Memphis area prominent on Day 1 of 2026 MLB Draft

The Mid-South was well represented during Day One of the 2026 MLB Draft, as three of the area's top high school stars heard their names called and took the next step toward professional baseball in Cole Prosek Magnolia Heights/Senatobia, MS), Collin Bland (Houston) and Will Brick (CBHS).

Magnolia Heights standout Cole Prosek became the first local player off the board when the Chicago White Sox selected the talented infielder with the 41st overall pick. Ranked among the nation's top prep prospects, Prosek's advanced bat, athleticism and defensive versatility made him one of the premier high school position players available.

Houston High School slugger Collin Bland followed later in the day, going to the Tampa Bay Rays with the 113th overall selection. The Vanderbilt commit built a reputation as one of the draft's biggest power threats, showcasing elite exit velocities and middle-of-the-order potential throughout his prep career.

Christian Brothers catcher Will Brick rounded out the Mid-South trio when the Toronto Blue Jays selected him with the 131st overall pick. Considered one of the top catching prospects in the class, Brick impressed scouts with his defensive skills, arm strength and developing power at the plate.

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Some notes from 92.9 FM ESPN's Brad Carson, who has seen all three drafted players multiple times in 2025-26.

Cole Prosek from Magnolia Heights is an elite athlete who also starred at quarterback until his senior year at Magnolia Heights, when it became clear he'd likely go on Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft. Prosek was by far and away one of the best high school athletes in the draft, a versatile player that some scouts projected as a catcher, along with a dominate power bat with 18 home runs this past season from the left side. Prosek makes everything seem easy, even as a pitcher ranging 90+, catching, and all over the infield. Prosek is a natural star athlete.

Collin Bland is a BEAST, with some of the best RAW POWER numbers in 2026 hitting .432/.665/.811 during his senior season at Houston High School. Part of Bland's high school lure included this past state title game in Tennessee against Farrugut where Bland received TWO intentional walks after hitting a leadoff home run during his first at-bat. Likely the most powerful high school bat in Tennessee in the Class of 2026. If signed, Vanderbilt will miss an unbelievable power hitter who can play first base and right field. Bland's pre-hit warmup is flat-out scary as he jumps back and forth in the box with incredible bat speed once he's set in that open stance.

Will Brick just turned 18 and was originally part of the 2027 class at Christian Brothers before reclassifying to the Class of 2026. Committed to Mississippi State, my guess is it "could be" a tough sign by the Blue Jays. Given Brick went on Day 1, I suspect the Blue Jays will grant a signing bonus WELL ABOVE his MLB designated "slot value". In that case, Mississippi State will miss on a bigtime versatile defender in Brick, who played much of the season for Christian Brothers at third base. Frankly, at times it felt like he was the best third basemen in Tennessee, let alone by far and away the best athletic defensive cather in Tennessee, and likely in the US as a receiver. Brick is a superb athlete, who could have starred on the basketball court or football field at CBHS, but honed in on baseball. Brick will punish anything in the zone for contact and hits gap-to-gap with speed on the base path.