This could be a great summer for Walsh Jesuit baseball.
Check that. It could be an outstanding summer if the 2026 MLB Draft plays out like some experts think it will.
When the dust clears on July 14 from the two-day draft, the Warriors could have five graduates selected by the 30 professional organizations.
In three weeks, 2026 graduates Matt Mansbery and Shawn Sullivan, 2023 graduate Ryan Piech and 2022 graduates Mason Eckelman and Henry Kaczmar could be headed to a minor league team near you.
And, yes, that would be a record at Walsh and bump the 2010 draft class in which MLB teams selected Johnny Fasola (36th round, Los Angeles Dodgers), Greg Greve (45th round, San Francisco Giants) and Tyler Skulina (46th round, Athletics).
Ryan Piech’s 2026 MLB Draft outlook
- Where is Piech slotted in the draft? Perfect Game has Piech going with the 184th pick.
- What organization would draft him? If it held true, Piech would be taken with the 20th pick in the sixth round by the Cleveland Guardians.
- What is Piech’s college status? Piech just finished his junior season at Xavier.
- A look at Piech’s numbers: Piech, a right-handed pitcher, went 8-3 with a 3.18 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 14 starts and 76⅓ innings at Xavier last season. His wins and strikeouts led the Musketeers. In two seasons at Xavier, Piech was 12-4 with a 3.71 ERA and 163 strikeouts in 136 innings. He was first-team All-Big East this season and second-team all-conference last season.
- What Walsh Jesuit manager Joe Bowers had to say about Piech: “Ryan is special. He’s built like a pro pitcher. He throws like a pro pitcher. He talks how I imagine a pro pitcher would talk. He’s just got it. He’s had it for a long time. Everyone has known it. He knows how to work it and puts in the work to make himself better, too.”
Shawn Sullivan’s 2026 MLB Draft outlook
- Where is Sullivan slotted in the draft? Perfect Game has Sullivan going with the 227th pick.
- What organization would draft him? If it held true, Sullivan would be taken with the fourth pick in the seventh round by the Minnesota Twins.
- What is Sullivan’s college status? Sullivan is heading into his freshman season at Tennessee.
- A look at Sullivan’s numbers: Sullivan, a right-handed pitcher, led Walsh to a Division II runner-up finish this season. He went 3-1 with a 0.90 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 46⅔ innings. In four seasons with the Warriors, Sullivan was 13-5 with a 1.30 ERA and 256 strikeouts in 145 innings. He was first-team All-Ohio last season and second team this season.
- What Walsh Jesuit manager Joe Bowers had to say about Sullivan: “It’s his demeanor and work ethic to be the best pitcher he can be. It’s impressive at that age. He’s blessed with a body that moves to allow him to throw 97 mph. His overall maturity level for someone in his spot is incredible.”
Matt Mansbery’s 2026 MLB Draft outlook
- Where is Mansbery slotted in the draft? Perfect Game has Mansbery, a shortstop, going with the 320th pick.
- What organization would draft him? If it held true, Mansbery would be taken with the seventh pick in the 11th round by the Baltimore Orioles.
- What is Mansbery’s college status? Mansbery is heading into his freshman season at Michigan.
- A look at Mansbery’s numbers: Mansbery helped lead Walsh to a Division II runner-up finish this season. He batted .402 with seven doubles, five triples and nine RBIs and scored 30 runs from the leadoff spot. In three seasons with the Warriors, he batted .412 (103-for-250) with 19 doubles, 10 triples, four home runs, 40 RBIs and 69 runs. Mansbery was first-team All-Ohio in 2025 and honorable mention this season.
- What Walsh Jesuit manager Joe Bowers had to say about Mansbery: “He’s such a smooth athlete. He’s what you’re looking for in the field. Everything he does is pretty clean and smooth. He’s fun to watch.”
Mason Eckelman’s 2026 MLB Draft outlook
- Where is Eckelman slotted in the draft? Although he doesn’t appear on the draft board, Eckelman was one of 335 draft prospects — which includes 195 college players — invited to this week’s MLB draft combine in Phoenix.
- What organization would draft him? With scouts getting a good look at Eckelman, a catcher, any of the 30 teams could take him.
- What is Eckelman’s college status? Eckelman just finished his junior season at Ohio State.
- A look at Eckelman’s numbers: Eckelman batted .304 with 15 doubles, four triples, eight home runs and 47 RBIs and scored 42 runs this season. He has batted .280 (115-for-410) with 25 doubles, six triples, 13 home runs and 81 RBIs in three seasons with the Buckeyes. Eckelman was third-team All-Big Ten in 2026. His father, Alex, played minor league baseball and is the senior vice president of hitting for the Cleveland Guardians.
- What Walsh Jesuit manager Joe Bowers had to say about Eckelman: “He’s just a stud hitter, catcher and person. Everything about him is good. He’s got the genes. His swing has been beautiful since he was like 4. He’s just a ballplayer.”
Henry Kaczmar’s 2026 MLB Draft outlook
- Where is Kaczmar slotted in the draft? Although he doesn’t appear on the draft board, Kaczmar told the USA Today Network he has heard “good things about himself” in terms of this draft and will know more as draft day approaches.
- What organization would draft him? Kaczmar, a shorstop, is no stranger to MLB teams. he was eligible to come out his sophomore season but chose to transfer from Ohio State to South Carolina (he’s back at Ohio State now). Any team would be glad to take him.
- What is Kaczmar’s college status? Kaczmar just finished his senior season with the Buckeyes.
- A look at Kaczmar’s numbers: Kaczmar batted .316 with 26 doubles, 12 home runs, 47 RBIs and 50 runs this season. He batted .311 (261-for-839) with 53 doubles, six triples, 32 home runs and 157 RBIs and scored 165 runs in three seasons at Ohio State and a season at South Carolina. Kaczmar was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2024 and 2026 and was a 2023 Big Ten All-Freshman selection.
- What Walsh Jesuit manager Joe Bowers had to say about Kaczmar: “Henry’s the best. He’s just a great kid. He’s someone you want in your organization whether it’s baseball, business or whatever. He’s got a very good arm and has a really good bat.”
How many former Walsh Jesuit stars have played professionally?
Quite a few. To date, there have been 12 who played at the minor league level and above.
- OF Dominic Canzone (Arizona Diamondbacks 2019-23; Seattle Mariners, 2023-current)*
- RHP Ryan Feltner (Colorado Rockies, 2018-current)*
- RHP Johnny Fasola (Texas Rangers, 2014-18; St. Louis Cardinals, 2019)
- RHP Chris Machamer (Boston Red Sox, 2018-19)
- LHP Joe Mockbee (Chicago White Sox, 2017-18)
- C Cassidy Brown (Cincinnati Reds, 2016-19)
- RHP Tyler Skulina (Chicago Cubs, 2013-17, Washington Nationals, 2017)
- RHP Greg Greve (Florida Marlins, 2014)
- LHP Chad Rodgers (Atlanta Braves 2006-12, Minnesota Twins, 2013)
- LHP David Starn (Atlanta Braves, 2012-14)
- RHP Patrick O’Brien (Pittsburgh Pirates, 2000-05)
- LF/C/1B Matt Bok (Los Angeles Dodgers, 2002-03)
* Current major leaguers
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Walsh could set school record for baseball players selected in MLB draft
