Arriving at training camp on June 26, over 50 of the top non draft-eligible collegians participated in the CNT Trials with two practices and six scrimmages over eight days to determine the final team. The 26-man roster then traveled across the Pacific to face Samurai Japan 18O in the Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship Series.

The offense stalled out in Japan, batting just .201 during the five game series, but that did not mean it lacked high end talent led by returnees from last summer’s club Drew Burress (Georgia Tech), AJ Gracia (Duke/Virginia), Eric Becker (Virginia) and Zion Rose (Louisville).

Today we take a look at the outfielders and catchers.

Drew Burress, OF (Georgia Tech)- Once the favorite to become the first collegian selected in the 2026 draft, Burress has continued to perform at a high level. He’s smaller framed at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, but super strong with explosive bat speed and a swing path with lift that produces consistent over the fence power. His max EV this past spring was 110.8 mph after launching a 113.8 best bolt as a freshman. The righthanded hitter is pull-heavy at the plate which limits the projection on his hit tool at this time. This tendency was exposed by Japan as he struck out seven times in 16 plate appearances. However, Burress did bang a pair of doubles, but only produced one RBI while leaving 10 runners on base. Defensively, he covers ground in center field for above average range and has plenty of arm for rightfield. He best projects to remain in the big field at the professional level. Burress has chatter from the industry that compares him to Sal Frelick, the 15th overall pick in 2021 who has produced the second highest WAR of any first round pick from that draft.

AJ Gracia, OF (Duke/Virginia)- On the move from Duke to Virginia this summer Gracia was outstanding during the Trials, batting .500 (8-for-16) with a double, home run and eight RBIs in six games. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound lefthanded hitter also more than held his own against China with a .263 batting average (5-for-19) that included a pair of doubles. His swing can get complicated with his bat starting low and the barrel underneath the ball. It takes some effort for him to get on top with a bit of length into the zone. This setup can produce a hole above his bat, but he makes it work and strongly counters with big league plate discipline. He has a great idea of the strike zone and he can dig in and battle as well as anyone. He struck out in just 12.6% of his plate appearances while walking over 20% of the time this past spring for Duke. Gracia projects to have plus tools with both his hit and power tools at the pro level – a rare and highly valued talent. When 100%, the lefthanded thrower will show above average arm strength, but this summer it was much less than average – 35-grade on the pro scale – raising some concern. He takes great routes in the outfield and is a solid defender in center. He projects best to rightfield as a professional, but centerfield is also a realistic option until his frame fully matures over the long term. Gracia is a top half of the first round prospect for 2026.

Ryder Helfrick, Catcher (Arkansas)- A superior athlete behind the plate, Helfrick is doing everything he can at this point in his development to become a first round pick. He’s a natural leader on the field who works incredibly hard. In a short time with the CNT, he developed great trust from both the pitching and coaching staff. He’s smart behind the plate and calls his own game, making him closer to the big leagues than the average college catcher. He’s also a strong blocker with athletic hands, the kind that are enough to overcome any deficiency during his development. Showing a plus arm this spring, his throws didn’t have the same carry this summer. It was more average arm strength which was likely due to fatigue. In the batter’s box he has plus bat speed for power to all fields. He opens the most eyes with his incredible juice to the opposite field – the ball seems to carry forever into the right centerfield gap. Helfrick hit 15 home runs for the Razorbacks this spring and squared up a max EV of 113.2 mph. In limited at-bats during the Trials he went 2-for-5 with a double and a home run. At the end of the day he’s exactly what pro clubs crave in a catcher – a superior athlete with plus arm strength and plus power in a strong 6-foot-1, 205 pound frame.

Vahn Lackey, Catcher (Georgia Tech)- The latest top round catching prospect from Catcher University, Lackey is a well-rounded, athletic talent who continues to develop behind the plate and in the batter’s box. As a freshman he was considered a defense first catcher, but his breakout sophomore season at the plate (.347/.421/.500) has quickly changed that profile. He’s a plus runner underway (18 SBs) with very good lateral mobility behind the plate and above average arm strength. He projects to become a plus defender at the pro level. In the box, he’s loose and free with a short, to-the-ball swing and good barrel control. In limited at-bats against Japan he was 2-for-8 with an inside-the-park home run. He has joy playing the game, a high aptitude, a strong work ethic and all the tools to develop into a first round pick.

Lucas Moore, OF (Louisville)- Although Chandler Simpson (2nd round, 2022 by Tampa Bay) has a small step of speed on Moore, the Louisville centerfielder is ahead of Simpson at the same age with the overall game. Simpson has run his way to the big leagues with 225 stolen bases in 266 minor league games, plus 32 more in 64 games this season with the Rays. The 6-foot, 180-pound Moore has the potential to do the same after swiping 53 for the Cardinals this past spring and it’s not outrageous to think that he could grab 70 bags this upcoming spring. At the plate power is not his game (max EV of 103.6 mph in 2025), but putting the ball on the ground and making consistent contact is. Producing a 53.3% ground ball rate with just a 8.1% in-zone swing/miss rate as a sophomore he executes his game. He can get a bit loopy and get himself out at times and there is still some work to do for him to become the prototypical leadoff man who works the count and prolongs the at-bat, but Moore has an advanced approach at the plate and will make adjustments. In a short sample size of 28 combined plate appearances between the Trials and the Japan series, he averaged only four pitches per, but he did hit .467 (7-for-15) during the Trials before a 2-for-12 showing overseas. Defensively, Moore excels in the big field with plus range and sure hands. He has not received the fanfare of former first round pick in 2023, Enrique Bradfield, but the comparison is likely to be heard more and more as the 2026 draft approaches. At this point, Moore ranks in the middle of where Bradfield (17th overall) and Simpson (70th overall) were selected.

Zion Rose, OF (Louisville)- Although his average dipped from .380 as a freshman to .310 this past spring as a sophomore, the 6-foot, 200-pound righthanded hitting outfielder improved in every other aspect of his game. These improvements were especially evident during the Trials when he was nothing short of amazing with a 10-for-11 start that ended in a 12-for-18, three doubles, five RBIs series. Of note was the variety of his hits—he pulled balls hard, used the middle of the field, sprayed the ball the other way and even mishit some balls that he had enough strength to muscle into the outfield grass. Against Japan, his confidence soared and he was super aggressive in the box, seeing just 3.1 pitches/plate appearance. He finished the series 4-for-16 with two RBIs and a .400 OBP, as the rest of the team reached base at just a .275 clip. His offensive performance combined with his speed and arm strength in the outfield is a reminder that he’s one of the most dynamic players in the country. He also brings a high intensity football type of approach with incredible energy and a desire to excel at the highest level. Overall, Rose is blessed with strong tools across the board, as well as the ability to get to those tools during the game. He continues to put together a potential first round resume for 2026.