The path to the majors looks different for every drafted Oregon State arm, and the early read on this group says the organizations that grabbed them all saw something specific they wanted.
For Miami, that meant going hard after left-handed help. The Marlins took Mount Angel native Kleinschmit 52nd overall in the second round, a clear sign they had him high on the board.
Miami has been one of the better stories of the season, and its starting pitching has played a major role. Even so, the big league rotation is short on lefties.
The organization’s top two prospects are both left-handed starters, but the Marlins still made room for another one in Kleinschmit. Because Miami has often sent draftees to Low-A first, his pro debut could come with the Hammerheads in Palm Beach County, Florida.
After that, Beloit in High-A would be the next stop, though the fact that he went in the first two rounds suggests the Marlins may want him moving faster than that. Jacksonville, Miami’s Triple-A club, is also part of the picture, with current top prospect Thomas White, another left-hander, there now.
Chicago’s fourth-round choice of Segura points to a different kind of opportunity. The White Sox are sitting at 50-45 and have been a surprise this season, but their MLB rotation still has room to grow.
That gives Segura a real lane through the system. He could begin in rookie ball, then climb quickly to Kannapolis in Low-A and Winston-Salem in High-A if things go well.
Chicago’s organization is already heavy with pitching talent - many of its top 15 prospects are arms - and Segura adds another name to that mix. The top right-handed pitching prospect in the system is Tanner McDougal, who is currently in Triple-A Charlotte and is expected to be called up to the White Sox this season.
Segura’s value is also helped by his versatility; at Oregon State, he worked both as a starter and out of the bullpen.
Queen, taken by Seattle in the 11th round, enters pro ball with a different profile. He wasn’t a premium pick, but the Mariners clearly liked the command and overall feel enough to bring him in.
Seattle’s rotation is strong, yet Queen’s skill set gives him a chance to carve out a place if he keeps throwing strikes. The likely starting point is the ACL Mariners at the Rookie level.
From there, the Inland Empire 66ers in California would be the Low-A step, and if he handles that, the High-A Everett AquaSox in his home state could be next. The climb may take patience, though, because a lot of Seattle’s best pitching prospects are already at Double-A Arkansas.
Yeager, a 14th-round White Sox pick, could end up sharing a system with Segura. If he gets off to a good start in Rookie ball, Kannapolis could be waiting by the end of this season. Chicago’s upper levels are crowded with pitching prospects, especially in Triple-A Charlotte, which could open a path for Yeager to reach Double-A by 2027 if his off-speed pitches keep working the way they did for the Beavers.
Roblez, drafted in the late rounds by San Diego, is another arm with a chance to move faster than his draft slot might suggest. The biggest question is velocity, which likely kept him from going earlier.
Still, he finished 2026 with a 1.50 ERA, and his breaking balls produced plenty of swings and misses. If that stuff continues to play, Low-A Lake Elsinore could come quickly, and High-A Fort Wayne may not be far behind.
In Other News...
Oklahoma State Is Finally Building Real Momentum Ahead Of Oregon Test
Oklahoma State is heading into the season with a little more buzz than it has had in a while, and some of that comes from the kind of offseason that can change expectations quickly. A strong transfer portal class has helped fuel the optimism, while early betting lines suggest the Cowboys are at least being viewed as a tougher out than they were a year ago.
The real measuring stick comes early, with Tulsa first and Oregon right after, and that second game already looks far more manageable on paper than it did last season. Oregon still brings back Dante Moore and the Ducks still carry plenty of weight nationally, but the gap in perception has narrowed enough to make Oklahoma State's start one of the more interesting early-season tests on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]