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Big league clubs love left-handed high school pitchers. That means they’ll love Jared Grindlinger and what he has to offer.
Originally a 2027 graduate, Grindlinger bet on himself and reclassified up a year as a legitimate two-way threat, with an arsenal that includes a fastball, changeup, slider and sweeper from a herky-jerky windup with a three-quarter arm slot.
Grindlinger was selected with the 12th overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels, making him the 35th player from Huntington Beach (Calif.) to be selected in the draft.
Here’s a look at Grindlinger and the versatility he’ll bring to the next level just down the road in Anaheim.
Jared Grindlinger has plenty of upside and potential
While Grindlinger doesn’t have overpowering velocity on his fastball, multiple clubs have been fascinated with his frame at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, along with the fact he just turned 17 years old in April, making him one of the youngest players in the class.
With Huntington Beach, Grindlinger was 6-0 with a 0.85 ERA, striking out 66 over 57 1/3 innings. His OBA was .157, as teams often struggled to find a rhythm against him from the left-handed side but did make contact more often than not. The Angels drafted Grindlinger as an outfielder, making this an interesting pick for the Angels.
Should pitching not work out, Grindlinger could also transition to being an outfielder. He hit .376 with 14 extra-base hits on a team-high 41 hits, scoring 26 runs while striking out just twice in 109 at-bats this season. He owns a hit grade of 50 on MLB.com, along with power and run grades of 40.
When evaluating his older brother Trent, scouts got a look at Jared, which led to a commitment to the University of Tennessee in April of this year. There’s a chance he ends up in Knoxville to play with his older brother again, but those odds are slim with the Halos taking him at No. 12.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: [email protected]. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.
