Red Sox Select Shortstop Jake Schaffner With 20Th Pick

WHO:

MLB.com - The Boston Red Sox selected Jake Schaffner.

MLB.com - Jake Schaffner is a shortstop from the University of North Carolina (UNC).

MLB.com - Jake Bruml is the Red Sox director of amateur scouting.

WHAT:

MLB.com - Jake Schaffner is a left-handed hitter.

MLB.com - Schaffner is 21 years old.

MLB.com - Schaffner's performance included 26 stolen bases in 29 attempts.

MLB.com - Schaffner's OPS was 1.019 during his season at UNC.

MLB.com - Schaffner led Division 1 with 13 triples in the 2026 season.

MLB.com - Schaffner is listed at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds.

MLB.com - Schaffner had a 1.019 OPS during his season at UNC.

MLB.com - The Red Sox selected Schaffner with the 20th overall pick in the MLB Draft.

MLB.com - Schaffner was ranked No. 75 on MLB Pipeline’s prospect rankings.

MLB.com - Schaffner slashed .356/.467/.552 in his one season at UNC, with 19 doubles, six home runs, 50 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases in 29 attempts over 68 games.

Boston.com - Schaffner was drafted as a shortstop.

WHERE:

MLB.com - Schaffner played for the University of North Carolina, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

MLB.com - Schaffner is from Janesville, Wisconsin.

WHEN:

MLB.com - The MLB Draft took place on a Saturday, with the first round occurring on July 11, 2026.

WHY:

MLB.com - Red Sox director of amateur scouting Jake Bruml stated, “We’re really excited to welcome Jake to the Red Sox organization. His offensive skillset aligns very well with our player development group. We’re confident he’ll be able to thrive in our system while playing strong defense at shortstop.”

MLB.com - The Red Sox expressed excitement about Schaffner's offensive skillset aligning well with their player development group.

MLB.com - Schaffner is known for his disciplined contact hitting and ability to hit the ball from gap to gap, which is beneficial for Fenway Park.

HOW:

MLB.com - Some scouts believe Schaffner's arm may be better suited for second base in professional baseball.

MLB.com - Schaffner transferred to UNC after playing two seasons at North Dakota State.

Jake Schaffner, a 21-year-old left-handed hitter, has joined the Red Sox organization after an impressive season at UNC, where he recorded an OPS of 1.019 and stole 26 bases in 29 attempts. Red Sox director of amateur scouting Jake Bruml expressed excitement about Schaffner's potential, noting that his offensive skills align well with the team's player development goals. Bruml also highlighted confidence in Schaffner's ability to excel in their system while playing strong defense at shortstop.