​With the 2026 MLB Draft scheduled for July 11-12 in Philadelphia, a number of local names sit inside ESPN’s top 250 draft prospects as posted by Kiley McDaniel. Among the Bearcats, several University of Cincinnati players surface in McDaniel’s ranking, complete with their ages in parentheses, alongside a UC commit and a standout from Moeller High School.
“I’m starting to hear Slightom as a potential top 40 or top 50 pick,” MLB.com’s Jim Callis said on July 7. “People know about him. He hasn’t been as hyped. He wasn’t a big showcase guy, he was a star quarterback in high school. But he’s a super athletic and projectable 6-foot-5 righty who keeps adding velocity; he’s up to 98 mph. … He crushed the interviews at the combine and I think he’s rocketing up charts.” McDaniel currently places Slightom at No. 60 in the ESPN rankings.
Natili, who enjoyed a standout junior season for the Bearcats, batted .339 with a 1.098 OPS, blasting 19 home runs while driving in 65 runs, adding 15 doubles and crossing the plate 50 times. The Pennsylvania native transferred to UC after starting his college career at Rutgers, spending two seasons with the Bearcats. McDaniel slots Natili at No. 69 in the top 250.
Ponatoski, a Moeller High School product who excelled on both the football field and the baseball diamond and who committed to play quarterback for Kentucky, has indicated that the MLB draft remains his primary option. McDaniel places Ponatoski at No. 120 in the rankings.
Taylor, another UC standout, made an impact on the mound early in his collegiate career and went on to set UC records for both career wins and strikeouts. His high school days were spent at West Clermont, and he later starred for the Midland Redskins. McDaniel has Taylor ranked at No. 242.
These assessments come as part of a broader look at the national draft landscape, with ESPN’s rankings highlighting locally connected players who could hear their names called in the upcoming draft. The Cincinnati area has a notable presence, including UC graduate prospects and a strong pipeline from high school programs such as Moeller, which has produced multiple collegiate-level talents and potential future MLB players.
The article referencing these evaluations originally appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer, focusing on Matt Ponatoski and other UC Bearcats appearing in ESPN’s top 250 MLB draft prospects for enhanced visibility and SEO relevance. It’s a reminder that the 2026 draft class features several players with deep ties to Cincinnati-area programs who could reach the majors in the near future.