Dynasty Baseball: My Top 7 Pitching Steals of the 2026 MLB Draft

Every Major League Baseball Draft is remembered for its stars at the top, but championships are often built on the value teams uncover after the first round. Year after year, organizations find frontline starters, shutdown relievers, and future All-Stars well beyond the spotlight of draft night. The ability to identify and develop those overlooked arms often separates the league’s best scouting departments from the rest.

The 2026 MLB Draft appears to have produced another impressive crop of under-the-radar pitching talent. Whether because of injury concerns, signability questions, limited exposure, or simple draft-day circumstances, several highly talented pitchers slipped beyond where many evaluators projected them. Those selections could ultimately become some of the biggest bargains in the entire class.

While the first round always receives the most attention, some of the best long-term value in the 2026 MLB Draft came after the opening 30 picks. These seven pitchers have the talent to outperform their draft position and develop into impact major leaguers. Their combination of stuff, projection, athleticism, and organizational fit makes them some of the most intriguing arms to follow over the next several seasons.

Dynasty Baseball: My Top 7 Pitching Steals of the 2026 MLB Draft

What I Looked For:

These rankings aren’t simply based on where players were drafted. I evaluated each pitcher by considering four key factors:

• Overall stuff (velocity, pitch quality, and arsenal)
• Long-term projection (physical upside and room for development)
• Value relative to draft position
• Organizational fit and the likelihood that the drafting club can maximize the player’s potential

While some pitchers project as safer bets than others, every arm on this list has the talent to significantly outperform his draft slot.

Hunter Dietz, LHP – New York Yankees (No. 35 Overall)

Overall Future Value: 65 (Potential No. 2 Starter)

Scouting Profile

Dietz is one of the most physically imposing college arms in this draft class at 6-foot-6 with a durable frame built for innings. He attacks hitters with a mid-to-upper-90s fastball that plays up because of its riding life through the strike zone. His tight mid-80s slider is a true swing-and-miss offering capable of generating chase against hitters from both sides of the plate. A sharp curveball gives him a second breaking pitch, while his improving changeup has flashed above-average potential. Despite missing developmental time due to injury, Dietz returned in 2026 showing improved command and confidence. If he continues refining his strike throwing, he has legitimate frontline starter upside.

Fastball: 70
Slider: 65
Curveball: 55
Changeup: 55
Control: 55

Brody Bumila, LHP – Texas Rangers (No. 89 Overall)

Overall Future Value: 65 (Highest Ceiling in the Class)

Scouting Profile

Few pitchers possess the physical gifts of Bumila. Standing 6-foot-9 with exceptional extension, he creates difficult angles that make his fastball appear even faster than the radar gun suggests. His heater already reaches triple digits and projects to remain an elite weapon as he matures. His slider flashes plus with late bite, while his changeup continues to improve. The primary concern remains durability following elbow issues, but if healthy, Bumila possesses true ace potential. Texas is betting on upside, and few selections in the draft offer more of it.

Fastball: 80
Slider: 60
Changeup: 50
Control: 45

Tegan Kuhns, RHP – St. Louis Cardinals (No. 32 Overall)

Overall Future Value: 60 (Mid-Rotation Starter)

Scouting Profile

Kuhns may be the safest pitcher on this list. He combines premium stuff with advanced command, attacking hitters with a fastball that sits 94-97 mph while consistently working ahead in counts. His curveball already grades as a plus offering, and his developing changeup gives him a legitimate weapon against left-handed hitters. What separates Kuhns is his strike-throwing ability and mature approach to sequencing. His polish should allow him to move quickly through the Cardinals’ system.

Fastball: 65
Curveball: 60
Changeup: 55
Control: 65

Sean Duncan, LHP – New York Yankees (No. 63 Overall)

Overall Future Value: 55 (No. 3-4 Starter)

Scouting Profile

Duncan is a highly athletic left-hander with plenty of room to add strength and velocity as he matures. His fastball currently sits in the low-to-mid 90s with excellent life, while his slider has developed into his primary strikeout pitch. His delivery is clean and repeatable, allowing scouts to project future command gains. The Yankees have enjoyed success developing similar athletic lefties, making Duncan one of the more intriguing long-term bets in the draft.

Fastball: 60
Slider: 55
Curveball: 50
Changeup: 50
Control: 55

Jensen Hirschkorn, RHP – Atlanta Braves (No. 84 Overall)

Overall Future Value: 55 (Mid-Rotation Starter)

Scouting Profile

Atlanta has built one of baseball’s strongest reputations for developing pitchers, and Hirschkorn has the type of arsenal the organization covets. His fastball shows heavy life in the mid-90s, and his power breaking ball has the shape to become an above-average major league pitch. He repeats his delivery well for a young power arm and competes aggressively in the strike zone. As his changeup develops, Hirschkorn has a chance to profile comfortably in the middle of a major league rotation.

Fastball: 60
Slider: 55
Changeup: 50
Control: 55

Tyner Horn, RHP – Cincinnati Reds (No. 94 Overall)

Overall Future Value: 55 (No. 4 Starter / Late-Inning Reliever)

Scouting Profile

Horn offers one of the better combinations of arm strength and athleticism among Day Two selections. His fastball features late life in the mid-to-upper 90s, and his hard slider consistently misses bats. While his command still requires refinement, he has shown steady improvement and projects to throw more strikes with professional instruction. Cincinnati’s recent success developing young pitchers makes Horn an excellent developmental fit with considerable upside.

Fastball: 65
Slider: 60
Changeup: 50
Control: 50

Ruger Riojas, RHP – Philadelphia Phillies (No. 100 Overall)

Overall Future Value: 50 (Back-End Starter / Multi-Inning Reliever)

Scouting Profile

Riojas may not possess the pure velocity of some of the names ahead of him, but he consistently stands out because of his polish, competitiveness, and feel for pitching. His fastball plays well thanks to command and movement, while his slider and changeup give him multiple weapons to keep hitters off balance. He projects as the type of pitcher who could exceed expectations by relying on pitchability rather than overpowering stuff. Philadelphia’s player development system has done an excellent job maximizing pitchers with similar profiles.

Fastball: 55
Slider: 55
Changeup: 50
Control: 60

Every MLB Draft produces its share of hidden gems, and the 2026 class appears no different. While the spotlight naturally shines on the first-round selections, history has shown that impact major league pitchers are often found well after the opening night. This group of seven arms represents a blend of high-ceiling upside, polished collegiate production, and projectable high school talent that could eventually outperform their draft positions.

Hunter Dietz and Brody Bumila headline the list with frontline starter potential, offering the type of electric stuff that can anchor a rotation if their development continues on the right path. Tegan Kuhns stands out as one of the safest bets thanks to his command and advanced pitchability, while Sean Duncan and Jensen Hirschkorn possess the athleticism and projection that organizations covet in young starters. Tyner Horn brings power stuff and late-round value, and Ruger Riojas rounds out the group with the polish and feel for pitching that often allow overlooked prospects to climb through a farm system.

Player development will ultimately determine how these careers unfold, but each of these seven pitchers has the tools to become one of the biggest steals of the 2026 MLB Draft. Whether they develop into frontline starters, reliable rotation pieces, or high-leverage relievers, don’t be surprised if several names on this list far exceed the expectations attached to their draft slot. In a few years, fans may look back at the 2026 draft and wonder how teams allowed this much pitching talent to slip beyond the first round.