​With their second-round selection this afternoon, the Athletics drafted USC left-hander Mason Edwards, the 47th pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. The organization is adding another college prospect who could move quickly through the system. Edwards, who turns 21 on Tuesday, controls a three-pitch arsenal that sits in the low-90s with an ability to mix tells and sequencing to keep hitters off balance. His fastball, typically sitting around 91-93 mph and reaching 95, carries well and has enough life to create swing-and-miss. He complements that with a slurvy breaking ball around 80 mph and a curveball that flashes plus with strong spin. His changeup rounds out the trio, showing fade and solid contact-breaking potential. While none of his offerings individually grades as a true elite pitch, Edwards excels at blending them to disrupt hitters’ eye levels and uses deception in his delivery to keep hitters guessing.
In his final year at USC, Edwards posted a 2.07 ERA over 17 starts, striking out 169 in 95 2/3 innings. MLB Pipeline’s scouting grades reflect a well-rounded pitcher with room to grow: Fastball 50, Curveball 60, Changeup 55, Control 50, with an Overall 50. Edwards hails from the Los Angeles area and attended Palisades High School, where he earned back-to-back league pitcher of the year honors and consecutive first-team all-city honors in 2022 and 2023. He stayed nearby for college, heading to Southern California, where he functioned as a swingman for the Trojans, accumulating just over 70 innings across multiple roles. A strong fall, followed by a solid spring that earned him a spot in the weekend rotation, has kept scouts intrigued.
Edwards embodies the profile of a college lefty who understands pitching and can maximize a three-pitch mix. His fastball typically sits in the 91-93 mph range but can touch 95, offering some carry and “darkness” that contributed to a 30-percent miss rate on the pitch in 2025, a figure that persisted into this spring. His slurvy breaker sits around 80 mph, while the curve flashes as a potential plus pitch with excellent spin. He also shows above-average feel for a changeup with good fade that can miss bats. Teams will like that he’s about to turn 21 immediately after the Draft, and his improved strike-throwing and command on campus—highlighted by a strong fall—suggest he has the consistency to contribute at higher levels.
Edwards’ development suggests he has the ingredients to be a solid starting pitcher, with the ability to maintain his stuff as he advances through the minors. That combination of youth, feel for pitching, and a well-rounded three-pitch mix makes him an intriguing addition for the Athletics, especially given his ability to move quickly through the system with continued refinement.
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