​With the 112th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Atlanta Braves selected Cole Dennis, a Florida prep right-hander who signed with an overslot deal. Dennis has surged this spring, emerging as a talented and projectable young arm who is still only 17 years old but has already demonstrated the stuff that could justify a high draft choice.
Name: Cole Dennis
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL (Snyder High School)
School: Jacksonville, Florida
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 215 pounds
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Scouting services and rankings show Dennis as a highly regarded prospect, albeit with a profile that invites some patience. Baseball America lists him at 356, Perfect Game at 163, Pipeline at 242, ESPN at 116, Overslot at 185, My Own at 287, with consensus at 193 among evaluators. The varied numbers reflect the challenge of projecting Dennis’s long-term ceiling, but the consensus is that he is a lottery-ticket type arm with considerable upside.
What stands out about Dennis is his frame and athleticism. He is a projectable pitcher who already reached 96 mph at the combine, underscoring his upper-90s potential with continued development. The fastball, while velocity-rich, currently lacks complete consistency. That inconsistency is the primary factor preventing the pitch from earning a true plus-grade, but there is clear potential for it to sit in the upper-90s with improved location and life. When Dennis is on, his fastball plays with depth and angle, giving him an enticing combination of velocity and usable movement that could translate into a powerful MLB fastball weapon as he matures.
The secondary offerings show promise as well. His slider is the best of his secondary pitches and has the potential to become a plus pitch down the line. It already shows bite and depth, and with a bit more power behind it, Dennis could develop into a true two-pitch weapon that keeps hitters off balance. The changeup is functionally his third pitch at this stage and will require more work and reps to realize its upside. He does a solid job throwing the change for low spin when he does deliver it, which is a favorable trait for long-term development, particularly if he can refine it as a reliable third option.
Command and control are the more nuanced parts of Dennis’s profile. He tends to pitch to the strike zone with a focus on staying within the zone rather than commanding it with pinpoint precision. That said, there is runway for growth in this area, especially if he commits to pitching full-time rather than sharing a two-way role in high school. His experience as a two-way player in high school could contribute to a feel for sequencing and pitch feel as he hones his craft, even if the emphasis shifts toward pitching exclusively at the professional level.
Dennis represents a high-upside, lottery-ticket type of project with a compelling blend of physical tools and the makings of an advanced arm. For the Braves, taking him with an overslot allocation signals a willingness to invest in a high-risk, high-reward pitcher who could blossom into a middle-of-the-rotation starter if he fills out his repertoire and improves command. The path to that ceiling will require time, coaching, and experience facing more advanced hitters, but the potential is palpable for a pitcher with Dennis’s build, arm speed, and innate upside.
In terms of projection, if Dennis can tighten his strike-throw consistency, command the zone more reliably, and continue to sharpen his off-speed offerings, his ceiling could expand beyond a mid-rotation starter. He has the physical tools and the developmental arc to blossom into a durable, high-ceiling presence on a major league staff. For teams and scouts, Dennis represents a classic developmental bet: a young, athletic right-hander with a powerful fastball, a promising slider, and the potential to grow into a high-quality, three-pitch mix with improved control. If the Braves’ development system maximizes his tools and focuses on refining his command and secondary pitches, Dennis could develop into a reliable, mid-rotation force within a few years of reaching the majors.