​Jake Schaffner, a left-handed hitting infielder from the North Carolina Tar Heels, became the Boston Red Sox’s first-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft at No. 20, a selection that stunned nearly everyone in the room. Draft night reactions made it clear this was a pick no one anticipated, and the moment underscored the under-the-radar ascent of a player whose profile did not match his final draft status.
Schaffner, 21, hails from Janesville, Wisconsin, where he starred at Janesville Craig High School before moving on to North Dakota State. There, he produced a .353 batting average over two seasons with the Bison, swiping 34 bases and earning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore—the first in program history to do so. His collegiate journey then took him to North Carolina for his junior year, where he became the driving force behind a Tar Heels lineup that surged to the College World Series. That single standout season altered his market value in a dramatic fashion.
In 2026, Schaffner’s production for UNC was eye-opening: a .356 batting average, a .467 on-base percentage, and a .552 slugging percentage, according to D1Baseball’s statistics database. He led the Tar Heels with 96 hits over 68 games, while adding 19 doubles, eight triples, six home runs, 50 RBIs, 85 runs, and 26 stolen bases. Power was not his calling card; instead, his game is built on contact, discipline, and speed, the exact blend Boston appeared to prize as they elevated him nearly 70 spots above his consensus ranking.
Reactions from across the scouting and analysis community reflected the surprise. Baseball America’s JJ Cooper admitted his jaw dropped upon hearing the pick, noting that his outlet had Schaffner ranked 97th overall and conceding that the shortstop’s advanced contact skills could justify a slot in the 45–55 range. Boston’s risk-reward calculus was framed by many as an underslot maneuver, with the sense that a larger deal could follow later, given the broader consensus positioning from MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, both of which had Schaffner outside the first round. Red Sox podcaster Tyler Milliken framed the selection as a value play, highlighting the team’s apparent plan to underslot now with a bigger payoff anticipated down the line. He pointed out that evaluators like Eric Cross and others saw limited power upside, while Cal__designs suggested Schaffner’s profile as a pesky leadoff type with a plus arm and a 95th-percentile barreRate.
The debate extended to the program’s history. UNC beat writer Adam Lucas highlighted Schaffner’s selection as part of a notable UNC trend: the Tar Heels have now had 14 first-round picks since 2006, and Schaffner’s spot marked the program’s third consecutive first-round selection, even though he entered preseason polls unranked. Fans and observers echoed this sentiment, with supporters underscoring Schaffner’s 33 extra-base hits and his contribution to UNC’s national championship run as indicators of his value beyond the initial scouting numbers.
Looking ahead, the Red Sox will lean on Schaffner’s contact ability, defensive versatility, and legs as they map out his development path. While the power ceiling may be modest, his well-rounded baserunning, on-base acumen, and ability to impact games with multi-hit performances create a compelling profile for an organization aiming to balance upside with production. If Schaffner can translate his college success into consistent contact against professional pitching and continue to refine his defensive skills at shortstop, Boston could reap the rewards of a player who arrived in the draft with more questions than certainty yet left with a clear, productive path forward.