Overview
- Jake Schaffner, a 21-year-old North Carolina shortstop and former North Dakota State standout, was selected No. 20 overall by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2026 draft.
- Schaffner posted a breakout season at UNC, hitting .356 with a .467 on-base percentage, leading the team with 85 runs and stealing 26 bases while earning Summit League defensive honors earlier in his college career.
- The pick carries a reported slot value of about $4.37 million, which sets expectations for Schaffner’s signing bonus and how the Red Sox will allocate their draft bonus pool.
- Scouts and analysts praise his contact skills, on-base ability, baserunning and glove while raising questions about limited power and whether his defense will project better at second base than shortstop.
- Boston added UNC outfielder Owen Hull (No. 67) and Wisconsin shortstop Jace Mataczynski (No. 96) to the early draft class, a move that strengthens outfield and middle‑infield depth and will shift attention to contract talks, medicals and minor‑league assignments next.