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College World Series 2026 Top Prospects in Mock Drafts to Watch in Bracket Finals
We've reached the final round of the 2026 College World Series. On Saturday, fans will be drawn to Omaha for the opening showdown between the Oklahoma Sooners and the fifth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.
The matchup will be the culmination of a thrilling tournament and the first game in a best-of-three series that will crown this year's college baseball champion. It'll also serve as a showcase of some top Major League Baseball prospects.
MLB fans may be tracking the following players much more closely than others.
Here, you'll find a look at some of the top prospects in the championship series, along with scheduling and broadcast information. A look at how the tournament has unfolded thus far can be found at NCAA.com.
CWS Championship Series
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Who: No. 5 North Carolina vs. Oklahoma
Where: Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska
Game 1: Saturday, June 20 at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN
Game 2: Sunday, June 21 at 2:30 p.m. on ABC
Game 3: Monday, June 22 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN (if necessary)
Live Stream: ESPN app
Jake Schaffner, SS, North Carolina
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The reality is that this year's CWS tournament wasn't loaded with first-round prospects.
Alabama's Justin Lebron might have been the only first-round lock, and the shortstop went 11th overall to the Washington Nationals in the mock draft of Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel mocked Lebron 10th overall to the Colorado Rockies.
Alabama was ousted early, losing 9-0 to Oklahoma and 14-2 to Texas.
However, a few prospects playing over the weekend are likely to be selected in the MLB draft. North Carolina shortstop Jake Schaffner might be the most notable.
The lefty hitter batted .352 this past season with six home runs and 48 RBIs. He was widely considered North Carolina's top prospect entering the tournament.
"Schaffner lacks the high-end power and slam-dunk shortstop defensive package to sneak into the top 30 picks, but he's a well-rounded player who won't get out of the second round," McDaniel wrote.
The 21-year-old was ranked 91st on MLB.com's list of top 2026 draft prospects.
Owen Hull, OF, North Carolina
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Schaffner's teammate, outfielder Owen Hull, is another prospect to watch this weekend. In Reuter's ranking of the top-10 MLB prospects in the CWS, Hull came in at No. 8.
"Hull has an unorthodox swing, but his bat-to-ball skills and some untapped power in his 6'4", 215-pound frame potentially give him more upside to unlock once he reaches pro ball," Reuter wrote.
While Hull is only the 158th-ranked prospect on MLB's rankings, he appears to have plenty of fans as July's draft approaches.
Baseball America recently conducted a writer's draft—an exercise in what they would not, not a true mock draft—and Hull went 57th overall to the Houston Astros.
"Hull doesn't hit for much power yet, but he does everything else well, and he's shown this year that he can dominate in the ACC," Baseball America's J.J. Cooper explained.
Jason DeCaro, RHP, North Carolina and Brendan Brock, C/OF, Oklahoma
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North Carolina right-hander Jason DeCaro was the only other player from either team in the finals that made Reuter's top-10 list.
"With a durable 6'5", 225-pound frame and a polished four-pitch repertoire, Jason DeCaro fits the prototypical mold of a high-floor college starter," Reuter wrote. "His fastball sits in the low 90s, and he backs it with a curveball, slider and changeup, mixing his pitches well to keep hitters off balance and induce weak contact."
DeCaro is the 125th-ranked prospect on the MLB board.
While most of the top prospects are on North Carolina's side, Oklahoma isn't devoid of MLB-level talent. Catcher and outfielder Brendan Brock could wind up going in the first three rounds as well.
Brock is the 109th-ranked prospect on the MLB board and has good major-league upside.
"Brock is a plus to plus-plus runner and solid enough catcher but could fit better in the outfield as a pro to let his above-average power develop with limited development distractions," McDaniel wrote.
Third baseman Camden Johnson, MLB's 129th-ranked prospect, is another Oklahoma standout to watch this weekend.
