Red Sox unconventional '26 first-rounder adds power to impressive opening month as a pro
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Jake Schaffner didn’t exactly follow a linear path to the Red Sox in the first round of the 2026 Draft. But that atypical beginning has paid early dividends.
Boston’s No. 5 prospect continued to impress in the dawn of his pro career, launching his first homer and driving in two runs to help power High-A Greenville to a 13-11 win over Bowling Green on Tuesday at Bowling Green Ballpark.
In the midst of a modest five-game hitting streak, Schaffner's overall body of work to date stands out. The 21-year-old has reached safely in 17 of his first 19 games while recording at least one hit in 16 of those contests.
Schaffner found the range in his second at-bat Tuesday, rocketing a two-run jack off left-hander Blake Morgan (Rays) onto the berm in left-center field and showing solid opposite-field power in the process. He added a ninth-inning single for his fourth multihit effort in five games.
While slugging likely won’t be a large part of Schaffner’s game, he’s done enough in his taste of pro ball to justify his first-round status. The 20th overall selection in July out of North Carolina has batted .303 with a .781 OPS in his first 96 plate appearances.
Though the sample size is relatively small, the early returns have showed off his disciplined approach, advanced bat-to-ball skills and all-around athleticism.
In short, Schaffner can back up his unorthodox journey to pro ball.
The Wisconsin native actually began his collegiate career at North Dakota State, where he quickly established himself as one of the Summit League’s most dependable players. He earned All-Summit League honors in 2024 and 2025.
Then came the move to the Tar Heels and another giant leap forward.
Against the considerably deeper competition of the ACC in 2026, Schaffner emerged as one of the country’s most productive hitters, slashing .356/.467/.552 with 33 extra-base hits, 50 RBIs, 26 stolen bases and an impressive 45/32 BB/K ratio in 68 games.
Although he flexed on Tuesday, Schaffner’s primary impact comes from his knowledge of the strike zone and his ability to consistently put the barrel of the bat on the ball, not to mention his plus speed and athleticism that plays well up the middle on defense.
The Red Sox believe there is power to unlock, though, and if Schaffner can add that element without sacrificing the approach that has carried him this far, his ceiling could continue to rise.
It may be early, but Schaffner is already racing through the early stages of his pro career and backing up Boston's speculation on a player whose path to the first round was anything but conventional.