-Five shortstop Alika Ahu.
Ahu, a 6-foot-4 shortstop, was a basketball standout for University Lab School while shining on the diamond for Pac-Five as both a pitcher and shortstop. His combination of size and athleticism has drawn the intrigue of scouts. However, with a baseball scholarship to Stanford on the horizon, the 2026 Hawai‘i Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year is not expected to forgo the opportunity in order to turn pro early.
University of Hawai‘i ace pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno is another prospect that has caught the attention of multiple MLB clubs. A pair of dominating performances in May continued to boost his profile, even though he was working with a fastball predominantly under 90 miles per hour. His changeup is considered an elite pitch, and it caused the bulk of his 116 strikeouts in 95.1 innings. Magdaleno is currently in the NCAA transfer portal. Although he completed his junior year, new rules allow five years of eligibility, meaning Magdaleno has two years of leverage to work with this weekend.
Saint Louis alumnus Sean Yamaguchi is a draft-eligible sophomore and recently signed with Oklahoma State after transferring from Nevada. Yamaguchi has three seasons of college eligibility remaining.
‘Iolani alumnus Judah Ota was the lone Hawai‘i representative at the MLB Draft Combine and impressed with his power at the plate. However, he remains committed to playing for the University of Arkansas in the fall.
After his sophomore season was cut short due to injury, Arizona State infielder and Saint Louis alumnus Nu‘u Contrades put together consecutive strong seasons in 2025 and 2026 and is squarely on the radar of scouts.
University of Hawai‘i shortstop Elijah Ickes was drafted as a high schooler at Kamehameha but decided to go to college instead. He has been productive and one of UH's best players when he has been on the field, but both his sophomore and junior seasons were shortened due to injury. Ickes will be again be considered a solid prospect in 2027 if he does not go pro this summer.
Ben Zeigler-Namoa has been on the radar of scouts for multiple years and is considered a potential senior sign in 2026. His left-handed bat and defensive versatility at first base and all three outfield positions are traits scouts believe will translate smoothly to the pros.
Saint Louis standouts Kahanu Martinez and Aycen Fernandez, Mililani's Zayne Hookala, Pac-Five pitcher Colten Amai-Nakagawa and Waiakea's Jerrell Alston were all seniors that were observed by scouts during the spring. Martinez is committed to Oregon, while Alston will head to Sacramento State in the fall. Meanwhile, Hookala, Fernandez and Amai-Nakagawa are all committed to the University of Hawai‘i.
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
