​Pitching, pitching, and more pitching. After selecting top collegiate arm Jackson Flora with the fourth overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft and adding prep southpaw Carson Bolemon at No. 29, the Giants doubled down on pitching in their second-round choice, selecting prep right-hander Kaden Waechter with the 55th overall pick. Waechter, an 18-year-old from Jesuit High School in Florida, represents another high-upside arm for San Francisco as they continue to stockpile arms to fortify their developmental pipeline.
As is common with this stage of the draft, scouting reports vary somewhat on Waechter. He sits at No. 31 on The Athletic’s big board, while other outlets place him a bit lower: No. 55 on Fangraphs, No. 57 on MLB Pipeline, No. 63 on Baseball America, and No. 79 on ESPN. Averaging these rankings lands him around the mid-50s, but the Giants may have stretched a touch over the slot value of about $1.763 million to secure him, given his commitment to Florida State.
Waechter comes from a baseball family; his father, Doug Waechter, pitched in the Major Leagues for six seasons. On the mound, Kaden features a fastball/slider combination and also shows a cutter and a changeup in his repertoire. His heater typically sits in the low-to-mid 90s, but his athleticism, mechanics, and long, clean stride project well for continued velocity growth as he develops. His command for a pitcher his age is notable, giving him a strong foundation for refinement under professional coaching.
MLB Pipeline highlights Waechter’s appealing blend of factors: a strong MLB bloodline, projection in a 6-foot-3 frame, above-average athleticism, and a feel for pitching. His fastball generally sits around 93 mph, with legitimate room to add velocity, sometimes reaching 95–96 mph when he grips and uses his leverages effectively. The pitch carries good life and is well-located to both sides of the plate, which enhances its effectiveness and its potential to play up in competition. While his top secondary offering currently is a slider in the 84–86 mph range, Waechter can ramp that pitch up into the upper-80s and has shown the feel to develop a promising changeup, though he can occasionally drop his elbow on the offering.
In the senior season at Jesuit, Waechter surfaced as a standout: over 13 appearances, he posted a sparkling 1.15 ERA while striking out 82 batters and walking just 15 across 61 innings. That line demonstrates not only his stuff but also his advanced command for a pitcher still early in his development. His mechanics are widely described as “gorgeous” by evaluators, and his long stride contributes to his overall projectability on the mound.
The scouting narrative around Waechter also emphasizes the upside that could come with professional instruction and coaching. A right-hander who combines a live fastball and a deep, repeatable delivery with a feel for locating pitches, Waechter is the type of arm who could develop into a true mid-rotation starter or even a front-end anchor if his projection continues to unfold. Teams with robust development programs often target players like Waechter because his current tools are complemented by a clear, coachable framework that can translate into more consistent performance as he fills out physically and learns to harness his arsenal more efficiently.
San Francisco’s pitch-centric strategy appears to be paying dividends, as this draft class continues to be dominated by durable, projectable arms with upside that could materialize into quality major-league contributors in the near to mid term. Waechter’s blend of physical tools, pitching acumen, and family pedigree adds another layer to an organizational approach built on depth, upside, and the belief that a high-floor, high-ceiling arm can emerge with the right development path.
Overall, Waechter’s profile fits a modern pitching pipeline: tall, projectable frame; clean mechanics; a fastball with room to grow; a strong secondary mix that includes a slider and cutter and a potential changeup; and a demonstrably advanced feel for locating pitches across the strike zone. If his velocity continues to climb and his control remains advanced for his age, Waechter could become a cornerstone piece of a deep Giants pitching staff for years to come.