Jersey Shore Prospects Highlight 2026 MLB Draft Class in Philadelphia

The 2026 MLB Draft is set to take place this weekend in Philadelphia, marking a pivotal moment for several collegiate players with ties to the Jersey Shore. As the event begins on Saturday, July 11, attention is focused on local athletes projected to hear their names called, including a potential first-round selection from Ranney School.

AJ Gracia, a left-handed outfielder and Ranney alumnus, is currently projected as a first-round pick according to MLB.com. After beginning his career at Duke, where he set freshman program records with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs, Gracia transferred to Virginia. This past season, he posted a .354 batting average with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs, solidifying his status as a top prospect.

Other local names likely to be selected include Reece Moroney, an infielder from Rumson-Fair Haven. Moroney recently completed his junior season at the University of Rhode Island, where he broke the Atlantic 10 single-season hits record with 88 in May. Additionally, Zach Crocthfelt from Jackson Memorial High is a left-handed pitcher who finished his senior year at Troy University. He earned Sun Belt All-Tournament Team honors and previously played at Texas Tech and Auburn.

The draft will be broadcast across several platforms. Coverage for the first 10 picks will air on NBC and Peacock, while selections 11 through 40 will be available on MLB Network and MLB.com. Rounds 5 through 20 will stream exclusively on MLB digital platforms beginning Sunday, July 12.

NBC and Peacock are owned by Comcast Corporation. Shares of Comcast were trading at $23.19 during the current session, representing a market capitalization of approximately $83.52 billion. The company operates in the Communication Services sector.

What to watch

• Draft Coverage: Monitor viewership metrics for the draft across NBC and streaming platforms like MLB.com and Peacock.
• Comcast Earnings: Look for future quarterly results from Comcast to assess the performance of its media and broadcasting segments.

Source: original release