​Henry Kaczmar is among five former Walsh Jesuit High School baseball players drawing attention from major league teams as the 2026 MLB Draft nears. The two-day event, slated for July 11-12, will see the first four rounds on Saturday and the remaining 16 rounds on Sunday. Here’s a closer look at Kaczmar, who has spent the majority of his college career at Ohio State after graduating from Walsh Jesuit in 2022.
Where does Kaczmar stand in the draft projections? While he doesn’t appear on most public draft boards yet, Kaczmar told the USA Today Network that he has heard favorable feedback about his prospects and will have a clearer picture as draft day approaches. He’s keeping an open mind about which organization might draft him, noting that he’s a familiar name to several MLB teams. A versatile shortstop, Kaczmar has been on MLB scouts’ radars for a while. He was eligible to leave after his sophomore year but chose to transfer from Ohio State to South Carolina before returning to Ohio State, where he has continued his pursuit of a professional career.
What is Kaczmar’s college status? Kaczmar recently completed his senior season with the Buckeyes, wrapping up a collegiate career that has included multiple productive campaigns at Ohio State and a stint at South Carolina.
A look at Kaczmar’s numbers: Last season, Kaczmar posted a .316 batting average with 26 doubles, 12 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 50 runs scored. Across three seasons at Ohio State and a single season at South Carolina, he hit .311 (261-for-839) with 53 doubles, six triples, 32 home runs, 157 RBIs, and 165 runs scored. His performance earned recognition as a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2024 and 2026, along with a 2023 Big Ten All-Freshman honor.
What Walsh Jesuit manager Joe Bowers had to say about Kaczmar: “Henry’s the best. He’s just a great kid. Someone you want in your organization whether it’s baseball, business, or whatever. He has a very good arm and a really strong bat.” Visuals from Walsh Jesuit’s campus capture Kaczmar in action as the Ohio State shortstop rounding the bases during a standout season.
Walsh’s history of sending players to the draft remains notable. The school previously achieved its peak draft output in 2010, when 50 rounds were held and three Walsh standouts were selected: Johnny Fasola (36th round, Los Angeles Dodgers), Greg Greve (45th round, San Francisco Giants), and Tyler Skulina (46th round, Oakland Athletics). To date, Walsh has produced 12 players who reached the minor leagues or higher, including current major leaguers.
Among the players with connections to the organization, LHP David Starn (Atlanta Braves, 2012-14) and versatile F/L/1B Matt Bok (Los Angeles Dodgers, 2002-03) stand out as examples of Walsh alumni who climbed to professional baseball levels. In addition, several former Walsh Jesuit players are currently involved in the professional ladder, signifying the program’s continued pipeline to the majors.
For more local insight, the Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be reached at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com. This report originally appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal as part of coverage on 2026 MLB Draft prospects, including Henry Kaczmar, and his potential path to the majors.