(April 1, 2026, Hagerstown, Md.) – The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball conducted its player draft on Wednesday with 10 players selected by the 10 ALPB Clubs. The ALPB Pro Days, powered by IndyBall Jobs, took place on Tuesday and Wednesday at Meritus Park in Hagerstown, Md., the home of the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars.
The first pick of the draft was 53-year-old knuckleballer Vincent Towns. A native of Upper Marlboro, Md., Towns was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1991 out of Suitland High in Forestville, Md. He spent parts of two seasons in the Giants’ farm system, compiling a 1-2 record while pitching in the Arizona League. Should he make the team, Towns would become the oldest pitcher to appear in an Atlantic League game, surpassing the legendary Roger Clemens who pitched for Sugar Land in 2012 at the age of 50 years, 1 month and 3 days.
Following the player testing and simulated games, the ALPB managers drafted from the group of 120 participants who were all vetted for prior college and/or professional playing experience. Each of the draftees will be signed to a contract and will open spring training with their respective clubs.
First Round (Team, Player)
- Hagerstown Flying Boxcars: RHP Vincent Towns
- Charleston Dirty Birds: RHP Eli Serrano
- Staten Island FerryHawks: LHP Brandon Haston
- Lexington Legends: OF Wade Kelly
- Southern Maryland Blue Crabs: LHP Isaac Fix
- Gastonia Ghost Peppers: RHP Mark Moclair
- Lancaster Stormers: RHP Justin Needles
- Long Island Ducks: C Tyler Smith
- High Point Rockers: RHP Hiroyuki Yamada
- York Revolution: RHP Aaron Schaefer
The Atlantic League season opens on Tuesday, April 21 with five games on the schedule. The league is embarking on its 28th season and continues to stand as an opportunity for players to advance their careers to the next level. The York Revolution are two-time defending champions of the Atlantic League.
Player Notes: Second pick Eli Serrano is a native of Venezuela who pitched in the Dodgers’ organization and spent part of the 2024 season with the Lexington Legends . . . Third pick Brandon Haston pitched at Jackson State in the SWAC, finishing his collegiate career in 2025 . . . Outfielder Wade Kelly played at the University of Mount Olive and Gardner-Webb during his senior season in 2025 . . . Fifth pick Isaac Fix played four seasons at Davidson College and spent the 2025 season with Williamsport in the Major League Draft League . . . Gastonia selected RHP Mark Molair with the sixth pick . . . Moclair was a 12th round pick of the Astros in 2018 and spent four years in the Houston farm system . . . RHP Justin Needles went to Lancaster with the seventh pick . . . Needles pitched at Delaware and UNC Asheville before throwing in the MLB Draft League in 2025 . . . C Tyler Smith is a Babylon, NY native who pitched at St. Peter’s University . . . With the ninth pick, High Point selected Hiroyuki Yamada, a native of Toyoake, Japan who played collegiately at Lewis-Clark State and the University of Southern Indiana . . . Defending champion York used the 10th pick of the draft on RHP Aaron Schaefer, a Florida native who saw action in college at Bethune-Cookman and in the Pioneer League.