Add The California Post on Google Sizing up UCLA’s roster, one Major League Baseball scout gave an around-the-horn assessment of the team’s staggering talent level.
Every player on the field, he said, could be drafted.
Shortstop Roch Cholowsky is widely expected to be selected No. 1 overall by the Chicago White Sox on Saturday, giving the Bruins their first player to go that high since the Pittsburgh Pirates made Gerrit Cole the top pick in 2011.
Another player expected to go in the first round is right-handed pitcher Logan Reddemann, and at least a handful of others could be taken in the early rounds.
The scout provided his evaluation of UCLA players to the California Post on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly disclose his opinions.
Here’s his take on the Bruins most likely to be drafted:
2026 stats: Only the third player to be selected Big Ten Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, Cholowsky put together one of the best seasons in UCLA history, slashing .320/.452/.636 with 74 hits, 73 runs scored, 60 RBIs, 10 doubles and a team-leading 21 home runs.
Draft range: Possible first pick overall
Scout’s take: He’s got all the tools – he can play shortstop, he’s got power, he’s got a great swing, he’s got great intangibles. … Player comp is Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story, a former two-time All-Star with the Colorado Rockies.. … If there’s anything that prevents him from going first overall, it’s the White Sox trying to spread the money out among multiple players and he’s unwilling to take a discount from his slot value of $11.35 million.
2026 stats: The ace of the Bruins’ pitching staff, Reddemann went 8-0 with a 2.87 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings before being shut down in mid-April because of arm fatigue.
Scout’s take: He could be a front-of-the-rotation guy – probably not a No. 1 but maybe a No. 2. You’re looking at someone who can get swing-and-miss and also pitch to soft contact. That’s a big thing for me as a scout – I want to see a guy who can do both. … Teams are going to vet the medical report completely.
2026 stats: The king of the walk-off – including back to back game-winners in the Big Ten Tournament – Levu slashed .340/.441/.622 with 82 hits, 63 RBIs, 18 homers, 12 doubles and a team-high 30 walks.
Scout’s take: He moves well in the batter’s box – he’s balanced, he strides consistently, everything works together in sequence. His strength and the quality of the swing and the athleticism in the box and the pitch identification – he checks all those boxes. … At 6 feet 1 and a shade over 200 pounds, there’s going to be a ceiling because of his size.
2026 stats: One of the Big Ten’s top hitters, Gasparino slashed .314/.412/.659 with 69 hits, 64 RBIs, 53 runs scored, 12 doubles, 2 triples and 20 homers.
Scout’s take: The tools are crazy – they’re plus across the board, with well above average athleticism, raw power and arm strength. … The big question was strikeouts after his last season at Texas and he got himself into a good setting at UCLA to address that. … If you felt like contact wasn’t a concern, he’d be a first-rounder. But it is a concern, so he’s going to slip below that.
2026 stats: Hitting for both power and average, Martin slashed .333/.446/.549 with 79 hits, 54 RBIs, 18 doubles, 3 triples, and 9 homers.
Scout’s take: He’s got a really good makeup – he’s got instincts, intangibles for the game and sneaky power. He’s got a good swing, he’s athletic in the box, he does all the things you want. … He doesn’t run, so that holds back the profile a little bit, but he’s got a chance to hit enough to make up for it.
2026 stats: A strong defensive catcher who also managed one of the nation’s top pitching staffs, Dugger slashed .251/.378/.377 with 48 hits, 39 RBIs, 34 runs scored, 9 doubles and 5 homers.
Scout’s take: He’s a high-floor type of a player. He’s a good defensive catcher – he’s probably not going to be plus, but he’s going to be at least solid, average, maybe flash plus in some areas. He seems to have a really good feel behind the plate, probably the ability to lead a pitching staff and he’s a left-handed hitter.
2026 stats: One of the nation’s most electrifying defenders, West could cover a lot of ground and produce multiple highlight catches in the same game. As the leadoff hitter, he batted .277 with a .418 on-base percentage to go with 10 doubles and 7 homers.
Scout’s take: There was some buzz around him as early as mid-February. … He could outperform his draft slot. What I like to see is a guy like West say is, “You know what, I’m disappointed it’s the 12th round [where he’s taken], I’m disappointed it’s $150,000 [for the signing bonus], but I’m going to earn my money in the big leagues. So let’s go get it now.”
2026 stats: Pitching exclusively out of the bullpen, Lee went 3-0 with a 3.26 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 19.1 innings.
Scout’s take: He was throwing with adequate velocity for a big-leaguer and has a split-fingered fastball that’s kind of his go-to pitch. He can also throw a good slider.
2026 stats: Hard-throwing reliever could be dominant, going 3-0 with a 3.19 ERA, 57 strikeouts and 19 walks in 31 innings.
Draft range: Middle to late rounds
Scout’s take: He had a velocity spike this year where it was like 94-96 mph and I think it got to 100, if I remember it correctly, but the walks are a question. … You’re going to take this guy high if you feel like there’s a chance he’s going to be able to settle all that stuff down and not walk batters.
2026 stats: Finished a solid season slashing .290/.382/.460 with 63 hits, 51 RBIs, 48 runs scored, 11 doubles, three triples and 9 homers.
Scout’s take: He’s got power, he’s not a burner but he’s a good runner for his power. He can play the corners, he plays the game hard. … Player comp is St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbar. … The age [23] is going to hurt him because he’s going to have to get into pro ball and move quickly.
