Once again, multiple Virginia baseball alumni are set to begin their professional careers with the MLB Draft rapidly approaching. The draft runs from Sunday to Monday in Atlanta, and eight former or incoming Cavaliers are ranked inside the top 200 draft prospects according to MLB.com.
The eight prospects are evenly split between the stars of former Coach Brian O’Connor and the coveted high school recruits of the program’s new leader, Coach Chris Pollard. Each player has a unique story, and all will likely hear their name called on draft weekend. The only question is, will they sign?
Compared to other professional leagues, the MLB Draft is unique for its sheer size and complexities. There will be over 600 selections across the two-day event, primarily high school seniors and collegiate upperclassmen — but dozens and dozens of draftees may not sign a contract, should they wish to return to school and earn a better deal later.
In years past, O’Connor would routinely lose the top of his recruiting class to MLB organizations. On the other hand, Pollard has a much stronger track record of keeping his gems en route to college. In short, anything can happen in the chaos of draft weekend. This year, Virginia has a lot to keep an eye on.
Known departures
It is extremely unlikely that the four Cavaliers who entered the transfer portal after O’Connor’s departure will return, barring any significant changes. The two frontrunners for the draft are junior infielder Henry Godbout and sophomore utilityman Henry Ford, who are both ranked inside the top 75 prospects.
Ford was downright dominant at Virginia — managing to hit at least .336 and clobber double-digit home runs in his two seasons in Charlottesville.
Ford should be a second round pick, although it is entirely possible that Ford plays one more college season, now at Tennessee, to boost his draft stock. However, if he does go the draft route, the Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox or Athletics could be possible suitors.
“He’s a phenomenal competitor, great teammate and great person,” O’Connor said. “Incredibly serious about his craft and puts everything into it.”
Godbout was also a consistent contributor at Virginia. He posted a career .321 batting average, and earned All-ACC honors twice.
“In many ways, Godbout is the prototypical Virginia hitter, a solid all-around baseball player with tools that play up thanks to a high baseball IQ,” an MLB scout said.
Godbout is currently in the transfer portal but has yet to commit to a school, which indicates that he strongly prefers to join a MLB organization. Godbout will most likely land in the third or fourth round, and potential fits include the Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals or Cleveland Guardians.
The other two former Cavaliers, junior outfielder Aidan Teel and junior utilityman Chris Arroyo, face slightly different situations, as they will most likely fall to the middle rounds of the draft.
Regardless, both are top-200 prospects. They will each receive an offer, whether or not they elect to sign. If Teel does not sign, he may play his final collegiate season to boost his draft stock — with O’Connor at Mississippi State — but he could very easily find a professional home this year should he choose to do so.
Teel also made a huge impact defensively in 2025, with several highlight catches. Additionally, he was a top pitching prospect in high school. He has oodles of talent, which could be enticing to teams such as the Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins or San Diego Padres in the fifth or sixth round.
Arroyo shares some similarities with Teel, as he is a power-slugging first baseman who spent time as a left-handed pitcher on occasion.
“A strong, 6-foot-2, left-handed hitter, Arroyo’s calling card offensively is his tremendous raw power,” an MLB scout said. “There’s strength and some bat speed, with the over-the-fence pop showing up to his pull side this season.”
Like Godbout, Arroyo is currently in the transfer portal and will most likely elect to stay in the draft. Possible fits, somewhere around the sixth round, include the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers or Milwaukee Brewers.
It is possible, and perhaps more likely than not, that other Cavaliers could be drafted in the later rounds — namely, senior pitcher Jay Woolfolk and graduate catcher Jacob Ference. Both have been largely productive but carry concerns, specifically inconsistency for Woolfolk and age for Ference.
Hopeful Cavaliers?
While the last of O’Connor’s Cavaliers depart or join other collegiate programs, the focus turns to Pollard’s maiden recruiting class — which Perfect Game ranked as the sixth-best nationally. MLB.com tagged infielder Nick Becker plus pitchers Jaden Stroman, John Paone and Noah Yoder as top-200 prospects. Other sites highlighted additional talents, such as catching prospect Thomas O’Connell.
It may be difficult to retain a majority of the star-studded class. However, there is hope for at least a few of the recruits. Becker — the brother of rising junior infielder Eric Becker — could view playing with his brother as a special opportunity, and MLB.com noted that his commitment to Virginia could “be a high hurdle [for MLB teams] to clear.”
As for the trio of hurlers, Stroman, Paone and Yoder could certainly play their way into a much higher draft position in a few years. It would take a significant overslot offer.
In the 2024 MLB Draft, the Los Angeles Angels spent a whopping $1.95 million — the predicted money for a second round pick — on Virginia pitching commit Trey Gregory-Alford in the 11th round. He signed, and never played for the Cavaliers. Clearly, money talks — but Virginia certainly has a lot to offer as an elite program and prestigious school.
The new regime — and the old one, to some extent — will certainly be tested this weekend. Can Pollard continue to keep his precious recruits? Possibly. Where will the Cavalier greats of old end up playing? Truthfully, no one knows. Whatever the answers may be, draft weekend should bring at least some pride and excitement for the Cavalier faithful.
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