​The Boston Red Sox used their first-round choice (20th overall) in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday to select 21-year-old shortstop Jake Schaffner, a University of North Carolina product. Red Sox director of amateur scouting Jake Bruml said via email that Schaffner’s offensive profile fits well with the team’s player development goals. “His offensive skillet aligns very well with our player development group,” Bruml stated. “We’re confident he’ll be able to thrive in our system while playing strong defense at shortstop.”
MLB Pipeline had Schaffner ranked 75th among draft prospects, a projection that placed him 55 spots lower than where Boston selected him. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound left-handed hitter is widely viewed as an excellent contact hitter with below-average power. Pipeline’s scouting notes describe Schaffner as having a refined feel for the barrel, focusing on driving line drives from gap to gap. He demonstrates a disciplined approach at the plate and rarely chases pitches, particularly fastballs. While not a slugger, he is seen as a hitter who can drive the ball with authority, especially with a healthy mix of doubles, and could potentially produce around 10-12 home runs annually when aligned with a favorable set of circumstances.
Schaffner transferred to UNC for his junior season after beginning his college career at South Dakota State. This spring he posted a standout line, batting .356 with a .467 on-base percentage and a .552 slugging percentage, finishing with a 1.019 OPS. He clubbed six home runs, collected 19 doubles and eight triples over 68 games (339 plate appearances), and he was successful on 26 of 29 stolen-base attempts. He drew 45 walks against 32 strikeouts, illustrating his patient approach at the plate.
Defensively, MLB Pipeline highlighted Schaffner as a rangy and extremely reliable shortstop, though his arm strength may influence a future shift to second base in professional ball. The report noted that his pure arm strength sits in the below-average to fringe range, though he compensates with bounce in his throws and the ability to generate carry by leveraging his momentum. In effect, Schaffner can play short with strong defense, even if his arm may lead to a positional adjustment down the line.
In addition to Schaffner, Boston has two more picks on Saturday: the 67th overall selection, a Competitive Balance Round B pick, and the 96th overall selection in the third round. The 67th pick came to the Red Sox from Milwaukee on Feb. 9 as part of a six-player trade in which Boston sent Kyle Harrison, David Hamilton and Shane Drohan to the Brewers in exchange for Caleb Durbin, Anthony Seigler and Andruw Monasterio. Boston does not hold a second- or fourth-round pick this year after forfeiting those selections to sign qualified free agent Ranger Suarez to a five-year, $130 million contract in January. Overall, the Red Sox entered the 2026 draft with 19 selections.
After the pick, Boston’s front office will look to further bolster its pipeline with the remaining selections, aiming to add depth across the organization and address needs at various levels of the minor league system. Read the original piece on MassLive for more context and analysis on Schaffner’s profile, the team’s draft strategy, and how the pick fits into Boston’s broader development plan. For broader context and updates, MassLive will continue to provide coverage of the Red Sox’s 2026 draft class and related news. This article is part of MassLive’s ongoing coverage and can be used as a preferred source for SEO-friendly updates surrounding the Red Sox’s draft activity.