HIGH POINT, N.C. — The dream of playing Major League Baseball is getting closer for Josh Hammond.

In May, the two-way player led High Point Wesleyan Christian Academy to the NCISAA 4A state championship.

What You Need To Know

 Josh Hammond led High Point Wesleyan Christian Academy to the NCISAA 4A state championship

 Hammond had a .471 batting average and 6 home runs in his senior season

 He’s the 26th ranked prospect in this year’s MLB Draft

The MLB Draft is July 13-14

Hammond is the 26th ranked prospect heading into the 2025 MLB Draft. He spent four days in Phoenix, Arizona, at the MLB Draft combine, where he says he interviewed with 23 teams.

“Get some really valuable information because at the end of the day, I want to be in a organization that gives me a path to be a big leaguer,” Hammond said.

Before the combine, Hammond had individual workouts for six teams.

Despite a 1.98 ERA over his career in high school, Hammond plans on playing shortstop once he moves on.

“Having four to five at-bats, playing the in the field, kind of nonstop action, I love,” he said.

While he waits for the draft, Hammond is working out to continue getting better and has the help of his father Joey Hammond for his daily workouts.

Joey Hammond is the head coach at High Point University and played 11 years in the minors. Coming off of his fourth season at the school, Joey Hammond is enjoying these moments with his son.

“Two favorite things man, get to teach baseball and get to be a dad,” Joey Hammond says.

Over his 11 seasons playing professionally, Joey Hammond had a .274 batting average with over 1,100 hits. He played eight seasons with the Baltimore Orioles organization and three years with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Despite his knowledge of playing professionally, he doesn’t talk about it too much with his son.

“I try not to share too much of my experiences necessarily playing professionally ’cause it’s a different time, the lifestyle is significantly different now, which is a good thing for him,” Joey Hammond said.

While Josh Hammond has dreams of playing in the majors, he committed to play at Wake Forest and will decide on his future once the draft is over.

He continues to do what he’s always done while he waits to hear his name called at the draft.

“Working to get to this point was the goal, so now I’m here and nothing changes,” he said.

The 20-round MLB draft will be July 13-14 in Atlanta, Georgia.