Atlanta selects trio of high-school right-handers and duo of collegiate outfielders in first four rounds
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves tonight concluded Day 1 of the 2026 First-Year Player Draft, making five total selections today. The Braves took OF AJ Gracia (No. 9) and OF Carter Beck (No. 26) with their first-round selections, RHP Kaiden McCarthy (No. 48) in the second round, RHP Jensen Hirschkorn (No. 84) in the third round and RHP Cole Dennis (No. 112) in the fourth round.
Atlanta drafted McCarthy, 17, out of Vermont Academy (VT). The 6-foot-0, 190-pound right-hander pitched to a 0.72 ERA and a 0.47 WHIP during his senior season. He was chosen as the Gatorade Vermont Baseball Player of the Year, and was also honored by Perfect Game as a Northeast All-Region First Team selection.
Hirschkorn, 18, stands 6-foot-7 and posted a 9-1 record with a 0.71 ERA (6 ER/59.0 IP) for Kingsburg High School (CA). Across 150.0 innings as a varsity hurler, he posted a 1.07 ERA (23 ER/150 IP).
Dennis, 17, attended Bishop Snyder High School (FL) and attended the MLB Draft Combine in June. At the showcase, he demonstrated a 96-mph fastball with an 85-mph slider, as well as a changeup.
The 2026 MLB First-Year Player Draft will resume with Rounds 5-20 tomorrow morning, with the fifth round slated to begin at 11:30 a.m.
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