UW Huskies OF is a potential 1st-round MLB Draft pick

Over-Slot Baseball's Joe Doyle recently highlighted UW Huskies sophomore outfielder Jackson Hotchkiss as an intriguing 2027 MLB Draft prospect.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:49pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball player's swing, with sharp planes of navy, green, and red overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract representation of the sport's explosive athleticism.A cubist interpretation of a UW Huskies baseball player's powerful swing, hinting at the raw talent that has scouts buzzing about the program's top prospect.Seattle Today

The University of Washington Huskies have a potential future first-round pick in their outfield this season. Sophomore Jackson Hotchkiss, a graduate of Battle Ground High School in Washington, has been the Huskies' best hitter so far this season and is drawing attention as an intriguing 2027 MLB Draft prospect.

Why it matters

The Huskies' baseball program has produced several MLB draft picks in recent years, and Hotchkiss' potential first-round selection would continue that trend and bring further attention to the school's talent development.

The details

Hotchkiss, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitting outfielder, has built off a strong freshman campaign in 2025. In 25 games entering Friday, he led the team in several offensive categories, including a .361 batting average, .773 slugging percentage, 1.208 OPS and 11 home runs. As a freshman, he batted .241 with a .792 OPS, six homers, 11 doubles, 26 RBIs and nine stolen bases over 51 games.

  • Hotchkiss was selected in the 18th round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of high school by the Arizona Diamondbacks but did not sign.
  • Hotchkiss was the No. 4 recruit in the state of Washington in the class of 2024, per Baseball Northwest.

The players

Jackson Hotchkiss

A 20-year-old sophomore outfielder for the University of Washington Huskies who is drawing attention as a potential first-round pick in the 2027 MLB Draft.

Joe Doyle

The founder of Over-Slot Baseball and a regular guest on the Seattle Sports airwaves who recently highlighted Hotchkiss as an intriguing 2027 MLB Draft prospect.

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What they’re saying

“Over-Slot Baseball currently has Hotchkiss rated as its No. 42 overall prospect for the 2027 draft class.”

— Joe Doyle, Founder, Over-Slot Baseball

The takeaway

Hotchkiss' breakout sophomore season has him firmly on the radar of MLB scouts, and a potential first-round selection in the 2027 draft would continue the University of Washington's recent success in developing top-tier baseball talent.