2026 MLB Mock Draft and Early Predictions for Top 1st-Round Baseball Prospects
The first three rounds of the 2025 Major League Baseball draft are complete, and most fans should feel a bit better about their favorite team's future than they did a few days ago.
In the more distant future, fans of some teams will hope to land their version of a top prospect like Kade Anderson, Liam Doyle or Ethan Holliday.
While the 2026 draft is still a year away, it's not too early to start thinking about the next crop of future stars.
New prospects will emerge, and team needs will change. However, now's a great time to take a look at some top players with a first-round mock draft using the current Tankathon draft order and a simulated lottery as a guide. We'll also take a closer look at two top 2026 prospects worth tracking over the next year.
2026 MLB Mock Draft
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1. Oakland Athletics: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
2. Baltimore Orioles: Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, Arizona
3. Pittsburgh Pirates: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
4. Atlanta Braves: A.J. Gracia, OF, Duke
5. Kansas City Royals: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina
6. Chicago White Sox: Hunter Carnes, C, Florida State
7. Miami Marlins: Chris Hacopian, 3B, Maryland
8. Cleveland Guardians: Jacob Lombard, SS, Culliver Prep (FL)
9. Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Lee, RHP, UCLA
10. Colorado Rockies: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
11. Washington Nationals: Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle (CA)
12. Los Angeles Angels: Aidan Knaak, RHP, Clemson
13. Minnesota Twins: Zion Rose, C, Louisville
14. Texas Rangers: Grady Emerson, SS, Argyle (TX)
15. Cincinnati Reds: Daniel Cuvet, 3B/OF, Miami
16. Tampa Bay Rays: Brady Harris, Trinity Christian (FL)
17. St. Louis Cardinals: Andrew Wiggins, OF, Indiana
18. San Francisco Giants: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
19. Seattle Mariners: Sawyer Farr, SS, Texas A&M
20. Boston Red Sox: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas (FL)
21. San Diego Padres: Gavin Grahovac, 3B/OF, Texas A&M
22. New York Mets: Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee
23. New York Yankees: Eric Becker, SS, Virginia
24. Toronto Blue Jays: Jason DeCaro, RHP, North Carolina
25. Philadelphia Phillies: Duncan Marsten, RHP, Wake Forest
26. Milwaukee Brewers: Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian (SC)
27. Houston Astros: Caden Sorrell, SS, Texas A&M
28. Chicago Cubs: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
29. Los Angeles Dodgers: Cole Koeninger, SS/RHP, Keller (TX)
30. Detroit Tigers: Kyle Johnson, OF/LHP, Duke
Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
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While it's far too early to consider anyone the consensus top 2026 prospect, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is already making a strong case. At 6'2" and 195 pounds, Cholowsky combines a solid frame, great athleticism and terrific technique to shine as a defensive presence.
With a .353 batting average and 23 home runs this past season, Cholowsky brings quite the potent presence to the plate as well.
Before the 2025 College World Series got underway, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel unveiled his ranking of the best MLB prospects in the Omaha field and had Cholowsky leading the way.
"Cholowsky is the top pro prospect in college baseball, making him an early candidate to go first overall next summer," McDaniel wrote. "He has a complete game and is above average at almost everything on the field."
Regardless of which MLB team lands the top selection, Cholowsky is going to garner its attention.
Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, Arizona
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Talented and versatile pitchers will always interest teams at the top of the draft, and Arizona's Gabe Gaeckle will be no exception. Though he spent most of the last two seasons working out of the bullpen, the 6'0", 190-pounder has shown plenty of starting potential.
A 20th-round flier of the Cincinnati Reds in 2023, Gaeckle opted for Arkansas, where he became a Freshman All-American. With a consistent mid-90s fastball, a dangerous curveball and a deceptive slider in his arsenal, Gaeckle has the tools to match up against virtually any hitter.
"He’s one of the best pitchers in the entire country," LSU coach Jay Johnson said of Gaeckle, per Dan Morrison of On3. "Like, it’s not close."
Gaeckle may not be the top pitcher on draft boards by this time next year. However, his upside as a starter and proven ability to close games should make him a coveted early prospect.
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