Updated MLB Draft Rankings: Where NC State Prospects Stand After the MLB Draft Combine
The 2026 MLB Draft is quickly approaching, with the first round set for July 11.
Following the MLB Draft Combine, both D1Baseball and MLB Pipeline have updated their draft prospect rankings, giving a clearer picture of where several NC State players stand heading into draft weekend.
While some Wolfpack players saw their stock slip slightly, one player is trending in the opposite direction.
Ty Head
Projected draft range: Late first round → early/mid second round (roughly picks 35-65). He’s viewed as a polished college bat with good contact, speed, and center field defense.
Updated Rankings
D1Baseball: No. 53 (previously No. 43)
MLB Pipeline: No. 60 (previously No. 58)
Despite the modest drop, Head still projects as an early Day 2 selection and remains one of the top defensive outfielders available in this year’s draft after winning a national Gold Glove.
Jacob Dudan
Even after undergoing Tommy John surgery this spring, Jacob Dudan continues to be viewed as one of the better pitching prospects in the draft.
Updated Rankings
D1Baseball: No. 50 (previously No. 48)
MLB Pipeline: No. 58 (previously No. 50)
Projected draft range: Mid-to-late second round (or a bit later if medicals are a concern). He had Tommy John surgery in April, which has caused him to slide some, but his pre-injury stuff (heavy sinker, strike-throwing) still has teams interested in the 2nd-3rd round area.
Ryan Marohn
Ryan Marohn experienced the 2nd biggest drop among NC State’s top draft prospects.
Updated Rankings
D1Baseball: No. 107 (previously No. 98)
MLB Pipeline: No. 149 (previously No. 147)
Projected draft range: Mid 4th round to 6th round (roughly picks 120-200).
Solid left-handed college arm with command and a good three-pitch mix. Injuries limited him this spring, so his final spot will depend on medicals and how teams view his stuff post-recovery.
Sherman Johnson
Third baseman Sherman Johnson was the only Wolfpack player whose stock improved following the latest updates.
Updated Rankings
D1Baseball: No. 138 (previously No. 148)
Projected draft range: 5th round to 8th round (roughly picks 150-250).
JUCO transfer who had a breakout year with good power and hitting ability. Toolsy infielder who gained momentum late; could climb into Day 2 if a team loves his bat or versatility.
Luke Nixon
Second baseman Luke Nixon also remains on MLB teams’ radar.
Updated Ranking
D1Baseball: No. 185 (previously No. 175)
Projected draft range: 6th-10th round or senior sign (roughly picks 200+ or undrafted).
Contact-oriented infielder (son of Trot Nixon) with solid college production. More of a depth/safety pick or strong senior-sign candidate rather than a high-upside selection.
Final Thoughts
The post-combine updates didn’t dramatically alter the outlook for NC State’s draft class.
Ty Head and Jacob Dudan remain the Wolfpack’s top projected selections, while Ryan Marohn continues to receive Day 2 consideration despite a slight slide.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway is Sherman Johnson’s rise, making him the lone NC State player to improve his standing after the latest rankings were released.
With the MLB Draft only days away, it’ll be interesting to see how closely the final selections mirror these updated projections.
