The 2026 MLB Draft Combine will take place from June 23 to 26 at Chase Field in Phoenix, drawing 335 of the most promising draft‑eligible players, of whom 140 are high school prospects. The event serves as a final audition before the draft itself, scheduled for July 11‑12 in Philadelphia.
Arkansas’ Top Prospects
Headlining the group is Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas’ top‑rated signee and a projected first‑round pick. He is listed sixth by ESPN, eighth by Baseball America and thirteenth by MLB Pipeline, and he earned All‑America honors while also being a finalist for the Gold Glove Award.
Hunter Dietz, a left‑handed pitcher, is ranked fifteenth by MLB Pipeline, twenty‑fourth by ESPN and forty‑first by Baseball America. In his first full college season he posted a 3.57 ERA and struck out 131 batters over 85 2/3 innings, earning consensus All‑American recognition.
Other Arkansas pitchers in the mix include Gabe Gaeckle and Carson Wiggins, both of whom are also charted by the three major services. Wiggins, a draft‑eligible sophomore, missed the season after Tommy John surgery, while Ethan McElvain and Camden Kozeal were named All‑Americans and appear on Baseball America and MLB Pipeline lists.
A Deep Field of Talent
The combine will feature workouts and a live game pitting high‑school prospects against one another, giving scouts a chance to evaluate raw talent in a controlled setting. Historically, 87 of the first 100 picks in 2025 had participated in the combine, underscoring its importance as a predictor of success.
Beyond the Razorbacks, the field includes high‑school standouts such as Jorvorskie Lane Jr. of Grapevine, Texas, and Judah Ota of Honolulu, Hawaii, each of whom is ranked by multiple services. Their participation adds depth to a draft class that many analysts expect to be among the most competitive in recent memory.
The draft itself will unfold over two days in Philadelphia, with the first four rounds on July 11 and rounds five through twenty on July 12. While the combine offers a final chance to boost stock, the ultimate destination for these players will be determined by team selections in the weeks that follow.