Four Former Paints Taken in 2026 MLB Draft

Article Presented By The Bean Foundation…

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – The Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, saw four former players taken in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft. Clay Burdette, Mason Eckelman, Charlie Scholvin and Jackson Bergman heard their names called by MLB organizations over the past couple days. The Paints have now had 36 former players drafted since 2009.

All four helped the Paints win Prospect League Championships.

Burdette was first off the board, taken by the Chicago White Sox in the seventh round (195 overall). He played 41 games for Chillicothe in the summer of 2024, batting .300 with five doubles, three triples, four home runs and 31 RBIs. Following his time in Chillicothe, the outfielder transferred from Ohio State to Xavier, where he batted .318 over two seasons with 26 doubles, three triples, 30 home runs and 89 RBIs in 107 games. He was a First-Team All-Big East selection this past spring and was named ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region Second Team. The Cincinnati, Ohio native is a graduate of Moeller High School, where he won the state championship in 2023 and was named a Second-Team All-American. 

Eckelman was taken by the Seattle Mariners in the eighth round (250 overall). The catcher from Ohio State played for the Paints in 2023, appearing in 11 games and hitting .391 with four doubles, two triples and 12 RBIs. Eckelman’s OPS was 1.005 while playing for Chillicothe. In three seasons with the Buckeyes, Eckelman hit .283 with 25 doubles, six triples, 13 home runs and 81 RBIs over 117 games. This past spring, he was named All-Big Ten Third Team while also an OSU Scholar Athlete.

Scholvin had his named called by the Minnestoa Twins in the 15th round (437 overall). The shortstop played in 10 games for the Paints in 2024, batting .406 with a pair of home runs and six RBIs, while maintaining a 1.118 OPS. Scholvin played three seasons at the University of Toledo, where he batted .319 over 148 games with 33 doubles, four triples, 12 home runs and 98 RBIs. He was named First-Team All-MAC this spring and was Academic All-MAC as well. 

Bergman went to the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round (525 overal). He pitched in 15 games for the Paints in 2023, going 1-2 with a 5.24 ERA and two saves. Bergman struck out 18 batters in 22.1 innings. After three season at the University of Toledo, the righthander played at Indiana University this spring, where he was 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts before an injury ended his season early.