Iowa’s Ryan Stedman Among Top MLB Draft Prospects from Every State

As the 2026 MLB First-Year Player Draft approaches, baseball fans across the country are eager to see which young stars will hear their names called. For Iowa, the spotlight falls on Valley High School right-hander Ryan Stedman, who ranks as the top draft prospect from the Hawkeye State. The draft begins Saturday, July 11, in Philadelphia, with the Chicago White Sox holding the No. 1 overall pick.

Stedman, a 6-foot-3 pitcher from West Des Moines, has shown impressive velocity this spring, sitting at 93-95 mph and touching 97 mph with his fastball. His low-80s changeup is his best secondary pitch, while his curveball and cutter project as average offerings. Stedman is committed to the University of Iowa, but