The Athletics rounded out the first day of the 2026 MLB draft by selecting right-handed pitcher Jacob Dudan with the 83rd overall pick and shortstop Roman Martin with #111:
First, Dudan is a long-term investment since he’s recently undergone Tommy John surgery and won’t pitch this year. That said, the right-hander, who moved to the rotation for the first time this past season, has all the makings of a top-end closer. A wicked fastball that can smell triple digits, plus a wipeout slider, should make him a weapon in late relief if that’s his ultimate home. We just need to be patient with the 21-year-old NC State product.
Here’s what MLB Pipeline had to say about him:
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 65 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
A high-leverage reliever at North Carolina State and with Team USA during his first two years in college, Dudan moved to the rotation this spring. The good news is that his fastball/slider combination remained dynamic in longer outings and he dramatically improved his control, making him a possible first-rounder. The bad news is that he blew out his elbow after throwing 116 pitches against Notre Dame on April 4 — he hit 98 mph in the eighth inning — and required Tommy John surgery.
Dudan averaged 96 mph and touched 99 with his fastball as a junior, showing carry at times and sink at others, though his heater stands out more for its ability to generate groundouts than empty swings. His tight upper-80s slider is a legitimate wipeout pitch, producing a 41 percent chase rate and 48 percent swing-and-miss rate this spring. He also showed some feel for an upper-80s changeup with sink and fade, though he barely used it.
A quality athlete, Dudan cut his walk rate from 15 percent in his first two seasons to 6 percent in 2026. While his aptitude for a changeup and improved control enhance his chances of succeeding as a starter, scouts believe his delivery with a long arm action and low slot makes him more likely to wind up as a reliever. He’ll likely go in the second round even though he won’t return to the mound until late 2027.
Looking at Martin, the UCLA infielder deferred to #1 pick Cholowsky and played third base this past year but could be an option at shortstop; the A’s will certainly see what they have in him there. In his bat, however, Martin has the makings of a hitter that sees lots of pitches and runs into a home run every now and again. There’s some concern about if he’ll be able to make adjustments against high-level pitching but for now the A’s infield depth gets stronger.
And MLB Pipeline’s thought’s on the newest prospect for the A’s:
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Arm: 65 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
Martin was a Top 100 prospect as a California prep infielder as the 2023 Draft approached and would have been the second-highest ranked player to go undrafted had he not officially removed his name from consideration to head to UCLA. For three years, he’s played alongside the highest ranked undrafted high schooler from ‘23, Roch Cholowsky, and has really come into his own as a sophomore with a .952 OPS and earning Los Angeles Regional Most Outstanding Player honors as the Bruins made it to Omaha. He’s stepped up his game another notch as a junior on the best team in college baseball with plenty of eyes on him to boost his Draft stock.
A 6-foot-2, 208-pound right-handed hitter, Martin has long shown the ability to have professional at-bats. He sees a lot of pitches and draws a lot of walks, with an approach that should help him get to his solid raw power, even if he doesn’t do so consistently at this level. He will have to learn to be more aggressive at the dish and swing more, with some scouts not convinced about his raw hit tool because he’s not super-athletic in the box and has a tendency to get under the ball too frequently.
Martin has played third in deference to Cholowsky at UCLA, but some feel he has the chops to play shortstop at the next level. He has an arm that is at least plus to go along with good hands and instincts, though a lack of speed could keep him from being a regular at the premium position. He’s an excellent defender at the hot corner and could see time at three infield positions as a pro.
Thoughts? Grades? Debate below!
