Feeding Frenzy in Philadelphia: Seven Sharks Selected in the 2026 MLB Draft

Oak Bluffs, MA - The 2026 MLB Draft turned into a shark hunt. Over two days in Philadelphia during All-Star Week, seven former Martha's Vineyard Sharks heard their names called by big-league clubs — a haul headlined by infielder Chris Hacopian, who went 11th overall to the Washington Nationals on Saturday night to become the first first-round selection, and the highest draft pick, in Sharks history.

The class of seven ties the 2024 group as the largest in program history — and no Sharks class has ever reached higher. In a program that has sent more than 50 players into professional baseball since 2010, the previous best selection was a third-rounder taken 91st overall in 2014. This weekend, one alum sailed past that mark by 80 picks, a second went inside the top 200, and three more came off the board within 31 picks of each other in the 12th round alone. Seven players, seven different organizations, one very proud Island.

Chris Hacopian — Round 1, No. 11 overall, Washington Nationals. The Potomac, Maryland native gave Vineyard fans a summer to remember in 2024, hitting .370 with a .456 on-base percentage, nine home runs, 32 RBI, and nine stolen bases across 39 games at the Shark Tank — walking 17 times against just 10 strikeouts in the best summer of his amateur career. After two big seasons at the University of Maryland, he transferred to Texas A&M and hit .319 with 11 home runs in the SEC, entering the draft as MLB Pipeline's No. 14 prospect. Now the kid who grew up rooting for the Nationals heads home as the first-ever pick of Washington's new front office.

Justin LeGuernic — Round 6, No. 180 overall, Kansas City Royals. The left-hander from Dix Hills, New York, a Half Hollow Hills West product, spent three seasons at Clemson, where his stuff kept climbing: a low-slot fastball now sitting in the mid-90s and touching 97, paired with a sweeping slider. He went 4-2 with 50 strikeouts for the Tigers this spring and participated in the MLB Draft Combine before the Royals called his name Sunday afternoon.

Brayden Martin — Round 12, No. 342 overall, Toronto Blue Jays. The Maryland second baseman represented the Sharks as a 2025 NECBL All-Star, and the traits that made him a Vineyard favorite — elite on-base skills, speed, and relentless at-bats — carried straight into a junior season that earned him an MLB Draft Combine invitation and made him one of the Big Ten's toughest outs.

Rohan Lettow — Round 12, No. 348 overall, Pittsburgh Pirates. Just six picks after Martin, a second 2025 Sharks All-Star came off the board when the Pirates selected the San Diego State pitcher.

Gavin Van Kempen — Round 12, No. 373 overall, Los Angeles Dodgers. The best comeback story of the weekend. The 6-foot-6 right-hander from Castleton-on-Hudson, New York was drafted once before — 607th overall by St. Louis in 2022 out of Maple Hill High School — and turned it down to bet on himself. Two seasons at West Virginia, highlighted by a 7-1, 3.14 ERA campaign in 2024, and a final year helping East Carolina to the 2026 American Conference championship later, he was drafted again — this time 234 picks higher. He becomes the first name to appear twice on the Sharks' all-time draft list.

Max Kaufer — Round 18, No. 537 overall, Texas Rangers. The catcher took the long road — two seasons at Texas A&M, one at South Carolina, then a senior-year explosion at Wichita State, where he hit a staggering .431 with 11 home runs and a 1.157 slugging percentage in just 18 games before an injury ended his season. The Rangers saw enough.

Carsten Sabathia III — Round 20, No. 611 overall, Milwaukee Brewers. The bloodline needs no introduction: Carsten is the son of CC Sabathia — the Hall of Fame left-hander, Cy Young winner, six-time All-Star, and member of the 3,000-strikeout club who was himself the 20th overall pick back in 1998. But the younger Sabathia's road to this weekend was entirely his own. A first baseman out of Bergen Catholic in Oradell, New Jersey, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound right-handed slugger spent two seasons at Georgia Tech before transferring to the University of Houston, went undrafted in 2025, and bet on himself with a senior year — earning Frisco Classic All-Tournament honors, hitting .275 with six home runs for the Cougars, and turning heads at the MLB Draft Combine with elite exit velocities. This time, the call came — and fittingly, it came from Milwaukee, where his father authored one of the most beloved stretch runs in franchise history during the Brewers' 2008 playoff push and was inducted onto the team's Wall of Honor just two months ago.

To Chris, Justin, Brayden, Rohan, Gavin, Max, and Carsten: thank you. From the entire Sharks organization, from the host families who opened their homes and dinner tables to you, from the fans who packed the Shark Tank to watch you play, and from the NECBL community that helped sharpen your games — congratulations!! You wore the Sharks uniform, you gave the Island your best summers, and you made Martha's Vineyard part of your story on the way to professional baseball. The water here will always be yours.

Thirty Major League clubs went shark hunting in Philadelphia this weekend. Seven of them landed one — and every one of them is gonna need a bigger boat.

About the Martha's Vineyard Sharks

The Martha's Vineyard Sharks are a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL), providing top collegiate talent with a platform to develop and entertain fans across the region. The MV Sharks Baseball Foundation, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to promoting baseball on Martha's Vineyard. We are currently seeking support to improve our baseball field at The Shark Tank, enhancing facilities for players, fans, and the community. The total estimated cost for these upgrades is $520,000, and as of today, we have secured commitments totaling $200,000. If interested, your donation will help bridge this gap, directly contributing to better playing conditions, safety features, and accessibility, ensuring the Martha's Vineyard Sharks continue to thrive as a beacon of youth development and local pride. Donate here today via our secure online form at mvsharks.com/donate (powered by MxMerchant for seamless, tax-receipted giving), or email/call Russ Curran at russ.curran@mvsharks.com / 508-813-0380. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference and qualifies for tax benefits.