By Scott Barancik, Editor
A total of 613 amateur players—yes, the precise number of mitzvot in the Torah—were selected in last weekend’s 20-round MLB draft. At least three Jews made the cut. You can read about them below.
In addition, there is a trio of draftees who have a Jewish parent but cannot be listed at present. One identifies as Jewish but has asked to remain private; another didn’t respond to our inquiries; and a third currently doesn’t identify as Jewish. We will honor their privacy.
If you know of other Jewish draftees, please reach out to us. Our email is editor@jewishbaseballnews.com. Meanwhile, we will let you know if any undrafted players sign a minor-league contract.
Onward!
Adam Agresti
C Adam Agresti, a 6-foot-3-inch junior at St. John’s University, was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 11th round (No. 319 overall) of the 2026 MLB Draft—considerably earlier than Baseball America had predicted.
The 21-year-old’s third season with the Red Storm showed a marked increase in power. Agresti hit .297 (65-for-219), led the Big East Conference with 20 HRs, drove in 55 runs (No. 2), recorded a .441 OBP (No. 5), and drew 48 walks while striking out just 37 times. The performance earned him a spot on the 2026 All-Big East First Team.
Agresti’s season didn’t end there. In the NCAA Division I tournament, the New York native helped St. John’s capture the four-team Tallahassee Regional by stroking a grand-slam HR in the deciding game against Florida State. Agresti subsequently was named the NCAA Tallahassee Regional Most Outstanding Player.
Baseball America spoke highly of Agresti in its pre-draft report. “MLB scouts seem most excited about his power potential and the loud exit velocities he produced this season,” the publication wrote. “He keeps his hands far away from his chest in his swing, with an aggressive hack and pull-oriented approach.”
Agresti—who proudly wears a Star of David necklace—was highly touted as a high school senior. Prep Baseball Report named him the No. 1 catcher in New York and No. 10 nationwide.
Alex Kranzler, RHP
Alex Kranzler, a 6-foot-3-inch junior at Vanderbilt University, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 17th round (No. 514 overall) of the 2026 MLB Draft.
Kranzler, 21, recently completed a stint with the Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft League, playing in the amateur half of the league’s split season. There he went 1-1 with an impressive 2.35 ERA across five starts, yielding just 10 hits over 23 innings, limiting opponents to a .127 batting average (No. 4 among all qualified pitchers), posting a 0.87 WHIP (No. 6), and striking out 23 batters.
Prior to that, Kranzler went 3-3 for Vanderbilt in 2026, turning in a 6.18 ERA, 1.260 WHIP, and 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
The New Jersey native had a stellar high school career. Prep Baseball Report named him the state’s No. 3 right-hander in 2023. In 2022, NJ.com named him the state’s Player of the Year.
Max Kaufer, C
Max Kaufer, a senior transfer at Wichita State University, was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 18th round (No. 537 overall) of the 2026 MLB Draft.
The 21-year-old had a breakout college season in 2026, his first at Wichita State after playing for Texas A&M and the University of South Carolina. Kaufer was hitting .440 (22-for-50) with a jaw-dropping 11 HRs, 27 RBIs, and a .567 OBP in just 18 games when he injured his shoulder in a March 17 loss to Nebraska. The 6-foot-2-inch backstop subsequently underwent season-ending surgery.
Despite recording just 50 at-bats this season, Kaufer tied for seventh in the AAC in home runs. Those ahead of him had anywhere from 172 to 239 ABs.
Baseball America raved about the New Jersey native in its pre-draft report. Kaufer “showed an extremely patient approach early in 2026, with a violent and steep swing when he did pull the trigger,” the publication wrote. “He boasted impressive exit velocity data that backed up his home run output, though his previous offensive track record in college and summer leagues is light.”
— Da End —
