California prep outfielder Isaiah Hearn wasn’t always viewed as a future baseball prospect.
In fact, for much of his early high school career, his future appeared to be on the football field.
Now, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior is one of the more intriguing high school outfielders in the 2026 MLB Draft class, pairing power, speed and athleticism with a rapidly rising profile.
“It’s been very satisfying,” Hearn said. “Everything kind of came together from all the work I put in.”
Hearn’s path to this point has been anything but traditional. Raised as a multi-sport athlete, he spent his early years focused primarily on football and basketball before fully committing to baseball.
That decision didn’t come easily or without risk.
As a freshman football player, Hearn made an immediate impact, scoring five touchdowns in his first game and quickly earning a promotion to the varsity level. College interest followed soon after, with scholarship offers from programs including Colorado State, Arizona, Nebraska and San Diego State.
“I started getting a lot of hype for football,” Hearn said. “It kind of just kept rolling.”
At the time, baseball wasn’t generating the same level of attention. Entering the summer before his junior year — a key evaluation period for college recruiting — Hearn remained largely under the radar on the diamond.
Still, he made a pivotal choice.
“I didn’t have a lot of hype going into that summer,” Hearn said. “But I decided I was only going to play baseball and really put everything into it.”
That bet on himself quickly began to pay off.
Through a combination of showcase events, camps and steady development, Hearn started to draw attention from college programs and professional scouts alike. His physical tools — particularly his combination of power and speed — began to stand out.
“I’d say my power and my speed are my top tools,” Hearn said. “Any ball over the plate, I feel confident I can put it out of the ballpark. And I feel like I can cover a lot of ground in the outfield.”
Those traits, along with his athletic background, have helped shape him into a well-rounded prospect. Despite his size, Hearn projects as a potential center fielder at the next level, thanks to his range and ability to move efficiently in the outfield.
His development at the plate has followed a similar trajectory. After initially relying more on raw strength, Hearn has worked to refine his swing into something more efficient and repeatable.
“I’ve tried to make my swing as short and simple as possible,” he said. “I know if I touch the ball, it has a chance to go out.”
Even as his profile continues to rise, Hearn remains focused on improving key areas of his game. He is working to add arm strength through long toss and strength training, while also refining his approach at the plate to better utilize all fields.
“It’s more of a mindset,” he said. “Just knowing I have more room for error when I’m thinking about the whole field.”
That mindset has been especially important during his senior season, as expectations and attention have increased.
Maintaining that balance has been key as scouts continue to follow his progress. Hearn said he leans on a steady, even-keeled approach — something teammates and coaches have come to expect from him.
“I take pride in being level-headed,” he said. “Not getting too high or too low.”
He also credits his parents for helping him stay grounded throughout his development.
“They’ve always made sure I’m in the right headspace,” Hearn said. “They’re my biggest supporters.”
As July approaches, Hearn’s future remains open. He is committed to Oregon, one of the premier programs on the West Coast, but also has a chance to begin his professional career if selected in the draft.
Regardless of the path, his rise stands as a reflection of persistence and belief.
“Every step I’ve taken makes me want more,” Hearn said. “There’s always another level to get to.”
It’s a mentality captured in a quote he lives by: never let a hard time humble you.
For Hearn, that mindset has helped turn a once-overlooked baseball player into a legitimate draft prospect — and one still trending upward.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for 11 years. He has interviewed 613 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as an “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
