Basic High graduate Andruw Giles will have a big decision to make with the MLB draft approaching this weekend.
Giles is committed to play college baseball at Oregon, but within the past few months he has rocketed up MLB draft boards. The slugging outfielder is ranked as MLB.com’s No. 157 prospect on the site’s top 250.
“I’m really excited. A lot of nerves, that’s expected. A little anxiousness, but more than anything, I’m just excited and ready for it to be here already,” Giles said.
The 2026 MLB draft begins Saturday in Philadelphia, where the first four rounds will be take place and rounds 5-20 will finish the draft on Sunday.
Giles is one of several players with ties to Southern Nevada who could hear their names called during the 20 rounds. Giles, listed at 6-feet and 195-pound, received an invite to the MLB draft combine last month during a “hectic” time.
“The last month or so has been pretty, pretty hectic for me,” said Giles, who is a left-handed hitter and thrower. “I was all over doing different workouts and all that, but going to the combine was an experience that I’m so grateful I got to have.”
As a senior this spring, Giles was a first-team Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada selection for the third time and named the 5A player of the year by the coaches, hitting .494 with five home runs, 38 hits and 23 RBIs while playing center field for Basic.
Giles said he felt like he showcased a “little bit of everything” during the combine and heard positive feedback about his power to shoot up draft boards and onto the radar of MLB teams.
“I feel like I showed that I have pretty solid tools all around,” Giles said. “From everything I’ve heard (from MLB teams), they think I’ll hit no matter what at every level and will be a plus hitter.”
Giles said if drafted he’ll consul with the people close to him before making a decision.
“At the end of the day, it’s just whatever me and the people around me think is right for me at the time, we’re going to weigh the pros and cons of both and make a decision and run with it and never look back,” Giles said.
Giles could be the third Basic player drafted in as many years. Brothers Ty (2024) and Tate (2025) Southisene were drafted the lst two years, as well as Oregon outfielder Mason Neville in 2025.
“The Southisenes, those guys are like my older brothers,” Giles said. “Being able to watch them go through it before and know what it takes to get to that point has been huge for me. Those are two guys that I lean on more than anything.”
Giles’ senior year was cut short after Basic had to forfeit all of its games before the start of the playoffs for using an ineligible player as the Wolves looked to defend their 2025 5A state title.
Basic also missed the 2024 playoffs, while also dealing with a coaching change midseason after having to forfeit most of its games that year due to playing ineligible players.
But even through the highs and lows, Giles said he “couldn’t be more grateful” for his time at Basic.
“Throughout those four years, it really molded me into what I am today,” Giles said, “Lots of ups and downs throughout those four years, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It really molded me into who I am today, and I met some of my lifelong best friends throughout the process.”
From CSN to draft
Former Green Valley star Brady Ballinger had just one college offer after graduating in 2023: the College of Southern Nevada.
Three years later, after two years at CSN and a strong junior season this spring at Kansas, Ballinger has become one of the more sought-after college prospects in the draft.
“I’m feeling good about it,” said Ballinger, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds. “I had some teams talk to my agent and he’s dealing with a lot of the process right now, but I’m feeling pretty good about it and excited for the new opportunity.”
Ballinger is ranked as the No. 194 prospect in the draft by Perfect Game. In his lone season with Kansas, Ballinger hit .283 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs to help the Jayhawks go 45–18 and their second-ever NCAA regional.
Ballinger just participated in the medical portion of the draft combine and didn’t participate in any drills, but said he has heard from teams that they like the “discipline of (his) game, especially at the plate.”
“They like the power upside and just not a lot of swing and misses,” said Ballinger, who primarily plays at first base.
At CSN, Ballinger starred on the Coyotes team that in 2024 reached the junior college world series and won 53 games. Many of Ballinger’s CSN teammates the past few years have gone on to get opportunities to play Division I college baseball.
“(CSN) just taught me how to prepare for every game and how to stay ready, and to be a good teammate and stay positive,” Ballinger said.
Other locals to watch
There are a handful of other locals that could hear their names called this weekend.
Fresh off of helping Oklahoma win the College World Series, Faith Lutheran grad and right-handed pitcher LJ Mercurius is ranked as MLB.com’s No. 186 draft prospect.
In ESPN’s top 250, Basic third baseball and Texas A&M commit Matthew Kelley is rated as the No. 195 prospect.
Perfect Game’s top 500 draft board includes Basic infielder and Oregon State commit Troy Southisene (No. 235) and Utah Tech infielder and Pahrump Valley grad Kyle McDaniel (No. 209.
Faith Lutheran graduate Rookie Shepard announced last month that he will not enter the draft and instead honor his commitment to play college baseball at Miami (Florida).
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
