​A wave of childhood dreams will come true this weekend as the 2026 MLB Draft unfolds in Philadelphia, where a fresh class of talented players and future stars is set to hear their names called. Among the hopefuls are several athletes from the Jersey Shore, who look poised to hear their own names selected as the draft progresses.
AJ Gracia, a left-handed hitting outfielder who played his high school ball at Ranney School in Tinton Falls, is projected to go in the first round according to MLB.com’s prospect rankings. Last season at Virginia, Gracia posted a .354 batting average with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs. Before joining Virginia, he spent two seasons at Duke, where he set club freshman records for both home runs (14) and RBIs (58) as a Blue Devil. A photo from the NCAA Baseball Regional at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, captures Gracia in action, highlighting the attention he’s drawn as a draft prospect.
Another hopeful is Reece Moroney from Rumson-Fair Haven High School. Moroney was among the invitees to the 2026 MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field in Phoenix, the home of the Diamondbacks. He later distinguished himself at the University of Rhode Island in the Atlantic 10, breaking the single-season hits record with 88 in May. Moroney is an infielder who recently completed his junior season and could hear his name called as the draft unfolds.
Also in the mix is Zach Crocht fellt of Jackson Memorial High, now known as Jackson Township High. Crocthfelt is a left-handed pitcher who just finished his senior year at Troy University in Alabama, where he earned a spot on the Sun Belt All-Tournament Team. His collegiate journey also includes seasons at Texas Tech and Auburn, although he isn’t currently ranked as highly as Moroney or Gracia. Still, his development and versatility keep him in the conversation for potential selection.
Last year, Jersey Shore roots produced two players who reached the professional level. Wall High School product Andrew Fischer was selected in the first round by the Milwaukee Brewers, 20th overall. He’s now with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers, enjoying a standout season with 28 homers, 64 RBIs, and a .304 average. In the second round, Central Regional’s Cam Leiter—who spent his final two collegiate seasons at Florida State—was chosen by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 65th pick. Leiter currently plays for the Class A Ontario Tower Buzzers, where he has posted 16 hits and a .224 average this season.
For fans watching from home, NBC and Peacock will carry and stream the first 10 picks of the draft. The remaining selections, positions 11 through 40, will be available on MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB.TV, and MLB+. Picks 41 through 135 will be accessible via MLB.com, MLB.TV, and MLB+. The 2026 MLB Draft is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, with day one beginning at 1 p.m. ET. As the weekend unfolds, Philadelphia will host the event that could launch several Jersey Shore players toward promising professional careers.