It is finally that time of year.
The 2026 NCAA Regionals begin this weekend, officially signaling the height of scouting season, as front offices across Major League Baseball turn their attention toward Omaha and the upcoming MLB Draft.
For the Baltimore Orioles, who currently hold the seventh overall pick, this weekend presents an opportunity to evaluate some of the top college talent in the country.
With that being said, here are four collegiate prospects worth monitoring closely as regional play begins.
Drew Burress: OF – Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets put together one of the most impressive seasons in college baseball, finishing 48-9 and capturing the ACC title. Entering regional play as a No. 2 seed, Georgia Tech’s offense has been among the nation’s best, and junior outfielder Drew Burress has been at the center of it all.
Burress started all 57 games for the Yellow Jackets and slashed .366/.478/.660 with a 1.138 OPS. He finished second on the team in hits (87) and doubles (22), while ranking third in home runs with 14. Those 14 homers also pushed him into Georgia Tech history, as Burress became the program’s all-time home run leader with 58 career long balls.
One of five Yellow Jackets named First Team All-ACC, Burress is currently ranked No. 8 on MLB Pipeline’s draft board, making him the highest-rated college outfielder in the class. His offensive profile stands out immediately, but he also brings strong defensive range and athleticism in the outfield.
Georgia Tech opens regional play Friday at noon EST against Illinois Chicago on ACC Network.
A.J. Gracia: OF – Virginia
Virginia took a significant step forward in 2026, and much of that improvement came from an explosive offensive lineup led by Duke transfer A.J. Gracia.
The 21-year-old outfielder led the Cavaliers in all three slash line categories, posting a .338/.478/.616 line with a 1.095 OPS. Gracia also paced the club with 67 hits, added 13 doubles and tied for the team lead with 14 home runs. Perhaps most impressively, he recorded 45 walks compared to just 34 strikeouts while driving in 42.
Gracia earned All-ACC Second Team honors and enters his third consecutive NCAA Regional appearance after previously reaching the tournament with Duke in both 2024 and 2025. During Duke’s 2025 Super Regional matchup against Murray State, Gracia collected two hits, including a home run.
Currently ranked No. 11 on MLB Pipeline’s draft board, Gracia continues to climb into serious top-10 consideration.
Virginia opens regional action Friday at 7 p.m. EST against Jacksonville State on ESPN+.
Hunter Dietz: LHP – Arkansas
Burress and Gracia are the clear headliners entering the weekend, but Hunter Dietz represents the type of high-upside arm that could still make sense for Baltimore at No. 7 overall.
The 6-foot-6 left-hander entered 2026 with just 1.2 career collegiate innings across four appearances after an injury-shortened 2025 season. Despite the lack of experience, Dietz quickly established himself as one of the SEC’s top pitchers.
In 15 starts for Arkansas, Dietz posted a team-best 3.40 ERA across a team-high 79.1 innings. He also led the Razorbacks with 117 strikeouts while allowing just 30 earned runs all season.
Dietz earned Second Team All-SEC honors and currently ranks No. 18 on MLB Pipeline’s draft list. His combination of size, strikeout ability and rapid development makes him one of the more intriguing pitchers to watch during regional play.
Arkansas opens Friday night against Missouri State at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN+.
Jackson Flora: RHP – UC Santa Barbara
The final name on this list may only be considered a “risk” because selecting him at No. 7 could ultimately look like a massive steal. Jackson Flora’s 2026 season at UC Santa Barbara has been nothing short of dominant.
Across 15 starts, Flora posted a remarkable 1.05 ERA over 94.1 innings. That mark currently stands as the second-lowest single-season ERA in program history among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched, trailing only Craig Schell’s 1.02 ERA in 1967.
Flora also became just the third pitcher in school history to maintain a perfect 1.000 winning percentage with at least five victories, joining Rodney Boone (2019) and Joe Isaacson (2000).
The right-hander recorded 124 strikeouts, tying Dan Yokubaitis’ 1983 total for the second-most in a single season in program history. He now sits just four strikeouts behind Rodney Boone’s school record set in 2021.
Currently ranked No. 4 on MLB Pipeline’s draft board, Flora has firmly established himself as one of the premier pitching prospects in the country.
UC Santa Barbara opens regional play Friday at 6 p.m. EST against Tarleton State on ESPN+.
These are four of the most intriguing prospects to watch as the road to Omaha begins. Regional weekend always delivers chaos, breakout performances and unforgettable moments, and this year’s field is loaded with elite talent that could shape the top of the MLB Draft.
For the Orioles, the seventh overall pick presents an opportunity to add another cornerstone talent to an already strong farm system. This weekend may offer the clearest look yet at who could become that selection.
Which collegiate prospects are you intrigued by the most? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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