2026 CCW Draft Recap: What the GMs Got Right (and Wrong) on Draft Night

Watch the entirety of the 2026 CCW Draft here.
This article assumes some team names that could be proven WRONG here in the next few weeks. Info will be updated as more is known.
​For now:
Smithey > Moonshots
Werner > 8 Balls
Alles/Lyon > Yakkers
Scott/Dudas > Short Shorts
Palmers > Dingelberries
Witty/Taylor > Hounds
Buis > Outlaws


The lights came on, the draft board went up, and the first-ever Circle City Wiffle Draft Party delivered exactly what you’d hope for: questionable strategy, bold swings, and just enough chaos to make the entire league think they nailed it.

Now that the dust has settled, we can begin the annual tradition of doing what every great insider does after draft night: Confidently explaining why half the league is wrong.

Before we dive into the full season preview and team breakdowns, let’s take a moment to evaluate what the managers got right, and where a few of them may already be looking at the trade market.


What the GMs Got Right

Moonshots — Built a team with the highest floor
Will Smithey didn’t overthink this draft.
He took the best pure bat available (Hopkins) and paired it with his own two-way dominance. Then he made a calculated upside bet with Alec Buchman. That’s exactly how you build a contender.
Instead of chasing volatility, the Moonshots drafted a roster that can survive the regular season grind while still possessing the upside to become the league’s most dangerous playoff team.
Good teams win games. Stable teams win leagues.
Moonshots may have achieved both.

Yakkers — Built the most balanced roster
Austin Alles quietly assembled the most structurally sound team in the league.
Rudy Lyon brings pedigree. Connor Young brings two-way value. Dalsen and Tristan bring developmental upside.
There are no glaring holes here.
Some teams chase stars.
Some teams chase pitching.
The Yakkers drafted a roster where every player actually fits together.

Short Shorts — Took the biggest swing
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Brayden Scott is not just a promising rookie anymore.
Last season he threw 27 innings, allowed one run, struck out 54 hitters, and posted a 0.18 ERA.
That’s not “good rookie season” territory. That’s video game stat line territory.
Pairing that with Brendan Dudas’ offensive production and the upside of Dustin Dowden creates one of the highest ceilings in the league.
If Dowden is available consistently, this team could look like a preseason ranking mistake by June.

Dingleberries — Drafted upside correctly
Aidan Palmer’s roster is full of players who could outperform their draft slots.
Connor Smith, Nolan Karwoski, Myles Caudill.
All three carry developmental upside, but the key here is Holden Palmer.
If Holden returns to upper-tier pitching form, this team suddenly has one of the best pitching duos in the league.
Sometimes the smartest draft strategy is simply betting on improvement.
The Dingleberries did exactly that.

What the GMs Might Regret
Outlaws — Power without structure
The Outlaws might have the most explosive offensive duo in Alex Gurtcheff and Cade Luker.
But the roster construction raises a question: Where are the dependable innings coming from?
Pitching depth often decides the CCW season, and the Outlaws’ staff feels more patchwork than foundation.
If the offense stays hot, it won’t matter.
But if the bats cool, this team could struggle to keep games close.

Hounds — Ace syndrome
Myc Witty is still one of the most dominant pitchers in the sport.
The issue? The rest of the roster may force him to carry a disproportionate load.
Dalton Lewis helps, Coby Taylor brings power, and Byron Young could develop.
But right now, the Hounds’ offense looks like it needs one more dependable bat to consistently support their ace.

8 Balls — Too much pressure on Reid
Reid Werner is capable of winning games by himself.
Unfortunately, that might be exactly what the 8 Balls need him to do.
Laugel provides innings and Caughey provides... professionalism.
But outside of Reid, there isn’t a clear offensive engine on the roster.
In a seven-team league, depth matters more than ever.
The 8 Balls will need at least one breakout performer to avoid spending the summer fighting uphill

Preseason Power Rankings

1. Moonshots
2. Yakkers
3. Dingleberries
4. Short Shorts
5. Hounds
6. Outlaws
7. 8 Balls

Predicted Standings
Moonshots — 16-8
Yakkers — 15-9
Dingleberries — 13-11
Short Shorts — 13-11
Hounds — 11-13
Outlaws — 9-15
8 Balls — 7-17

Team Summaries
Moonshots - Projected Record: 16-8
Roster
Will Smithey
Thomas Hopkins
Alec Buchman
Eric Starke
Josh Hart
Kent Nims

The Moonshots look like the most complete team on paper heading into the season.
Will Smithey remains one of the league’s most dependable superstars — a player capable of carrying games both offensively and on the mound. Pairing him with Thomas Hopkins, one of the best pure hitters in the player pool, gives the Moonshots a legitimate middle-of-the-order identity that many teams lack.
The wild card is Alec Buchman. If Buchman returns anywhere close to his old form, this team becomes extremely dangerous because Will won’t need to shoulder every important inning. Starke provides veteran utility, while Hart and Nims round out the roster with situational power and pitching depth.

Strengths
Elite ace, legitimate #2 bat, strong overall depth

Weaknesses
The pitching depth behind Will depends heavily on Buchman returning to form

Yakkers - Projected Record: 15-9
Roster
Austin Alles
Rudy Lyon
Connor Young
Dalsen Murdock
Tristan Dudas
Colt Cantrell

The Yakkers may have assembled the most balanced roster in the draft.
Austin Alles continues to establish himself as one of the league’s strongest two-way players, and pairing him with Rudy Lyon gives the team a combination of leadership, offensive pedigree, and pitching stability.
Connor Young is a massive piece here. Few players in CCW provide legitimate value both offensively and on the mound the way Young can. His versatility helps stabilize the roster.
Dalsen and Tristan both have breakout potential, and if even one of them takes a step forward offensively, the Yakkers could easily challenge for the top seed.

Strengths
Balance, lineup depth, multiple viable pitchers

Weaknesses
May lack the truly dominant ace some other contenders possess

Dingleberries - Projected Record: 13-11
Roster
Aidan Palmer
Holden Palmer
Dylan Jones
Connor Smith
Nolan Karwoski
Myles Caudill

This team might have the widest range of outcomes in the entire league.
Aidan Palmer gives them a reliable pitching anchor, while Dylan Jones remains one of the most consistent offensive forces in CCW over the past decade.
The key question is Holden Palmer. If his offseason adjustments translate to a real bounce-back season, the Dingleberries could become one of the best pitching teams in the league.
Karwoski and Connor Smith are both upside plays. If even one takes a leap forward, this roster could look much deeper than it currently appears.

Strengths
Reliable offense from Dylan Jones, legitimate ace potential

Weaknesses
Several roster spots depend on player development rather than proven production

Short Shorts - Projected Record: 13-11
Roster
Brayden Scott
Brendan Dudas
Dustin Dowden
Cody House
Jared Gray
Kevin Dudas

The Short Shorts have perhaps the most intriguing roster in the league.
Brayden Scott is not simply a promising young arm — he was historically dominant last season. In just 27 innings, Scott allowed only one run, striking out 54 hitters while posting a microscopic 0.18 ERA. The only reason he didn’t win the Cy Young was a lack of innings volume. He still captured Rookie of the Year, and if his workload increases in 2026, he could quickly become one of the league’s premier aces.
Offensively, Brendan Dudas remains one of the most dangerous hitters in the league and is coming off another elite season. Cody House provides another legitimate power threat after a major bounce-back campaign.
The biggest wild card is Dustin Dowden. If he is fully available, the Short Shorts could deploy a devastating one-two pitching combination with Scott.

Strengths
Elite offensive core, high-end pitching upside, breakout ace potential

Weaknesses
Availability questions and some reliance on rookies and depth players

Hounds - Projected Record: 11-13
Roster
Myc Witty
Coby Taylor
Dalton Lewis
Mitch Unversaw
Byron Young
Ethan New

The Hounds have the best ace in the league.
Myc Witty remains an absolute monster on the mound and gives his team a chance to win nearly every series. The issue is offensive consistency.
Coby Taylor has immense raw power but has yet to consistently harness it. Dalton Lewis provides versatile value across multiple aspects of the game.
The X-factor here is Byron Young. If the buzz surrounding his offseason development is legitimate, the Hounds could easily outperform this projection.

Strengths
Dominant ace, versatile role players

Weaknesses
Offensive ceiling remains uncertain

Outlaws - Projected Record: 9-15
Roster
Mitch Buis
Alex Gurtcheff
Cade Luker
Jay Wilsey
Ian Garavalia
Max Lowry

On paper, the Outlaws may have the most explosive lineup.
Gurtcheff and Luker both bring serious home run power, while Jay Wilsey provides a little bit of everything.
The concern is pitching structure. Mitch Buis is solid, but the rest of the staff feels more patchwork than dependable.
If their offense runs hot, they could surprise people but pitching reliability usually wins out over the course of a long season.

Strengths
Power hitting potential

Weaknesses
Pitching depth and consistency

8 Balls - Projected Record: 7-17
Roster
Reid Werner
Dustin Laugel
Justin Swingler
Keegan Caughey
Adam Watson
Alec Berninger
Reid Werner gives the 8 Balls a chance in every series.
He remains one of the league’s best two-way players and can single-handedly tilt games.
Unfortunately, the roster behind him carries several question marks. Laugel provides useful innings, but the offense outside Reid lacks proven production.
If Swingler or Watson emerges as a real contributor, this team could improve significantly.

Strengths
Elite star power in Reid Werner

Weaknesses
Thin offensive depth and several unknown contributors

Who Won the Draft?
Moonshots
They landed the best blend of floor and upside.
Will Smithey + Hopkins gives them an elite core, and if Buchman is even partially back, they become the deepest team in the league.
Short Shorts arguably have the highest ceiling, but Moonshots are the safest bet over a full season.



Trade Proposals That Make Too Much Sense

Trade Proposal 1
Outlaws ↔ Hounds
Outlaws receive: Dalton Lewis, Mitch Unversaw
Hounds receive: Cade Luker
Why it works:
The Outlaws badly need pitching stability, and Dalton provides innings, defense, and versatility. Unversaw brings athleticism to the base paths and on defense.
The Hounds, meanwhile, desperately need another true offensive weapon to help Myc carry the scoring load. Luker provides that immediately.

Trade Proposal 2
8 Balls ↔ Dingleberries
8 Balls receive: Connor Smith + Nolan Karwoski
Dingleberries receive: Dustin Laugel
Why it works:
The 8 Balls need offensive upside, and both Smith and Karwoski offer it.
The Dingleberries, meanwhile, gain a reliable pitching stabilizer behind Aidan and Holden.
This deal balances both rosters.

Trade Proposal 3
Short Shorts ↔ Hounds
Short Shorts receive: Dalton Lewis + Mitch Unversaw
Hounds receive: Cody House
Why it works:
Short Shorts already have Brendan as their offensive anchor. Adding two versatile depth players strengthens the bottom half of the lineup and adds defensive flexibility.
The Hounds get exactly what they need: another legitimate run producer.

Trade Proposal 4
Moonshots ↔ Outlaws
Moonshots receive: Jay Wilsey, Max Lowry
Outlaws receive: Josh Hart, Kent Nims
Why it works:
Moonshots gain a versatile, dependable player who can contribute everywhere + a flyer on a rookie.
Outlaws add good vibes in Hart + an additional arm in Nims.