The conversation around the top prep arm in the 2026 MLB Draft is officially underway.
Stoneman Douglas (FL) left-hander Gio Rojas and Southside Christian (SC) left-hander Carson Bolemon have long been viewed as the top two high school arms in the class. Both are first-round talents. Both are expected to hear their names called early in July. The only real question is order, and which one ultimately becomes the first prep pitcher off the board.
Coming into the spring, industry consensus leaned toward Rojas. My initial Big Board reflected that, with Rojas at No. 8 and Bolemon at No. 18. But as is often the case in high school baseball, geography plays a role in shaping that early narrative.
Rojas, pitching in Florida, has been building a résumé for over a month. Bolemon, in South Carolina, just made his season debut this week. So while the comparison has existed on paper, Wednesday marked the first time both were actively part of the same in-season conversation.
And fittingly, both took the mound.
I was at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas for Rojas’ start in the semifinals of the Bishop Gorman National Invitational against Bishop Verot (FL), and the takeaway was pretty simple.
Electric. Easy.
‘26 Gio Rojas (FL @CanesBaseball)FB: 93-96 ? (25-2600, LL)SLV: 77-80 (2750+, flash AA, upside‼️)CH: 82-84 (2400, quality fade)Premium ath on projectable 6’3” 185 frame. Late life to FB at best for whiffs. Control over command. SL trending ?. Still M2C. #MLBDraft ||?? pic.twitter.com/HGaSCSsnCq
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) March 19, 2026Rojas struck out 14 over six innings, overwhelming hitters with a fastball that sat 93–95 mph and touched 96 with late life and plenty more in the tank. His slurve (77–80 mph, 2700–2800 RPM) flashed real swing-and-miss potential, and his 82–84 mph changeup showed enough fade to keep hitters off balance. All three pitches generated whiffs consistently, and hard contact was nearly nonexistent.
In this video from the Prep Baseball All-American Games, Rojas breaks down how he manipulates his fastball grip to create different shapes, which was on display on Wednesday.
The Gio Rojas-Carson Bolemon MLB Draft Debate Is Officially Underway
Through 30.2 innings this spring, Rojas has struck out 55, walked just five, and allowed only two earned runs — a dominant run that has only strengthened his case near the top of the board.
What stands out just as much is how easy it all looks. The delivery is quick, repeatable, and under control, and he works at a pace that keeps pressure on hitters. There were stretches, particularly in the second and third innings, where the game sped up on everyone but him.
Bolemon’s debut, while shorter, offered a glimpse of why he’s firmly in the same conversation.
2026 LHP Carson Bolemon @SabreBaseball @carson_bolemonThe #1 player in SC’s 2026 class showed off the premium stuff in his first outing of the year. FB: 90-93SL: 82-84CB: 77-80@WakeBaseball signee#PBSCisThere @ShooterHunt @SammyEsposito41 pic.twitter.com/CFwFn0sxk0
— Prep Baseball South Carolina (@PrepBaseball_SC) March 18, 2026Working two innings in his first outing of the spring, Bolemon threw 32 pitches (23 for strikes), struck out five, walked none, and allowed one earned run on two hits. His fastball sat 90–93 mph, though he’s been up to 95 in previous looks, including last fall’s Perfect Game All-American Classic. He paired it with a slider at 82–84 mph and a curveball at 77–80 mph, showing a three-pitch mix that can miss bats.
It was a small sample, but an efficient and encouraging one, especially for a first outing.
Now that both arms are officially underway this spring, the comparison becomes less theoretical and more performance-driven. And if Wednesday was any indication, this is a race that’s just getting started.
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