The Atlanta Braves used the 48th pick in the second round of the 2026 Major League Baseball draft on Saturday, July 11, to choose Kaiden McCarthy, a move that puts the Chester, Vermont, pitcher into the record book.
At 17, McCarthy became the highest-drafted player from Vermont in the summer MLB Draft and the first high school player from New England taken in the 2026 class. He had reclassified to make himself eligible for this year’s draft after previously committing to the University of Tennessee.
McCarthy’s rise was built on a strong season with Vermont Academy, where he helped the team go 15-6 and reach the Lake Region championship game. He posted a 3-0 record, a 0.72 ERA and 42 strikeouts on the mound, while also hitting .333 with one home run and eight RBIs. He has also been named Lake Region Pitcher of the Year twice.
The 6-foot, 190-pound right-hander added another honor this year when he received the 2026 Gatorade award as Vermont’s top baseball player. Scouts around the country took notice of his season and his performances despite his relatively modest frame.
After his high school career ended, McCarthy appeared in two Vermont Lake Monster games in June. Lake Monsters manager Matt Fincher said he believed McCarthy had major potential.
McCarthy is also one of three high school prospects featured in Season 2 of The Prospect, a three-episode series from GameChanger and MLB Network. His parents, Matt and Shanna, and Vermont Academy coach Russ Williams were interviewed for the project, and the first two episodes are available on GameChanger’s YouTube page.
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