Cranford H.S. 2026 Graduate Brayden Fry Gets Selected by Baltimore Orioles in MLB Draft

Brayden Fry, a four-year starter for the Cranford High School baseball team, was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 16th round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday. The 6-0, 165-pound shortstop helped lead the Cougars to the NJSIAA North 2, Group 3 championship last month.

Fry had made a verbal commitment to Division 1 St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia at the end of his junior year but indicated he is leaning towards signing a professional contract with the Orioles. He was the 470th player selected in the draft.

As a senior, Fry batted .465 with 10 home runs and 27 runs batted in. He is a career .379 hitter in high school who finished with 118 hits at Cranford and hit 20 home runs in his career. In the sectional championship game against South Plainfield, Fry went 4-for-4 in Cranford's 10-5 victory and hit a home run. As a senior, Fry stole 29 bases and scored 53 runs.

Fry's junior year statistics included a .439 batting average with nine home runs. His defensive ability helped him win a starting job as a freshman at shortstop. After winning the sectional championship, Cranford lost 2-0 to Old Tappan in the Group 3 state semifinal. Fry had one of the Cougars' only two hits in that game.

Fry turns 18 next month. If he signs a contract, he would report to the Orioles' Sarasota rookie team in the Florida Complex League. The last Cranford athlete selected in the MLB Draft was 2022 graduate Shane VanDam, who played collegiately at North Carolina State and is now pitching for the Kansas City Royals' Single-A minor league affiliate.

This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy against official sources.

Produced with AI assistance and reviewed against source records.