2023 MLB draft tracker: Skenes goes No. 1; Results, analysis for every first-round pick
The first round of the 2023 MLB draft is over, with the Pittsburgh Pirates selecting LSU star Paul Skenes with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Washington Nationals followed by drafting Skenes’ teammate, Dylan Crews, with the No. 2 pick, making them the first pair of teammates to go 1-2 in MLB draft history. The Detroit Tigers took Max Clark with the third pick, the Texas Rangers followed with Wyatt Langford, and the Minnesota Twins rounded out the top five by selecting Walker Jenkins.
What will the following rounds bring?
Follow along for pick-by-pick coverage, with ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield and Dan Mullen breaking down everything you need to know about who your favorite team took in the first round as the picks come off the board.
Mock Draft 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0
Rankings: Top 300 prospects | Guide for all 30 teams
Who is Skenes? According to ESPN MLB draft expert Kiley McDaniel, Skenes is the best pitching prospect in the draft since Gerrit Cole went No. 1 overall in 2011. Like his college teammate Crews, Skenes was a dominant force on LSU’s national championship team as the right-hander went 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA and struck out an eye-popping 209 batters over 122⅔ innings during his lone season in Baton Rouge after transferring from Air Force.
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The highlight-reel plays top pick Paul Skenes is taking to Pittsburgh
Check out the highlights that helped make Paul Skenes the top overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Pirates took him here: While there are three clear top prospects in this class, Skenes is quite possibly the best pitching prospect in the draft since Stephen Strasburg or Gerrit Cole. In his one season at LSU, he absolutely dominated the best competition in the top conference in the country, handling the pressure that comes with pitching in the SEC with a presence that set him apart. The Pirates have shown signs of turning things around at the major league level and Skenes is about as major league-ready as a pitcher can be on draft day. — Mullen
Who is Crews? The most well-known player in this draft, Crews hit his way into college baseball lore in winning the 2023 Golden Spikes Award and becoming the first player to win back-to-back SEC Player of the Year awards. Though he is more likely to end up in a corner outfield spot than remaining in center, there is no doubt his bat will play anywhere after Crews hit .426 with 17 home runs and a 1.280 OPS in 71 games for the College World Series champion Tigers this season.
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The plays that helped Dylan Crews become a National
Check out the highlights that helped make Dylan Crews the second overall pick by the Nationals.
Why the Nationals took him here: For the first time ever, a pair of teammates have gone 1-2 in the MLB draft. Maybe the Nationals would have preferred Skenes, given that the strength of their farm system lies in its position players, but Crews dominated the best conference in the country and ranks as one of the best hitting prospects to come out of the college ranks in a long time. His combination of the hit tool, plate discipline and power indicates he should rise rapidly to the majors. — Schoenfield
3. Detroit Tigers: Max Clark, OF, Franklin Community (Ind.) HS
Who is Clark? The best prospect from the state of Indiana since Bryan Bullington went No. 1 overall (out of Indiana University) in 2002, Clark won 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year honors. Clark has a sweet left-handed swing that produces plus contact and bat speed with the only question being just how much power it will lead to in the pros given he has a smaller frame than the other elite hitters at the top of this draft.
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The plays that helped make Max Clark a Detroit Tiger
Check out the highlights Max Clark will be taking to Detroit after being selected third overall by the Tigers.
Why the Tigers took him here: We have our first true surprise of the night. Going into this draft, the talk was all about the three college stars who have separated themselves at the top of the class — yet the Tigers went with a high school hitter, and not Langford, with the No. 3 pick. But don’t let that fool you into thinking Clark is a stretch here. He would have been in the running for the No. 1 overall pick in many recent drafts if not for the SEC stars ahead of him this year. Clark has electric speed and could develop plus power as he develops, drawing comparisons to Corbin Carroll and Johnny Damon. — Mullen
4. Texas Rangers: Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
Who is Langford? A slugger who would be the clear No. 1 in many recent MLB drafts, Langford has been overshadowed a bit this season by the LSU combo of Crews and Skenes. The Florida slugger hit .373 with 21 home runs and a 1.282 OPS for the national runners-up this season, showing why scouts have been flocking to see him since a breakout sophomore campaign with the Gators in 2022 followed by a strong performance with Team USA last summer.
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The highlight-reel plays Wyatt Langford is taking to Texas
Check out some of the plays that helped make Wyatt Langford a Texas Ranger.
Why the Rangers took him here: The Rangers have to be thrilled to see an advanced college hitter like Langford fall to them with the fourth pick — a player who had more extra-base power in the SEC this past season than Crews. Langford is somewhat limited defensively, but the Rangers can dream on soon adding him and prospect Evan Carter to an outfield that already includes All-Star Adolis Garcia and 2023 breakout performer Leody Taveras. — Schoenfield
5. Minnesota Twins: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick (N.C.) HS
Who is Jenkins? Now the consensus top high school player in this draft, Jenkins packs high-end raw power into a compact swing that invokes comparisons to former MLB All-Star J.D. Drew. He won his second straight Gatorade state player of the year award this spring, batting .417 with an incredible .632 on-base percentage and .633 slugging percentage in 95 plate appearances while showing scouts he was fully recovered from a broken hamate bone that slowed him a bit in the summer of 2022.
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The top highlights the Twins can expect from Walker Jenkins
Check out the highlights that have helped the Twins select Walker Jenkins with the fifth pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Twins took him here: This was a five-player draft and the Twins get one of those players here before the talent drops off significantly. Jenkins has 30-home run power and the hit tool to project as a future .280 hitter in the majors, and he could stay in center field. In most drafts, that type of player is thick in the running for the No. 1 overall pick, so the Twins have to be ecstatic to get that kind of talent to round out the top five. — Mullen
6. Oakland Athletics: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon
Who is Wilson? The son of former Pirates shortstop Jack, who also coached him in high school, Wilson is a polished defensive shortstop who makes contact at an elite rate. Wilson posted a .361 batting average over his three seasons at Grand Canyon, including a .412 mark with just five strikeouts in 192 at-bats this spring.
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The plays that helped make Jacob Wilson an Athletic
Check out the highlights that have helped make Jacob Wilson a top-10 pick by the Oakland Athletics.
Why the A’s took him here: This was always going to be the part of the draft where it started getting unpredictable, and the A’s pull out a mild surprise here in taking Wilson — although you have to love the big league bloodlines and the elite contact ability. The A’s will have to hope the power will develop, but even if it doesn’t, perhaps there is a Nico Hoerner-type player here. Plus, while teams rarely draft for need, there is no doubt the A’s need a shortstop, as Nick Allen has struggled at the plate. — Schoenfield
7. Cincinnati Reds: Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
Who is Lowder? The ace of a Wake Forest squad that earned the No. 1 overall seed in this season’s NCAA tournament, Lowder joined former Virginia ace (and Mariners draft pick) Danny Hultzen as the only back-to-back ACC Pitchers of the Year. Using a fastball that hovers in the mid-90s and a strong changeup to keep hitters guessing, Lowder went a perfect 15-0 with a 1.87 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 120⅓ innings for the Demon Deacons this spring.
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The highlights the Reds can expect from Rhett Lowder
Watch the highlights that helped the Reds select Rhett Lowder with the seventh pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Reds took him here: Lowder might be the safest starting pitcher in this draft as a polished big-school starter with three above-average pitches. The big question here is if he has enough stuff to be a top-of-the-rotation ace or if he ultimately settles in as more of a No. 3 or No. 4 starter. But no matter Lowder’s ceiling, he should get to the majors quickly and that has become even more important since Cincinnati has vaulted itself into contention this season. — Mullen
8. Kansas City Royals: Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas) HS
Who is Mitchell? A rifle-armed catcher with an LSU commit, Mitchell has hit 97 mph on the mound, but his future is behind the plate where he’s viewed as the top high school catcher in the class. Some teams viewed him as a top-10 overall talent while others shied away from his age (almost 19) and the general risk associated with prep catchers. His defensive abilities are his calling card, but he also has plus power, although he’ll have to improve the swing-and-miss.
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The highlights the Royals can expect from Blake Mitchell
Check out the highlights that enticed the Royals take Blake Mitchell with the eighth pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Royals took him here: Hey, Salvador Perez isn’t going to play forever and has continued to morph more into a DH anyway. This is a big roll of the dice for the Royals, as prep catchers taken in the first round have a checkered draft history. Mitchell is the first prep catcher to go in the top 10 since the Marlins drafted Kyle Skipworth sixth overall in 2008 (he never reached the majors). The Royals also look years away from being any good, so they can afford to let Mitchell develop and hope he grows into his power potential and turns into a strong two-way performer. — Schoenfield
9. Colorado Rockies: Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
Who is Dollander? Dollander entered the 2023 season as the top pitching prospect in this draft before being passed by fellow SEC ace Skenes. The Tennessee right-hander’s ERA jumped more than two full runs to 4.75 this season after he went 10-0 with a 2.39 ERA while winning SEC Pitcher of the Year in 2022. At his best, he has a mid-90s fastball and a plus slider that helped make him a top-10 pick in this draft.
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The plays that helped make Chase Dollander a top-10 pick
Check out the highlights that helped Chase Dollander get selected by the Rockies in the first round.
Why the Rockies took him here: Let’s not forget, Dollander was the No. 1 pitching prospect in this draft class entering the season with a fastball that had scouts buzzing — things just didn’t go quite as planned from there. But that’s what makes the upside of this pick unusually high for a college pitcher.
If the Rockies can fix whatever was wrong with Dollander’s delivery this spring and bring out the 2022 version of the Tennessee ace, they’re getting a player who would have been off the board far before No. 9 tonight. Of course, the risk here is also greater, so this pick is a bet on Dollander and a bet on Colorado’s development department being able to bring out the best in him. — Mullen
10. Miami Marlins: Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit (Ore.) HS
Who is Meyer? The clear top prep pitching prospect in this draft, Meyer hails from the same Portland high school that produced 2020 first-rounder Mick Abel (No. 15 overall to the Phillies). Standing 6-foot-5 with a fastball that gets into the high 90s coupled with a strong breaking ball, Meyer has ace upside as a pro.
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The highlights the Marlins can expect from Noble Meyer
Watch the highlights that helped the Marlins select Noble Meyer with the 10th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Marlins took him here: He’s a huge upside right-hander with a triple-digit fastball and one of the best names in the draft. Start your preparation, Marlins marketing people! The Marlins have used just one of their past seven first-round picks on a pitcher and considering some of their misses on first-round position players, maybe this selection makes a lot of sense — especially if their 2026 rotations lines up as Eury Perez, Sandy Alcantara, Braxton Garrett and Meyer (and perhaps former first-rounder Max Meyer, as well). — Schoenfield
11. Los Angeles Angels: Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Florida Atlantic
Who is Schanuel? The powerful left-handed-hitting first baseman put up eye-popping numbers this spring, finishing second nationally in batting average (.447), first in on-base percentage (.615) and second in slugging percentage (.868). That combination of hit tool, patience at the plate and power had scouts flocking to FAU games as the season played out and has now made him the highest draft pick in Owls history.
Why the Angels took him here: The Angels strategy has been very clear at the top of recent drafts: Take guys who can get to the majors as quickly as possible, like 2022 first-rounder Zach Neto, who has already reached the majors. While Schanuel might not be ready to move quite that fast, he certainly fits the mold as a polished college hitter whose tools are more present than something to dream on for years down the road. While he isn’t going to match those incredible college numbers as a pro, it’s impossible to look past what he did at FAU this spring and he has the hit tool to back them up no matter the competition. — Mullen
Who is Troy? Troy has risen up draft boards after a strong summer in 2022, when he was named best pro prospect in the Cape Cod League. He followed it up by showing an uptick in power this spring at Stanford, belting 17 home runs (which matched his total from his two previous seasons with the Cardinal combined). While Troy played third base this season, the 5-foot-10, 197-pound infielder’s pro future could be at second base.
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The highlights the D-backs can expect from Tommy Troy
Watch the highlights that lured the Diamondbacks to take Tommy Troy with the 12th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Diamondbacks took him here: Because he can hit. Troy hit .394/.478/.699 for Stanford and showed he can handle high velocity up in the strike zone, a strong marker given the widespread major league philosophy of attacking hitters with high heat. He also offers some positional flexibility with the arm to handle third base and the range to play second base. Currently in first place in the NL West, the Diamondbacks are entering what they view as a multiyear contention window and Troy projects as a player who can reach the majors rather fast (and perhaps plug a hole at third base that has been a revolving door in Arizona in recent seasons). — Schoenfield
13. Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw, 2B, Maryland
Who is Shaw? The 2023 Brooks Wallace Award winner as college baseball’s best shortstop, Shaw is most likely ticketed for second base in the pros. No matter his future position, it is Shaw’s powerful bat that has scouts excited as he blasted 46 home runs in 122 games over his final two years at Maryland.
Why the Cubs took him here: While Shaw’s power is his standout tool, he is a pure hitter who can do a little bit of everything on the diamond. At the plate, he hits the ball hard to all fields, rarely strikes out, draws walks and can even run — as his 18 stolen bases this season show. Defensively, second base seems like the most likely ultimate destination for Shaw, but he has shown the ability to play shortstop, third base and outfield during his time at Maryland. That gives the Cubs plenty of options as he advances through their system. — Mullen
Who is Teel? A three-year starter at Virginia, Teel was named 2023 ACC Player of the Year on the strength of a .407/.475/.655 slash line. A left-handed-hitting catcher, his draft stock took off this season as continued defensive improvement behind the plate solidified his chances of sticking at the position professionally.
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Kyle Teel’s highlights that helped land him in Boston
Check out the highlights that helped Kyle Teel become the Red Sox’s first-round pick in 2023.
Why the Red Sox took him here: The Red Sox don’t really have a long-term solution at catcher as current starter Connor Wong possesses more of a backup’s skill set — and Teel’s hitting ability means he can move quickly if the defense develops. He is a left-handed hitter with an ideal swing for Fenway Park and good contact skills despite a violent swing, as well as a plus throwing arm. At the minimum, this looks like a pretty safe pick since Teel projects as a high probability major leaguer. — Schoenfield
Who is Gonzalez? Gonzalez burst onto the scene in 2021, when he won national freshman of the year honors by posting a .355/.443/.561 slash line on an Ole Miss team that made a surprising run to its first College World Series title. Though his numbers have dipped slightly since that breakout first year in Oxford, toolsy, left-handed-hitting shortstops who have proved themselves in college are very rare in the draft as this type of player is often selected and signed directly out of high school.
Why the White Sox took him here: In Gonzalez, the White Sox are getting a player who was in the conversation to sneak into the top five picks in this draft with the No. 15 pick. While the shortstop hasn’t quite followed up on the promise of his breakout freshman year at Ole Miss, he is one of the safest hitters in this draft with the tools to grow into a star, too. Chicago is getting a steady hitter with strong contact rates who doesn’t chase pitches out of the zone. He could ultimately hit 20-25 home runs in the majors — and should get to the majors pretty quickly. — Mullen
16. San Francisco Giants: Bryce Eldridge, 1B/RHP, James Madison (Va.) HS
Who is Eldridge? The top two-way prospect in this class, the 6-foot-7 Eldridge wants to play both ways in pro ball, though his draft stock is slightly higher as a hitter than on the mound. At the plate, he combines big-time power with strong contact rates — especially for a young hitter at his height — while on the mound, he complements a mid-90s fastball with a strong slider.
Why the Giants took him here: This is pretty interesting. For the second draft in a row, the Giants announce their first-round pick as a two-way player, after taking UConn P/1B Reggie Crawford 30th last year. Eldridge is a hulking young hitter who says he modeled his swing after Bryce Harper‘s — and he brings that type of power potential. The Giants have missed on some college hitters in recent years (Hunter Bishop, Joey Bart), so they’re going for more upside here in taking a high school player in the first round for the first time since Heliot Ramos in 2017. — Schoenfield
17. Baltimore Orioles: Enrique Bradfield Jr., CF, Vanderbilt
Who is Bradfield Jr.? Quite possibly the most electric player in this draft class, Bradfield stole 130 bases in 197 games over his three seasons at Vanderbilt. While his elite speed and strong center-field defense earned Bradfield a place in the first round, his power will be the biggest question mark as a pro.
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The top highlights the Orioles can expect from Enrique Bradfield Jr.
Check out the highlights that helped the Orioles select Enrique Bradfield Jr. with the 17th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Orioles took him here: The Orioles’ early draft strategy in turning around their franchise has been relatively simple: take hitters, take hitters, take hitters. And they continue that trend by taking Bradfield Jr. with their first pick tonight. Bradfield is a different kind of player than Jackson Holliday or Adley Rutschman though, with a game built around game-changing speed.
He did show the potential for some future pop when he slugged just under .500 (.498) as a sophomore at Vanderbilt and nobody in baseball is better at unlocking the best version of hitters than the O’s right now. If Baltimore can add just a little more thump at the plate to go with their new outfielder’s speed, look out. — Mullen
18. Milwaukee Brewers: Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
Who is Wilken? Wilken set the ACC record for career home runs by bashing 71 during his time at Wake Forest including 31 this spring. A former Cape Cod League MVP, Wilken will have a chance to stick at third base defensively but could end up eventually moving to first base — but with as much raw power as anyone in this draft, his bat should play at either position.
Why the Brewers took him here: Well, for starters, the Brewers love college hitters — this is the fifth time in a row they’ve used a first-round pick on one. Oh, they’re also last in the NL in runs scored so this pick fits an organizational need. They usually go for the more polished type, but Wilken had the second-highest isolated power figure in Division I, so there’s big-time home run potential if he can make enough contact — and he improved dramatically in that area this season for Wake Forest with 69 walks and 58 strikeouts. — Schoenfield
19. Tampa Bay Rays: Brayden Taylor, 3B, TCU
Who is Taylor? The first TCU position player to go in the first round of the MLB draft, Taylor’s eventual fit could be at either second or third base. His calling card is a left-handed swing that produces hard contact to all fields which helped him post an OPS over 1.000 in each of his seasons with the Horned Frogs and makes him one of the safest picks in this draft.
Why the Rays took him here: It’s a run of college bats! Eight of the past nine picks have been college hitters and it’s actually a little surprising that Taylor fell to the Rays at the back of that group. Taylor’s power jump — from 12 home runs as a sophomore to 23 as a junior — catapulted him into the first round and his approach is solid enough that he didn’t sacrifice much batting average to get to that newfound pop, instead just barreling baseball after baseball. Hitters like this are exactly who the Rays excel at getting the most out of and Taylor could be the next in a long line of Tampa Bay hitters who opposing pitchers dread facing. — Mullen
20. Toronto Blue Jays: Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest (Fla.) HS
Who is Nimmala? Young for his class as he is still 17 years old on draft day and with a unique background featuring time playing cricket before he began focusing on baseball, Nimmala might have the most unusual path to this year’s first round. While there are questions about his hit tool, Nimmala’s tools have drawn comparisons to Carlos Correa and Javier Baez from scouts.
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The top highlights the Blue Jays can expect from Arjun Nimmala
Watch the highlights that helped the Blue Jays select Arjun Nimmala with the 20th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Blue Jays took him here: Finally, one of the high school shortstops goes — and it’s a player with ridiculous tools. Kiley says there’s 30-homer potential here and a possibility that he even develops into the best player from this draft, whether as a shortstop or a power-hitting third baseman. But there is also enormous risk and a range of outcomes given the concern over his hit tool. Still, his background makes him one of the most interesting prospects in the draft to follow in coming seasons. — Schoenfield
Who is Davis? A power-hitting outfielder with the physique to match, Davis hit .362 with 21 home runs and had more walks than strikeouts for the Wildcats, grading highest for his raw power and throwing arm. His contact ability has been questioned in the past, but he did improve in that regard in 2023. He played left field for Arizona despite above-average speed and that strong arm, so he projects as a corner outfielder in the pros.
Why the Cardinals took him here: Power has never been a question for Davis, and he did a better job of getting to it in games while limiting the swing-and-miss issues that have previously plagued him, cutting his strikeout total from 66 in 2022 to 40 this past season. While his future might be in right field, the Cardinals are likely to at least give him a chance to stick in center field — especially given St. Louis’ glut of corner types throughout the system. — Mullen
22. Seattle Mariners: Colt Emerson, SS, Glenn (Ohio) HS
Who is Emerson? The first high school position drafted in the first three rounds from Ohio since Derek Dietrich in 2007, Emerson was the third baseman on the Team USA squad that won the 18-and-under World Cup last September. He was also an all-state wide receiver as a junior before giving up football his senior season to focus on baseball. A left-handed hitter, scouts love his swing and project him as a strong contact hitter, with some believing he can stick at shortstop and others thinking he ends up at third base.
Why the Mariners took him here: The Mariners drafted shortstop Cole Young in this range last season, and that pick has worked out so far, as Young is a top-100 overall prospect with a strong showing so far in the minors. Emerson is a similar player and after trading away their top middle infield prospects last year in the Luis Castillo trade, the Mariners are now restocked. Maybe Young and Emerson turn into their future double-play combination. — Schoenfield
23. Cleveland Guardians: Ralphy Velazquez, C, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS
Who is Velazquez? A left-handed hitter who had a decorated high school career, Velazquez is a bat-first catcher with an emphasis on “bat” because there are a lot of doubts about whether he can remain behind the plate. His speed probably limits him to first base if he does have to change positions.
Why the Guardians took him here: There is no question about Velazquez’s hitting ability, which ranks among the best of any high school player in this draft, and that’s what the Guardians are betting on here. If Velazquez can develop enough defensively to stay behind the plate, this pick could look like a steal as he makes his way toward Cleveland. If not, the Guardians can still feel good about getting one of the most powerful bats in this draft this close to the back of Round 1. — Mullen
24. Atlanta Braves: Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida
Who is Waldrep? While many pitchers taken this early in the draft are known for their velocity, it’s a devastating split-change that comes to hitters at 85-89 mph and drops sharply just before it gets to home plate that has Waldrep going this high. Although his overall ERA this season was an underwhelming 4.16, look no further than his postseason performance to see why he’s so highly regarded. The Florida right-hander struck out 12 batters against UConn in the regional round, followed by 13 against South Carolina over eight scoreless super regional innings, and then K’d 12 Oral Roberts batters over six innings at the College World Series.
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The top highlights the Braves can expect from Hurston Waldrep
Watch the highlights that helped the Braves select Hurston Waldrep with the 24th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Braves took him here: Because they’ve been pretty good in recent years in drafting college pitchers and getting them quickly to the majors (see 2023 All-Stars Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder). From a stuff standpoint, Waldrep is more Strider than Elder, which speaks to the upside here — besides the splitter, he also hits 99 mph with the fastball. He fanned 156 batters in 101 2/3 innings for the Gators and while the control has to improve, the Braves’ track record makes this an intriguing selection. — Schoenfield
25. San Diego Padres: Dillon Head, CF, Homewood Flossmoor (Ill.) HS
Who is Head? He’s an 80-grade runner who also has a plus throwing arm to go with his blazing speed. While there is big-time athleticism here and the ability to spray the ball in the gaps, he hasn’t shown much power yet and faced weak high school competition playing in the Chicago area.
Why the Padres took him here: Any conversation about Head’s game has to start with his speed, which earns an 80 grade — the highest possible — from scouts and translates into potentially elite defense in center field. That kind of elite tool is exactly what GM A.J. Preller and the Padres love to bet on in the draft. Head isn’t just an athlete playing baseball either, with a hit tool worthy of this first-round investment. The big question is his power. If Head can grow into a 12-15 home run hitter, he could be a star — but if he doesn’t, it will greatly limit his upside as a pro. — Mullen
26. New York Yankees: George Lombard Jr., SS, Gulliver Prep (Fla.) HS
Who is Lombard? The son of a former big leaguer who played six seasons in the majors and is currently the bench coach for the Tigers, George Jr. is – no surprise – a fundamentally sound player with good baseball instincts. A 6-foot-3 right-handed hitter, he’s not a lock to remain at shortstop, but scouts love his makeup and he just turned 18 in June.
Why the Yankees took him: Have you seen Josh Donaldson‘s batting average? There are across-the-board tools here and given the recent success of sons of major leaguers, the Yankees are betting on that working for Lombard as well. Interestingly, he didn’t devote himself fully to baseball in high school — he also played soccer — so there might be untapped potential to go with the strong fundamentals. — Schoenfield
Who is Miller? A longtime member of various Team USA youth teams, Miller has drawn comparisons to Donaldson since he was 15. He’s viewed as one of the most advanced prep bats in the draft, with bat speed, plus power from the right side and a strong understanding of the strike zone. Two things that may have led some teams to pass on him: He’s already 19, so models that favor youth worked against him, and he missed most of the spring with a broken hamate bone, although he did return for pre-draft workouts.
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The top highlights the Phillies can expect from Aidan Miller
Watch the highlights that helped the Phillies select Aidan Miller with the 27th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
Why the Phillies took him here: Miller has been one of the most well-known players in this class since his mid-teens, winning MVP of the Under Armour High School All-America Game and the 2022 High School Home Run Derby at All-Star Weekend. He has drawn comparisons to Donaldson for both his power swing and ability to draw walks, showing plus power against high-level competition. So how did he fall here? Miller is already 19 years old and was slowed by a hamate bone injury that derailed his senior season this spring. — Mullen
28. Houston Astros: Brice Matthews, SS, Nebraska
Who is Matthews? A high school quarterback in Texas, Matthews hit .359 with 20 home runs and 20 steals for the Cornhuskers, the first player in school history to reach 20/20 — and it came with some of the data points that front offices love these days, including an average exit velocity equal to Crews.
Why the Astros took him: New GM Dana Brown comes from a more traditional scouting background, but this is a pick that aligns with the Astros’ number-crunching models of the past decade. But Matthews is more than just a data darling, as all of his tools grade as average or better. Given the huge improvement from his sophomore to junior seasons, he could be a late-blooming prospect. He has the range and arm to play shortstop but made 21 errors, so he could end up moving elsewhere in the infield or perhaps to center field. — Schoenfield
Compensation pick
29. Seattle Mariners: Jonny Farmelo, CF, Westfield (Va.) HS
(for Julio Rodriguez winning ROY)
After taking a high school shortstop with their first pick, the Mariners go back to the prep ranks here. Farmelo is a late-blooming explosive outfielder who looks more like a center fielder now than he did a year ago and with a combination of hitting ability, power and speed.
Competitive Balance Round A
30. Seattle Mariners: Tai Peete, SS, Trinity Christian (Ga.) HS
Peete is young for his class at age 17. He’s a switch-hitting shortstop with plus power and also an early-round prospect on the mound as a pitcher. The question is whether Peete’s hit tool is strong enough to allow that power to play.
31. Tampa Bay Rays: Adrian Santana, SS, Doral (Fla.) HS
Another 17-year-old switch-hitting shortstop, Santana has a contact-oriented approach at the plate and 80-grade speed with the potential to be a very strong shortstop defensively — but his power could lag behind the rest of his game.
32. New York Mets: Colin Houck, SS, Parkview (Ga.) HS
(First pick dropped 10 spots because they exceeded the competitive balance tax threshold by more than $40 million.)
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The top highlights the Mets can expect from Colin Houck
Watch the highlights that helped the Mets select Colin Houck with the 32nd pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
The Mets couldn’t have asked for more than seeing a player who could have easily gone in the top 15 picks in this draft fall to them at No. 32. Houck was also a Power 5 recruit as a quarterback and while he’ll likely end up moving from shortstop to third base, his swing and offensive ability that draw Evan Longoria comparisons should play anywhere in the infield.
33. Milwaukee Brewers: Josh Knoth, RHP, Patchogue-Medford (N.Y.) HS
Knoth attended the same high school as 2023 All-Star Marcus Stroman, but his breaking-ball-heavy approach more resembles that of Lance McCullers Jr. or Matt Brash. Standing at just 6-foot-1 with inconsistent results as a prep, Knoth could develop into a starter or find his pro fit more as a reliever.
34. Minnesota Twins: Charlee Soto, RHP, Reborn Christian (Fla.) HS
Still just 17 years old, Soto has a lot of the things scouts look for in a starting pitcher: He stands 6-foot-5 with a fastball that touches 99 mph and backs it up with a plus slider and above-average splitter.
35. Miami Marlins: Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy (Mass.) HS
White has struggled with consistency and command since being the best pitcher in his class just a few years ago. But he stands at 6-foot-5, hits 95 mph and shows three plus pitches when he’s on.
36. Los Angeles Dodgers: Kendall George, CF, Atascocita (Texas) HS
(First pick dropped 10 spots because they exceeded the competitive balance tax threshold by more than $40 million.)
George is in the conversation for fastest runner in this draft and has relied on that speed and his contact skills. The question here, like for many 80-grade runners coming out of high school, is how much power he can add as a pro.
37. Detroit Tigers: Kevin McGonigle, SS, Monsignor Bonner (Pa.) HS
0:18
The top highlights the Tigers can expect from Kevin McGonigle
Watch the highlights that helped the Tigers select Kevin McGonigle with the 37th pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
McGonigle, No. 21 on McDaniel’s big board, is a pure hitter who can stick in the infield, although maybe not at shortstop. The rest of the tools maybe don’t jump out at you, but the most important is the hit tool — and that’s what McGonigle has.
38. Cincinnati Reds: Ty Floyd, RHP, LSU
Floyd made himself a lot of money with one of the most memorable starts in College World Series, striking out 17 Florida hitters in Game 1 of the CWS finals and rocketing himself up draft boards. His fastball velocity and slider have always been there, so the key to his pro development will be finding consistency with the command that has abandoned him at times.
39. Oakland Athletics: Myles Naylor, 3B, St. Joan of Arc (Canada) HS
Yep, Naylor is the youngest of the three Naylor brothers and joins Josh (12th overall pick in 2015) and Bo (29th pick in 2018) as a high pick. Like his older brothers, he can hit, although he doesn’t have Josh’s raw power. A shortstop in high school, Myles likely moves to third base or even the outfield as a pro.
Second round
40. Washington Nationals: Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
41. Oakland Athletics: Ryan Lasko, OF, Rutgers
42. Pittsburgh Pirates: Mitch Jebb, SS, Michigan State
43. Cincinnati Reds: Sammy Stafura, SS, Walter Panas (N.Y.) HS
44. Kansas City Royals: Blake Wolters, RHP, Mahomet-Seymour (Ill.) HS
45. Detroit Tigers: Max Anderson, 2B, Nebraska
46. Colorado Rockies: Sean Sullivan, LHP, Wake Forest
47. Miami Marlins: Kemp Alderman, OF, Ole Miss
48. Arizona Diamondbacks: Gino Groover, 3B, NC State
49. Minnesota Twins: Luke Keaschall, 2B, Arizona State
50. Boston Red Sox: Nazzan Zanetello, SS, Christian Brothers College (Mo.) HS
Remaining draft order
51. Chicago White Sox
52. San Francisco Giants
53. Baltimore Orioles
54. Milwaukee Brewers
55. Tampa Bay Rays
56. New York Mets
57. Seattle Mariners
58. Cleveland Guardians
59. Atlanta Braves
60. Los Angeles Dodgers
61. Houston Astros
Competitive Balance Round B
62. Cleveland Guardians
63. Baltimore Orioles
64. Arizona Diamondbacks
65. Colorado Rockies
66. Kansas City Royals
67. Pittsburgh Pirates
Compensation Picks
68. Chicago Cubs
69. San Francisco Giants
70. Atlanta Braves
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Greg Wyshynski
When Gavin McKenna is selected first in the 2026 NHL draft, which is the consensus projection for the 17-year-old phenom, it’ll be significant on several levels.
He’s a ladder out of the abyss for some moribund team that’s lucky enough to win the NHL draft lottery. He’s another young offensive star for the NHL to market, having amassed 129 points in 56 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League last season, while drawing comparisons to wingers like Patrick Kane and Nikita Kucherov.
He’s hope. He’s the future. But presently, Gavin McKenna represents something else entirely in hockey: He embodies the dramatic changes between the NCAA, Canadian Hockey League and the NHL that have altered the path for NHL prospects.
McKenna shocked the hockey world by opting to leave Canadian junior hockey for Penn State University’s men’s hockey program. He could have remained in the CHL for another dominant season. Instead, he’ll be an 18-year-old freshman battling in the Big Ten against bigger, stronger and more experienced players.
“It was a super tough decision. There are a lot of really great options out there. But me, my family and everyone in my circle decided that the best spot for me next year is Penn State,” he said, announcing his decision on “SportsCenter.”
McKenna’s big move comes at a time of radical changes for NHL prospects. Last November, the NCAA ruled that Canadian junior players were now eligible to play on Division I teams, ending a decades-old policy that made young athletes choose between the CHL and college hockey. The new rules go into effect in August, making McKenna one of the first Canadian junior players to make the jump to the NCAA — and easily the most significant one.
“Gavin’s elite. He’s dominated junior hockey like very few have in the past,” TSN prospects analyst Craig Button said.
That historic decision by the NCAA arrived just as college hockey programs were now flush with name, image and likeness (NIL) financial enticements for players. McKenna’s NIL money for attending Penn State is “in the ballpark” of $700,000, a source tells ESPN. Michigan State, the runner-up for McKenna’s commitment, had an NIL offer of around $200,000 to $300,000, according to College Hockey Insider.
The Nittany Lions men’s hockey program joined Division I in 2012, playing for one season as an independent until construction was completed on its new arena, funded primarily by Penn State alum Terry Pegula, owner of the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills. Penn State joined the Big Ten in 2013-14 when that conference began sponsoring hockey.
The progress has been steady for Penn State hockey. In 2015, its first alum made his NHL debut, as Casey Bailey suited up for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Penn State won the Big Ten tournament in 2017 and the regular-season title in 2020. The Nittany Lions made the Frozen Four for the first time this past season, losing to Boston University in the semifinals. All the while, they had a state-of-the-art new building and a boisterous home-ice advantage thanks to their raucous student section.
“It’s a good program. Penn State’s got a nice setup,” said Tony Granato, who coached Wisconsin in the Big Ten from 2016 to 2023. “They’re starting to carve out a little niche for themselves that differentiates them from Michigan or Michigan State or Wisconsin.”
Now it has a star whose name could become synonymous with Penn State hockey.
The Nittany Lions have had eight players drafted by NHL teams. Last month, defenseman Jackson Smith technically became the first Penn State player taken in the first round, the No. 14 pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets, although he’s an incoming freshman.
But the idea that the program could produce a No. 1 pick in the NHL draft was outlandish, even in the NIL era. Not anymore. Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky gives all the credit to McKenna for taking that leap of faith with his program.
“I think when you talk about Penn State specifically, I think he has a bit of a pioneering mindset. He wants to be the first, and I think he’s very comfortable with that pressure,” Gadowsky said.
Agent Pat Brisson has worked with other NHL draft phenoms who were selected first overall: Sidney Crosby (2005, Pittsburgh Penguins), John Tavares (2009, New York Islanders) and Nathan MacKinnon (2013, Colorado Avalanche). Now he’s working with McKenna, along with Matt Williams, a rising star at CAA.
“From the get-go, [Penn State] is where he wanted to go. It was something in his mind that he wanted,” Brisson told ESPN. “I’ve learned one thing about some of these young, special ones: They have that special chip in them. They have these goals in mind that they are special for a reason. I sit with Gavin and I can see in his eyes how the brain is working. It’s just unique. It’s hard to explain.”
Even harder to explain: what the path McKenna and other Canadian junior hockey stars are taking will mean for the sport in the years to come.
THE SUPREME COURT’S 2021 decision in NCAA v. Alston allowed for non-scholarship earned income across every division. That’s what helped create NIL allowances in college sports, in which athletes were no longer prohibited from making deals to profit off their name, image and likeness while competing in the NCAA.
Last month, the NIL landscape shifted dramatically when three separate federal antitrust lawsuits were ended through a $2.8 billion settlement that allowed colleges, going forward, to directly pay student-athletes up to a certain limit. The annual cap is expected to start at roughly $20.5 million per school in 2025-26.
Brisson said the NIL money didn’t fuel the decision by McKenna and his family. “The NIL obviously comes into play, but it’s not the primary decision of why he decided to go to college,” he said. “It’s all about the next step. We viewed this, along with the family, as an opportunity to continue to grow as a player more than anything else.”
Granato also believed the NIL money was part of McKenna’s decision but not the driving force. The former Wisconsin coach played 13 seasons in the NHL. Granato knows what’s awaiting McKenna after next year’s draft, and hence doesn’t believe NIL money could have been the determining factor here.
“Gavin McKenna is going to make more money than he could ever need in a real short period of time. So I don’t think it was down to the dollars and cents,” he said. “I think it was down to the respect and to the approach that Penn State laid out for him. Obviously, the money was to say how badly they wanted him, but I think that they made a big commitment to try to get their program to be a top team in the country.”
Granato said the benefits for Penn State go beyond what happens on the ice next season.
“If Gavin McKenna’s going to be on TV and in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the next 20 years, and he’s going to have a Penn State logo next to him through all the things he’s going to accomplish? The value he would bring to the university? I’d say that $700,000 or whatever is probably a pretty cheap investment,” he said.
0:33
Gavin McKenna scores sensational solo goal in the WHL
Top 2026 NHL draft-eligible prospect Gavin McKenna scores a goal-of-the-year candidate in Game 2 of the second-round series between the Medicine Hat Tigers and Prince Albert Raiders.
McKenna’s decision to go to the NCAA would have been a much more complicated one in the past. The NCAA had deemed anyone who played in the CHL ineligible because there are players who have signed professional contracts with NHL teams playing in those leagues that comprise it: the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. CHL players are also paid a monthly stipend that is capped at $250.
But in November 2024, the NCAA Division I council voted to make CHL players eligible for NCAA Division I hockey beginning in 2025. The council ruled that players can compete in the CHL without jeopardizing their NCAA Division I hockey eligibility, provided they aren’t “paid more than actual and necessary expenses as part of that participation.”
At the time, Western Hockey League commissioner Dan Near put out a statement supporting the NCAA rules changes as a way to “relieve the tension” for young players and their families who had to decide between junior hockey and NCAA eligibility.
“We stand by that. Just because we’re disappointed that Gavin won’t play in our league next year doesn’t mean that we have this whole different point of view on it,” Near told ESPN. “We wish Gavin the best. They had an incredible team in Medicine Hat. He did a lot for the community and the league. I hope he’s hugely successful.”
Near cautioned against drawing conclusions based on McKenna’s chosen path to the NHL.
“Gavin McKenna moving on early from the WHL or the CHL is not the same as all of the other changes going on,” he said. “It’s a notable cog in the wheel for sure. But this is such a giant, complicated environment that we live in right now that’s so rapidly changing. I think almost everybody would acknowledge that it’s going to take some time to see what happens.”
But McKenna’s decision has codified what many believe could be a new prospect pipeline in hockey: players starting in the CHL and then moving to the NCAA right before they’re drafted in the NHL — or immediately afterward.
BUTTON BELIEVES THAT McKenna’s path is the new pipeline. He played 16 games with Medicine Hat in 2022-23, followed by 61 games in 2023-24 — scoring 97 points — and then 56 games last season before packing up for Penn State.
“Now you can go, ‘What’s best for my development at 15? Or 16? Or 17?’ There’s going to be a lot of players who play in the CHL because the level of play and the coaching is good. But now they don’t have to forgo that opportunity to play in the NCAA,” he said.
There are differences between the two paths. The CHL has players competing in significantly more games in preparation for an NHL-like grind. The NCAA plays fewer games, leaving players more time to develop and train between them. The CHL offers players a chance to compete against those around their own development curve, while the NCAA has 18-year-olds battling against 23-year-olds. The CHL is billet life. The NCAA is college life.
Button is an optimist about the changing landscape. “I really, really love the idea that more doors open and present options for the players to look at their development in a different way,” he said.
He also doesn’t see this as a serious blow to the CHL. He points to NHL stars like Kane and Matthew Tkachuk that selected Canadian juniors over the NCAA. He notes that the current top prospects that do end up in the NCAA will likely do so after spending significant time in Canadian juniors. McKenna played 2½ seasons at Medicine Hat before making the leap to Penn State, leading the team to a conference championship and a Memorial Cup appearance last season.
“I know the CHL doesn’t want to lose 19-year-old kids to the NCAA, but they’re also going to get players that they weren’t going to get at 16 and 17,” Button said.
But Near doesn’t believe this is necessarily a new talent pipeline for NHL prospects.
“I have no problem with people experimenting or trying things out. I have no problem with other leagues that might be envious of the success that we’ve had — or wish to be declared as our equal — trying to suggest that we should be a development league for the NCAA, which in turn would be a development league for the NHL,” Near said.
“But that’s not what we are.”
The WHL commissioner notes the CHL has the better track record for player development, one that stretches back 50 years. He points to the 2025 NHL draft, in which 21 of the first round’s 32 picks came from Canadian junior hockey, while five picks were credited to U.S. college programs.
“The idea of someone going to the NCAA before their draft year will be occasional,” Near said. “This isn’t just about money. It’s also about what environment is going to put a player in the best situation to further his hockey development.”
He points to the billet environment. “Having a mother figure and a father figure around you to support you, help you with meals and help teach you how to do laundry and be independent,” he said.
He points to the CHL schedule and the number of games in which players will appear during a typical season, noting that the former junior players who get their professional start in the American Hockey League have said the CHL best prepared them for that grind.
Near isn’t looking to have the WHL rest on its reputation. He has a survey out to players this offseason to hear about what works and what doesn’t for them. “We’re not crossing our arms and saying we do it better. We’re spending a lot of time assessing what we can do better, how we can enhance the player experience and environment,” he said.
That includes thinking about CHL players that might find their way back to junior hockey after moving over to the NCAA. It’s a trend several sources anticipated happening in the new paradigm.
Factors behind that reversal could range from a lack of ice time to the realization that they’re not ready to face older competition to the fact that not every 18-year-old “walking onto a college campus, jumping onto the first power play and making the most NIL money” will be welcomed with open arms by older teammates with their own NHL aspirations, as one NHL source framed it.
“NCAA hockey is hard for a lot of 18- and 19-year-olds,” said Button, who sees the option to go back to juniors like a part of the transfer portal.
“There’s a transfer portal in the NCAA athletics right now. Maybe not as much ice time. Maybe there’s a depth chart where I don’t fit in. Maybe I’m not getting as much. So now you have the transfer portal in between schools, and there’s going to be a transfer portal back to the CHL. That’s going to be reality,” he said.
Another potential wrinkle for Canadians coming to the NCAA: rapidly changing immigration policies that could impact student visa statuses. It’s a topic Big Ten schools like Oregon have openly discussed since NIL started.
“I’m not rooting for anything to go poorly, but we are setting up our operations so that if a player has regrets that we’re going to welcome them back,” Near said.
“I think that there’s a possibility some guys swing back to our league. I think people will maybe develop a greater appreciation for all the things we do to create a player development experience. I wish it would come faster, because it’s a stressful time. But we’re watching closely and we’re acting where we think it makes sense.”
While times are stressful for Canadian junior hockey, Button doesn’t believe changes to the prospect pipeline are a net negative for the CHL.
“You have some people saying that everything is going to hell in a handbasket. No, it isn’t,” he said. “Doors are opening for the CHL teams with getting good younger players into their program. The NCAA is getting more talent from the players that have been drafted, who now see college hockey as an option. NHL teams have more options open to them with respect to being sure about who they’re signing. I think that’s great.”
AS IF THE PROSPECT LANDSCAPE hadn’t undergone enough change, the NHL and the NHLPA further shifted it themselves in their new collective bargaining agreement, which begins in the 2026-27 season.
One major change concerns 19-year-old players that were drafted by NHL teams from Canadian juniors. The NHL-CHL transfer agreement dictates that they either have to make an NHL roster or be returned to their junior team. Currently, CHL players can’t play in the American Hockey League until they turn 20 or complete four seasons in the CHL.
In the new CBA, the NHL will reopen its agreement with the CHL to seek to eliminate the mandatory return rule. “NHL will seek to limit NHL Clubs to Loaning no more than one (1) 19-year-old player per year to the AHL without the requirement of first offering such player to his junior club,” reads the new amendment.
Perhaps more importantly for the NHL draft, the new CBA states that players selected at age 18 will have their rights retained until “the fourth June 1 after they were drafted.” For 19-year-old draft picks, their rights will be retained “until the third June 1 after they were drafted.”
Button sees this as a significant new development window for teams and players that will impact juniors and the NCAA.
“The team has your rights for four years. It used to be in the CHL that you had to sign the player two years after you drafted him,” he said. “In the past, you might have to make a signing decision. Now, if a 20-year-old player might not be ready, a team can send him to the NCAA to get another year under his belt while retaining his rights.”
This practice could become one of the most significant developments in the post-NCAA eligibility world: that NHL teams could use the NCAA as a preparatory league for former Canadian junior players before bringing them to the pro level.
“I think that because of that fact, you are going to get more high-profile players in college hockey,” Gadowsky said. “NHL teams are going to support going to college hockey because of that. There are a lot of great players that have had a lot of success in junior hockey and are looking for the next step, but that may not be ready to reach the NHL. I think college hockey is an attractive option for many NHL teams.”
This trend is already happening. The Calgary Flames took center Cole Reschny from the WHL Victoria Royals at No. 18 in last month’s draft. Reschny is headed to North Dakota next season. (His Royals teammate Keaton Verhoeff, a highly touted defenseman, will join him at NoDak as the rare 17-year-old NCAA player.) The New York Rangers drafted winger Malcolm Spence from the OHL Erie Otters at No. 43. He’ll play at the University of Michigan next season.
“The CHL and the USHL teams have resources. They spend a lot of time on development, but it’s different at an NCAA school, especially a major power,” Button said. “It’s going to be really interesting for the kids at 18 who aren’t NHL-ready to go back to junior, and then at 19 you’re like ‘You’re either in the NHL or you’re back in junior.’ Well, now there’s the NCAA as the next step in terms of their development. You have to be a student-athlete and you have to commit to that. But I think the NHL benefits from this, too.”
MCKENNA WILL LIKELY head straight to the NHL after next summer’s draft, as almost every No. 1 pick has done for decades. He’ll do so after facing older, larger players for a season before joining the NHL, like Macklin Celebrini did with Boston University and Auston Matthews did with Zurich SC in the Swiss league.
“The guys that have confidence and are ready for that next challenge, that’s not going to scare them. They don’t care about dropping in the draft. They care about getting better,” Granato said. “If they’re going to get better by going to play against older and bigger and stronger players in a better league, they’re going to do it. That’s just their mentality.”
McKenna would be just the fourth winger in the past 15 drafts to be selected first overall, after Nail Yakupov (Edmonton Oilers, 2012), Alexis Lafreniere (New York Rangers, 2020) and Juraj Slafkovsky (Montreal Canadiens, 2022). None of these players had the early buzz that McKenna has generated, which is usually reserved for a franchise-level center among offensive players, like Connor McDavid or Matthews.
Button doesn’t see McKenna on McDavid’s level, and doesn’t see him as the goal scorer that Matthews has become. On the recent NHL first overall pick scale, he would slot McKenna in between Celebrini (San Jose, 2024) and Connor Bedard (Chicago, 2023).
But Button said the NHL comparables for McKenna — should he reach the potential of his trajectory — are a pair of former Hart Trophy winners: Patrick Kane and Nikita Kucherov. Both players can score goals, as Kane is sixth (492) and Kucherov is 22nd (357) among active players. But it’s their playmaking ability on the wing that reminds Button of McKenna, who was a Kane fan (and a Blackhawks fan) growing up in Whitehorse, Yukon.
“The way he can control the game, take over games. I think we play similar styles. Smart hockey players that can slow down the game but speed it up when we want,” McKenna said.
Gadowsky said McKenna’s ability to slow things down and create at his pace is indicative of an elite player that thinks the game differently. Gadowsky grew up watching Wayne Gretzky. While he’s not about to make a direct comparison between “The Great One” and “The Nittany One,” the way they both process hockey is something no one can teach them. It’s inherent.
“There’s no way that I or anybody else on our staff thinks like Gavin does. He is a very, very special athlete,” he said. “By no means am I ever going to talk to him about how his mind creates. That’s all him, and it’s going to be really fun to watch.”
That Penn State fans will be the ones watching him is still a bit surreal for Gadowsky, the only coach the program has known as part of the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions have been a slow-building success. Getting McKenna to commit is one giant leap forward for the program — and for college hockey.
“There’s a ton of great Penn State supporters that are really, really excited to watch him play and see what he does in the future,” Gadowsky said. “I mean, they’re going to love him. They’re going to absolutely love him and we’re thrilled that someone of his stature is going to be attached to Penn State.”
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Dan Murphy
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Dan Murphy
ESPN Staff Writer
- Covers the Big Ten
- Joined ESPN.com in 2014
- Graduate of the University of Notre Dame
President Donald Trump is considering an executive order that would require federal authorities to clarify whether college athletes can be considered employees of their schools, according to a draft copy of the order obtained this week by ESPN.
The draft calls on the Secretary of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board to “determine and implement the appropriate measures with respect to clarifying the status of collegiate athletes.” The draft states the employment status of college athletes should “maximize the educational benefits and opportunities” schools can provide through their athletic departments.
College sports leaders and several Republican lawmakers have been attempting for the past several years to block athletes from obtaining employee rights, because they say many athletic departments would not be able to afford the added costs that would come with employment.
While Trump’s potential order would not explicitly ban employment (the president does not have the authority to make that decision in an executive order), it does echo those concerns while demanding that the NLRB and Secretary of Labor clarify employee status for college athletes.
The news of a potential executive order was met with surprise around college sports earlier this week, after a CBS News story late Tuesday. Sources cautioned to ESPN that Trump might not go through with the executive order, which appears to be more supportive of college athletics rather than prescribing any specific transformational changes.
The White House press office did not respond to a request for comment.
The order, if signed in its current draft form, would also establish a commission to determine ways in which Trump’s office could support “the preservation of collegiate athletic opportunities,” a process that would include athletes, schools, conferences, lawmakers and other leaders with experience in the industry.
The draft also calls on other federal authorities — such as the Federal Trade Commission, Attorney General and Secretary of Education — to take less concrete steps toward creating policies that would support the future of college sports and the training those programs provide for future U.S. Olympians.
Trump’s office expressed interest months ago in an executive order that would help address some of the current turmoil in the college sports industry but has not yet acted.
Administrators have been asking Congress for several years to create a new federal law to help schools regain some of the power that has been eroded by antitrust lawsuits in the past decade. Those leaders have asked for a law that prevents athletes from becoming employees and provides the NCAA with an antitrust exemption that would allow them to make its own rules — many of which would limit players’ earning potential.
If the NLRB were to decide that college athletes should not be considered employees, athletes would not be able to form a union and collectively bargain for increased pay or other benefits.
Earlier this week, members of the House Commerce Committee voted to move forward with the legislative process on a bill that would grant the NCAA and college leaders the type of protection they are seeking. More than a dozen bills addressing the future of college sports have been introduced in the past five years, but none has yet to reach a full vote in either the House or Senate.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, told ESPN on Thursday that an executive order would not change plans to continue pushing forward with a bill in Congress.
“Our staff has had discussions with the White House about it,” Jordan said. “If and when it comes, it will be in no way contradicting the goals and intents of our legislation.”
Athletes began receiving payments directly from their schools on July 1, a major change to the business of college sports that arrived as a result of a recent antitrust settlement. Each school is allowed to pay up to $20.5 million to its athletes in the coming academic year, according to the terms of the settlement.
The new limits for compensation and the mechanism for enforcing those limits is likely to invite more lawsuits in the future if Congress does not grant the NCAA an antitrust exemption. Trump does not have the authority to grant an antitrust exemption via executive order.
Several football coaches and athletic directors have recently said they believe it would make more sense — and provide more stability — if their players were considered employees and were able to collectively bargain.
“The best way to do it is to make it where players are employees and you have a salary cap,” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm told ESPN earlier this month. “If players are getting paid, why don’t we just do it the correct way? The amateurism isn’t there anymore. Let’s not pretend that it is.”
The new system for compensation treats players as independent contractors who are receiving money in exchange for the rights to use their name, image and likeness in university promotions rather than employees who are being paid for their performance on the field. But contracts between schools and players could potentially strengthen the legal argument that athletes should be granted the rights that other employees have.
Two different groups of college athletes who were petitioning the NLRB for the right to form unions dropped their cases late last year shortly after Trump was elected.
There is one ongoing federal case (Johnson v. NCAA) that argues athletes should be considered employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The plaintiff’s attorney in that case, Paul McDonald, has previously argued that any action that blocks college athletes from being employees would be unconstitutional because it would treat the work athletes do as different than the work of other students who hold campus jobs.
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