The 2026 MLB Draft has finally arrived. This mock reflects the late night news of the White Sox trading Jacob Gonzalez and Brandon Eisert to the Pirates for the No. 34 selection. Chicago owns the top selection and will have the ability to control a portion of the first day with three picks inside the top 41.
It will be interesting to monitor how new front office moves affect teams like the Angels and Rockies. In this mock draft, Colorado creates the biggest shakeup. Perhaps Kansas City is the biggest wild card. Several names are mentioned with the Royals and in this scenario, the organization cuts a deal with an SEC performer. A couple of Tennessee commits go back-to-back. After Jackson Flora, a case can be made for many college arms.
Will the White Sox steal the show in Philadelphia? The organization now has more than 20 million dollars in bonus pool money in this draft. Here’s how Chicago start the barrage.
1. White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
Cholowsky is as polished and well-rounded of a shortstop that you’ll find in any draft. It’s a reliable bat coupled with defensive instincts that warrant a No. 1 selection. Chris Getz and the White Sox will covet the tools, especially the potential for a double-plus glove in pro baseball. Cholowsky will add instant depth to the system.
2. Rays: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian (TX)
Emerson has an advanced hit tool with projectable power and garners a high-floor projection as a prep. There’s an exciting and strong crop of shortstops in this class, especially at the top. Emerson flashes the most upside in the long-term. He’s the epitome of what Tampa looks for at the top of the draft.
3. Twins: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech
Lackey is an offensive-minded catcher with a strong arm and power potential. The Georgia Tech backstop flashes athleticism across the diamond. Lackey showed the ability to play multiple positions at Georgia Tech. In his third season with the Yellow Jackets, Lackey increased his walk-to-strikeout rate from .66 in 2025 to 1.32 in 2026. The junior from Suwanee, Georgia, posted a 1.291 OPS this season while stealing 15 bases for college baseball’s most explosive offense.
4. Giants: Eric Booth, Jr., OF, Oak Grove (MS)
Booth, Jr. is a physical outfielder with power upside. He also boasts a strong arm. The flashy tools make for an exciting profile from the prep ranks. Booth is an essential lock to land inside the Top 10 and has potential to be the second prep off the board in this summer’s draft. In this mock, Booth lands in San Francisco.
5. Pirates: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
The best college pitcher in this draft could be available for Pittsburgh and it’s likely the Pirates add to their collection of power arms. Flora fits the profile of what Pittsburgh values from the mound. The right-hander has reached triple-digits with the fastball, but’s it’s the secondaries that have scouts excited about the prospect. Flora flashes an above-average slider and an effective changeup.
6. Royals: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
Bell improved his draft status at Kentucky after being selected in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft. The switch-hitting shortstop flashed average-to-above tools across the board for two seasons as a Wildcat. Despite a shoulder injury sustained on Opening Day in 2026, Bell returned to play in March and scored 49 runs in 41 games played this past season. He ranked second among SEC players with a .510 on-base percentage as a sophomore. Bell is a buzz-worthy name in this draft, as potential landing spots continue to be mentioned inside the Top 10 slots. In this scenario, Kansas City gets creative and inks an under-slot deal to push money down to pick No. 30.
7. Orioles: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep (FL)
Lombard is a prep shortstop with advanced athletic traits. If the power and hit combination develop into an above-average pairing, this is a selection that can impact an organization for years to come. Lombard’s athleticism supersedes all the traits and there’s not much concern on the defensive side. In the City of Brotherly Love, Lombard joins his sibling, George, as a first-round selection.
8. Athletics: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
An elite college performer for three seasons at Georgia Tech, Burress flashed an advanced approach at the plate. The outfielder recorded 60 home runs and 189 RBI across 700 at-bats during his tenure with the Yellow Jackets. Like Lackey, Burress is a Georgia native with some backstop skills. However, the fielding traits with Buress will likely keep him in the grass. The junior projects as a solid center fielder with potential for an above-average hit and power combo. It’s significant pop from the right side, considering the frame.
9. Braves: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas (FL)
Gio Rojas is a high-upside prep with easy effort from the left side. It’s a projectible frame with an explosive fastball and effective sweeper. Rojas displays an advanced feel for command and scouts think there’s a path to add one or two more plus-pitches. Thus, creating a profile that can headline the front of a rotation. Rojas sits at the top of the prep class from the pitching group. Atlanta’s farm system looks significantly healthier versus this time last summer. With two picks in the first round, the Braves can optimize on a chance to bolster that trend even further.
10. Rockies: Zion Rose, OF, Louisville
It’s a simple approach matched with great plate discipline. Rose only struck out 8.7 percent of the time in 2026 while posting a 1.137 OPS. He also stole 24 bases. Considering the Rockies hold picks 37 and 38, there could be a path for some creativity for the new regime in Colorado. A potential under-slot deal with this selection would give Colorado leverage at the back of the first round. And Rose is a perfect candidate for a value pick to round out the Top 10.
11. Nationals: Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah (GA)
Condon is one of the more talked about preps leading up to the draft. Scouts value Condon’s low-risk profile and this begins the range for the Georgia native. Condon has the ability to play multiple positions in the dirt or the outfield. There’s advanced bat-to-ball skills from the left side and a strong arm from anywhere on the field. Condon is a Tennessee commit and more likely to sign in this draft than fellow Vols target, Jared Grindlinger.
12. Angels: Jared Grindlinger, OF, Huntington Beach (CA)
Despite turning 17 years old in April, Grindlinger draws a ton of interest as a first-round darling in this years draft. With two-way upside, the Tennessee committ has all the tools to perform at a high level on both sides of the baseball. Grindlinger flashes potential for a plus hit tool, with an ascension of power as his frame fills out. From the mound, the left-hander already showcases an advanced feel for an expanded pitch mix.
13. Cardinals: Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M
The hit tool is supreme coming out of the college ranks and many organizations covet the bat-to-ball skills. The Aggies second baseman hit .319 in 2026 and posted a 1.19 BB/K rate during his first year in the SEC. He may be limited to the right side of the dirt or perhaps left field, but there’s plenty of buzz about the bat. Lots of Matt Shaw here in the profile. Hacopian’s range begins in the teens and his floor is presumably with the Cubs at pick No. 23 in the 2026 MLB Draft.
14. Marlins: AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia
Gracia’s development in the ACC has landed him as a coveted target for teams in the first round of the MLB Draft. It’s a corner outfield profile, led by power potential. The team who drafts Gracia will bank on drawing more out of the raw power and polishing the hit tool. The left-hander hit 43 home runs in three seasons at Virginia and posted his highest on-base percentage in 2026 with .489 mark. Gracia spoils pitches in the zone and has walked more than striking out the last two seasons.
15. Diamondbacks: Derek Curiel, OF, LSU
Curiel possess the best contact skills on the board in this range. The outfielder from LSU hit .314 during conference play in 2026. Curiel is a left-handed hitter with above-average power and strong defensive tools. Most scouts believe Curiel can stick to center field.
16. Rangers: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas
Helfrick posted a .944 OPS and developed a resume as one of the best defensive backstops in the country during his time with Arkansas. The catcher is a prized target in this draft and profiles as an excellent battery mate with above average skills behind the dish. It’s a power-bat that showcased an even BB/K rate across 226 at-bats in 2026.
17. Astros: Liam Peterson, LHP, Florida
At this point last summer, Peterson was viewed as a potential Top 5 pick in this draft. The left-hander has all the qualities to develop into a frontline rotation piece for an organization. It’s stuff over control. But when Peterson is dialed in on his fastball and slider, the ceiling for this prospect in undeniable. He can also spin an effective curveball and at times a changeup. The Rangers could be in the market for this profile and it feels like the floor would be Cubs or Mariners.
18. Reds: Taylor Rabe, RHP, Ole Miss
Rabe is a hard-throwing supinator and led all SEC starting pitchers in strikeout-to-walk rate (29.3%). The righty flashed a firm slider and at times worked an effective changeup. The four-seam fastball and sinker will need some polishing, but organizations won’t hesitate to buy the velo and strike-throwing ability.
19. Guardians: Mason Edwards, LHP, USC
It’s not the most explosive stuff in the class, but Edwards showcases elite command on multiple pitches. The southpaw hides the ball well and uses deception to his advatnage. His feel for spin is evident in an above-average curveball with tons of depth and sweeping action. Edwards’ fastball has plenty of ride from a high release. The Big Ten Pitcher of the Year led the conference with a 15.9 K/9 rate across 95.2 innings. Cleveland should be in the mix to go after Edwards and his excellent command if college pitching is what they prefer.
20. Red Sox: Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State
The Red Sox have a taste for college, especially in this range. Boston has a track record of selecting from that pool at the top of the draft in recent years. There’s no reason to avoid one of the best power-hitting prospects in the country. Reese launched 24 home runs and posted 74 RBI in his second year of SEC baseball. He may not stick at the hot corner, but this organization values the offensive-minded approach from the left side. Reese will likely cut Boston a deal in this scenario.
21. Padres: Bo Lowrance, 3B/OF, Christ Church Episcopal (SC)
There has been plenty of buzz about Lowrance over the past couple of months. AJ Preller and the Padres love to select high-upside preps in this range. This year shouldn’t be any different. Lowrance has easy pop with an effortless swing. The hit and power combination will carry Lowrance into the first round. The defensive question marks will be set aside, as several teams try to target the 6’5″ the Virginia commit. The Tigers, Royals and Yankees could be a fit for Lowrance as well.
22. Tigers: Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian (SC)
Bolemon likely has the biggest upside out of the high school pitching group. The left-hander has a tremendous feel for spin with above-average grades on the curveball and slider. The Wake Forest commit holds the fastball in the low-mid 90s with various shapes. Detroit tends to lean into the prep class in the first round. Bolemon would be the first pitcher from that demographic selected by the Tigers at the top since Jackson Jobe in 2021.
23. Cubs: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
This is likely the floor for Justin Lebron and the Cubs won’t pass up on the chance to bring out the hit tool in Lebron. The Alabama shortstop has flashed potential to land at the top of this draft. But swing-and-miss concerns, along with defensive errors have lowered the prospect’s status. Lebron hit .229 in conference play in 2026, while surrendering 19 errors across the 2026 season. If swing decisions match up with the contact ability, Lebron could be a valuable selection here. The Cubs have taken a college player in five straight drafts, with Ethan Conrad and Cam Smith being the latest.
24. Mariners: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina
The right-hander from Coastal Carolina boasts all the velocity traits one could want in a starter. The question for Flora involves how the secondaries will play in pro baseball. Aside from being sidelined with a rib injury in February, Flukey proved to be durable in college. The right-hander collected 232 strikeouts to just 60 walks across 180.1 innings for the Chanticleers.
25. Brewers: Eric Becker, SS, Virginia
Eric Becker is a polished shortstop and has all the qualities the Brewers love in an infielder. The junior has a defensive skills and the ability to move positions in the dirt. At Virginia, Becker hit .348 with a 1.048 OPS across three seasons as a full-time starter. It’s a strong hit tool from the left side with limited power. Milwaukee can likely go under-slot here, allowing them to capitalize on value with a shallow money pool in this draft.
MLB Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick
26. Braves: Caleb Prosek, 3B/C, Magnolia Heights (MS)
Prosek falls into a similar bucket as Lowrance. The pair will likely be next in line from the high school position player group after Grindlinger and Condon. Like Lowrance, Prosek has questions surrounding fielding position. The Mississippi commit could carve out a path as a backstop with premium hit tools. But Prosek is most likely to utilize his solid arm strength to stick at third base. It’s advanced hitting ability, matched with growing power potential.
27. Mets: Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas
A talented southpaw out of Trinity, Florida, Dietz faced an injury-plagued career with Arkansas. The redshirt-sophomore eventually excelled through 16 starts in 2026. Dietz posted the highest strikeout rate (36.2%) out of any starter in the SEC. The 6’6″ lefty struck out 131 batters to just 31 walks across 85.2 innings. Dietz showed poise during his last outing for the Razorbacks despite the loss in the Kansas Regional. After exiting the SEC Tournament in Hoover due to injury, Dietz tried to rally his team the next week by posting 14 strikeouts through 116 pitches against Missouri State. If MLB teams are willing to focus on the ceiling of Dietz, he’s undoubtedly a first-round selection.
MLB Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick
28. Astros: Daniel Jackson, C, Georgia
The Golden Spikes winner of 2026 continues to draw interest in the first round. Don’t be surprised if the Astros select Jackson at 17 instead of this slot. During his second season with Georgia, Jackson posted a gaudy 1.276 OPS with 32 home runs. He also stole 29 bases for the Bulldogs. Jackson advanced his catching ability in 2026, but it’s the bat and athleticism that will carry Georgia native into the first round.
Competitive Balance Round – A
29. Giants: Cade Townsend, RHP Ole Miss
30. Royals: Logan Schmidt, LHP, Ganesha (CA)
31. Diamondbacks: Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee
32. Cardinals: Aiden Ruiz, SS, The Stony Brook
33. Rays: Taj Marchand, SS, James Island (SC)
34. White Sox: Landon Thome, INF, Nazareth Academy (IL)
35. Yankees: Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle (CA)
36. Phillies: Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State
37. Rockies: Coleman Borthwick, RHP, South Walton (FL)
