Class of 2026 Watch List: 20 prospects who could make commitments

Roxbury Latin '26 James Gibbons (Joe Sullivan/NEBJ)

August 1 is a significant date on the NCAA Division 1 baseball recruiting calendar because it’s when college coaches can start initiating recruiting discussions with incoming high school juniors.

Prior to August 1, the NCAA prohibited communication between D1 coaches, potential recruits, and anyone speaking on behalf of the athlete.

For that reason, we expect to see an uptick in commitments for players in the Class of 2026. Now that college coaches can communicate with those players, offers will be extended.

Nine prospects in the Class of 2026 already committed to college programs before the NCAA implemented the rule change in 2023. Here’s a look at 20 more who could commit in the coming weeks.

COMMITTED PROSPECTS

Quincy Bright ’26

Commitment: Mississippi State
LHP, Salisbury School
Hometown: Hamden, Conn.
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185

Bright earned a selection to the Area Code Underclass Games roster last summer. The left-hander arrived on the Salisbury campus with much fanfare in 2024, a Mississippi State commitment already secured. He suffered an injury to his pitching arm that required Tommy John surgery this spring, and he has yet to return to the mound.

Amato Civitello ‘26

Commitment: UConn
SS, Hamden Hall
Hometown: East Haven, Conn.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 145

Civitello was a key piece for the FAA and New England Small School champs at Hamden Hall. He batted .392, adding 17 RBIs, 36 runs scored, and had a .525 OBP. In all, Civitello collected 38 hits and stole 17 bases.

Shaun Flannery ’26

Commitment: UConn
RHP, Choate Rosemary Hall
Hometown: Wallingford, Conn.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 190

An All-Founders League selection with Choate this spring, the CT Grind prospect recently earned MVP of the Perfect Game 17U Alabama World Series. His fastball tops out in the high-80s, and he can swing a powerful bat at the plate.

Bryce Hill ’26

Commitment: Stanford University
RHP, Greenwich Country Day
Hometown: Greenwich, Conn.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 215

The recent selection to the Area Code Games has a fastball that tops out at 95 mph. Clubhouse Evoshield director Mike Porzio thinks Hill has the potential to reach 100 mph as he adds strength to his 6-foot-5 frame.

Vincent Lombardo ’26

Commitment: UConn
OF, Fairfield Prep
Hometown: Trumbull, Conn.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185

The Artillery Baseball and CT Grind prospect has a violent swing that produces big exit velocity numbers. He also has exceptional speed in the outfield and on the base paths as well as a plus arm. He had four home runs during the high school baseball season for Fairfield Prep.

Bradley McCafferty ’26

Commitment: Duke University
C, Austin Prep
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 190

In 58 at-bats this spring, McCafferty batted .448, with a .549 OBP, and 1.187 OPS. He collected 26 hits and drove in 18 runs.

Ben Sabatini ’26

Commitment: Boston College
RHP, Governor’s Academy
Hometown: Fremont, N.H.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190

The 603 Evo prospect has a fastball that tops out at 91 mph. He transferred to Governor’s Academy from St. Thomas Aquinas before the 2023 season.

Kaleb Traylor ‘26

Commitment: University of Missouri
3B, Salisbury School
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190

At Salisbury this spring, Traylor maintained a .409 batting average, .529 OBP, and 1.104 OPS. He collected 27 hits, drove in 23 runs, and scored 23 times. Traylor earned All-WNEPBL honors. 

Ryan Ventrelle ’26

Commitment: Boston College
SS, Fairfield Prep
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn.
Bats: Left | Throws: Right
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 165

The Team Elite prospect committed to BC in January of 2023, when Mike Gambino was still the head coach. If he sticks with his early commitment, he could provide BC with a power-hitting left-handed bat and plus middle-infielder.

Uncommitted Prospects

AJ Baroncelli ’26

RHP, Oliver Ames High
Hometown: North Easton, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175

The GBG Northeast prospect touched 90 mph on the radar gun at the PBR National Championship in Georgia. He has posted a 1.81 ERA with 29 strikeouts this summer.

Matt Blanusa ’26

RHP/MIF, Dexter Southfield
Hometown: Newton, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190

The NEB prospect transferred to Dexter from Newton South before his sophomore season His fastball recently topped out at 88 mph at the PBR Future Games.

Brody Bumila ’26

LHP, Bishop Feehan
Hometown: Raynham, Mass.
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 205

The GBG Northeast prospect may be New England’s top prospect in the Class of ’26 after earning selections to the Area Code Games and USA Baseball Development Program. Bumila’s fastball tops out at 96 mph.

Alexander Cantwell ’26

C/3B, Dexter Southfield
Hometown: Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Bats: Left | Throws: Right
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 175

The Canes American prospect recently had a productive week at the PBR Future Games, delivering multiple extra-base hits and one home run. He earned Player of the Game in Team Massachusetts’ third game.

Matt DeFilippo ’26

RHP, Avon Old Farms
Hometown: Farmington, Conn.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 175

The MVP New England prospect has showcased an emerging power arm with a fastball that works between 89 and 91 mph along with a wipeout slider. He will participate in the PBR Future Games.

Chase Edgar ’26

RHP, Austin Prep
Hometown: Atkinson, N.H.
Bats: Switch | Throws: Right
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 165

The NEB prospect recently earned Most Outstanding Pitcher for Team Massachusetts at the PBR Future Games. His fastball tops out at 87 mph.

Morrie Fried ’26

3B, Pittsfield High
Hometown: Pittsfield, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 215

The Rip City Academy product had the fourth-highest exit velocity of any player in the nation at the PBR Future Games, clocking a 105.8 mph shot off the bat.

Brett Gallo ’26

C, St. Sebastian’s School
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200

The North East Baseball backstop was instrumental in leading St. Sebastian’s to an ISL title in 2024. He swings a powerful bat and boasts three years of starting experience as a catcher in the ISL.

Gidon Genger ’26

RHP, King School
Hometown: New Canaan, Conn.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210

The Baseball U CT prospect had a standout freshman year at King, posting a 2-1 record on the mound with a 3.45 ERA. He posted 26 strikeouts in 27.2 innings. His fastball has topped out at 89 mph this summer.

James Gibbons ’26

RHP, Roxbury Latin
Hometown: Milton, MA
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 190

An Honorable Mention ISL selection in 2024, the Matt Duffy Academy prospect made an immediate impact in the ISL as an eighth-grader in 2022. He throws a fastball that sits in the mid-80s while showcasing a pair of breaking balls.

Jett Little ’26

RHP, Dexter Southfield
Hometown: Bedford, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 190

The New England Ruffnecks prospect has emerged as an electric pitcher this summer, showcasing a fastball that tops out at 92 mph with improved command.

Logan Martel ’26

C, Canterbury School
Hometown: Westfield, N.J.
Bats: Left | Throws: Right
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205

A First Team All-WNEPBL selection at Canterbury, Martel got off to a hot start to the season, batting .423 with a home run and six doubles through the first 10 games.

Dustin Menzel ’26

C, Coventry High
Hometown: Coventry, Conn.
Bats: Left | Throws: Right
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 180

A potential D1 catcher, Menzel has elite strength for his age. He hits in the No. 3 hole for the 17U and 18U Antonelli Baseball teams even though he is eligible to play at the 15U level. He is also a plus defensive catcher with strong blocking and receiving skills. He has thrown out six attempted base-stealers this summer.

Ryan Moreschi ’26

OF, Austin Prep
Hometown: Peabody, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Left
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 165

The Show New England prospect impressed at the PBR Future Games, earning a Player of the Game for Team Massachusetts.

Logan Our ’26

OF, St. John Paul II
Hometown: Centerville, Mass.
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 175

The Kings Elite outfielder has a big arm and plenty of range. He also provides a lefty bat that can produce at the top of an order. A potential five-tool prospect, he can clock a 85-mph fastball on the mound.

Jack Redmond ’26

RHP, Austin Prep
Hometown: Littleton, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 195

The big right-hander throws a fastball that sits in the mid-80s and tops out at 88 mph. The Antonelli Baseball prospect commands two pitches — a fastball and breaking ball. He dominated a D1-laden USA Prime roster in Georgia.

Andrew Reid ’26

RHP, Middlesex School
Hometown: Lowell, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185

The Boomer Baseball prospect was a Second Team All-ISL selection as a freshman after posting a 6-2 record and 2.12 ERA for Middlesex. As a sophomore, he flirted with multiple no-hitters.

Ryan Ruggiero ’26

OF, Winchendon
Hometown: Stow, Mass.
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Height: 5-8 | Weight: 150

The New England Ruffnecks prospect is having a productive summer in centerfield, continuing the offensive onslaught that he delivered for Winchendon in the spring. He recently played in the PBR Futures Game.

Brian Seo ’26

OF, Belmont Hill
Hometown: Lexington, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185

The NEB product has been barreling baseballs all summer, starting with the Perfect Game WWBA National Championships in Georgia, when he hit .650 for the tournament.

Eion Sheehy ‘26

LHP, St. Paul’s School
Hometown: Hollis, N.H.
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185

The NH Prospects left-hander was solid on the bump for the Pelicans, finishing with a 6-0 record, a 2.03 ERA, and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 26:10 for the Lakes Region champs. Offensively, he batted .400, with a.667 slugging percentage, and 19 RBIs. He earned an All-Lakes Region selection.

Andrew Shute ’26

RHP, Bishop Feehan
Hometown: North Attleboro, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 195

The GBG Northeast prospect has seen a jump in his fastball velocity this summer, topping out at 90 mph.

Teddy Stephenson ’26

SS, Bangor High
Hometown: Bangor, Maine
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205

The Maine Lightning prospect has a strong enough arm to stay at shortstop at the next level, and he can hit for power with exit velocities eclipsing 100 mph. He was selected to the PBR Future Games.

Eric Willi ’26

C, Belmont Hill
Hometown: Weston, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185

The NEB product earns the praise of coach Mike Abraham for being one of the top catcher prospects in his class. He was a member of Belmont Hill’s ISL championship team in 2023.