2026 MLB Mock Draft for Every 1st-Round Pick After Draft Lottery Results
The Chicago White Sox have secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft after winning the draft lottery, which took place Tuesday afternoon at the annual winter meetings.
Now, we shift our attention to our first mock draft with the newly finalized draft order.
UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is the consensus top prospect in the 2026 class and the favorite to go No. 1 overall, while Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron and prep middle infielders Grady Emerson and Jacob Lombard are also expected to be early picks.
On the pitching side of things, Florida's Liam Peterson and Coastal Carolina's Cameron Flukey are the top college arms, while the high school pitching class is volatile as always and will better take shape this spring.
Ahead is a full first-round mock draft, including the compensation picks and competitive balance round A, all the way through pick No. 41.
Nos. 1-3
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1. Chicago White Sox: SS Roch Cholowsky, UCLA
Not since Adley Rutschman in 2019 has there been a bigger slam dunk No. 1 prospect in a draft class. Keep in mind, many expected Dylan Crews to go No. 1 overall in 2023, right up until draft day when the Pirates selected Paul Skenes.
Cholowsky hit .353/.480/.710 with 19 doubles, 23 home runs, 74 RBI and more walks (45) than strikeouts (30) as a sophomore, and he checks all the boxes to be a standout defender at shortstop. This is what a franchise cornerstone prospect looks like, and he should fly through the minor leagues.
2. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian School (TX)
Emerson sits atop the prep class not only for his upside, but also for his present polish in the batter's box where he displays an advanced approach to go along with his 60-hit, 55-power tools. There is room to add strength to his 6'2", 180-pound frame, and his stellar bat-to-ball skills should help him maximize his power potential.
3. Minnesota Twins: SS Justin Lebron, Alabama
With a strong freshman season (.975 OPS, 12 HR) and an even better sophomore campaign (1.058 OPS, 18 HR), Lebron enters his junior season as one of the most accomplished players in the class. A strikeout rate that hovered around 25 percent last year raises some questions about his hit tool, but he's a sure-fire shortstop with a 60-power, 60-speed profile, and there is superstar upside.
Nos. 4-6
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4. San Francisco Giants: OF Drew Burress, Georgia Tech
After hitting .357/.490/.756 with 44 home runs and 129 RBI in 118 games during his first two seasons at Georgia Tech, Burress could be the first college outfielder off the board. He didn't have a great summer with the Collegiate National Team, and there are some moving parts to his swing, but the results are tough to ignore and he offers the upside of a five-tool center fielder.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: SS Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep (FL)
Lombard is the younger brother of Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr. and offers a higher offensive ceiling thanks to his 60-grade raw power and an advanced overall feel for hitting. There were some swing-and-miss issues on the showcase circuit last summer, so he will need a strong spring to cement his status as a top-tier prospect.
6. Kansas City Royals: RHP Liam Peterson, Florida
Peterson struck out 77 hitters in 63 innings as a freshman while getting hit around a bit with a 6.43 ERA and 15 home runs allowed. The 6'5", 220-pound right-hander took a significant step forward as a sophomore, finishing 8-4 with a 4.28 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 69.1 innings, Another step forward with his command after he trimmed his walk rate from 14.6 to 10.5 percent would solidify his frontline upside and top prospect status.
Nos. 7-9
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7. Baltimore Orioles: OF Derek Curiel, LSU
Curiel hit .345/.470/.519 with 29 extra-base hits, 67 runs scored and almost as many walks (53) as strikeouts (56) as a true freshman standout on LSU's national championship team. One of the top draft-eligible sophomores in the class, there are some questions about his long-term power outlook, but his hit tool and defensive profile in center field give him an extremely high ceiling.
8. Athletics: RHP Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina
Flukey went 8-2 with a 3.19 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 118 strikeouts in 101.2 innings last season while helping lead Coastal Carolina to the College World Series final. He tossed six innings of four-hit, one-run, nine-strikeout ball opposite Kade Anderson's complete game shutout in Game 1 of the CWS final, and now enters the spring as one of the nation's top returning starters. With a big 6'6", 210-pound frame, polished four-pitch repertoire and some remaining projection, he has the potential to climb into the top five picks.
9. Atlanta Braves: OF AJ Gracia, Virginia
One of the top players in the transfer portal this past offseason, Gracia landed at Virginia after hitting .293/.449/.558 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI last spring at Duke. His 55-hit, 60-power offensive profile not only gives him middle-of-the-order run producer upside, but also one of the highest floors among this year's crop of college bats.
Nos. 10-12
4 of 1010. Colorado Rockies: OF Sawyer Strosnider, TCU
Strosnider hit .350/.420/.650 with 13 doubles, 10 triples, 11 home runs, 51 RBI and 10 steals to take home Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors, and he offers some of the best power potential in the 2026 class. With his pop and strong throwing arm, he fits the prototypical right fielder profile, and figures to be one of the first draft-eligible sophomores selected.
11. Washington Nationals: LHP Gio Rojas, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
Rojas has a highly projectable 6'4", 190-pound frame and a pair of potentially elite offerings in a fastball that touches 98 mph and a swing-and-miss sweeper. He is a good athlete on the mound, which should help him find more consistency in his mechanics going forward, and if he can continue developing his changeup as a viable third pitch he could offer top-of-the-rotation potential.
12. Los Angeles Angels: RHP Jackson Flora, UC Santa Barbara
A year after taking UC Santa Barbara ace Tyler Bremner with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft, the Angels could add another Gauchos pitcher to their minor league ranks. He had a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 86 strikeouts in 75 innings as the team's No. 2 starter last spring, and his 6'5" frame and elite fastball make him one of the top college arms in the class.
Nos. 13-15
5 of 1013. St. Louis Cardinals: 3B Ace Reese, Mississippi State
With a strong 6'4", 220-pound frame, 60-grade power and a strong track record, Reese fits the mold of a productive college corner infielder that often slots into the middle of the first round. He hit .352/.422/.718 with 18 doubles, 21 home runs and 66 RBI in 57 games last spring after transferring from Houston.
14. Miami Marlins: SS Tyler Spangler, De La Salle HS (CA)
If Grady Emerson and Jacob Lombard are the top tier of high school middle infielders, Spangler fits right at the top of Tier 2, with the potential to join that duo as a top-10 pick with a strong senior season. With an athletic 6'3" frame, polished hit tool and plus power, he has drawn comparisons to Corey Seager.
15. Arizona Diamondbacks: LHP Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian School (SC)
Bolemon tossed 42.1 innings without allowing an earned run as a junior, piling up 101 strikeouts along the way to take home Gatorade Player of the Year honors in South Carolina. He has four quality pitches, plus command and plenty of projection remaining in his 6'4", 210-pound frame. The only red flag is the fact that he had an internal brace procedure in eighth grade and will turn 19 years old shortly after draft day.
Nos. 16-18
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16. Texas Rangers: SS Eric Becker, Virginia
One of the best pure hitters in the 2026 college class and a two-year starter at Virginia, Becker hit .366/.459/.637 in 395 plate appearances during his first two seasons on campus. He played primarily third base as a freshman and also manned the hot corner for Team USA over the summer, and he might ultimately profile best as a versatile, bat-first super utility player.
17. Houston Astros: LHP Logan Schmidt, Ganesha HS (CA)
A strong summer showcase circuit vaulted Schmidt into the top tier of prep left-handers, alongside Gio Rojas and Carson Bolemon, and he now fits comfortably into the middle of the first round. With 6'4", 215-pound frame, good command of his three-pitch arsenal and clean mechanics, he offers a nice mix of upside and polish, and he will be just 17 on draft after reclassifying.
18. Cincinnati Reds: OF Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M
Sorrell was the other starter in the outfield alongside Braden Montgomery and Jace LaViolette for the Texas A&M team that reached the College World Series finals in 2024, posting a .924 OPS with 11 home runs as a freshman. He improved across the board as a sophomore, batting .337/.430/.789 with 12 home runs while slashing his strikeout rate from 26.2 to 21.9 percent, though hamate and hamstring injuries limited him to only 26 games.
Nos. 19-21
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19. Cleveland Guardians: SS Tyler Bell, Kentucky
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Bell with the No. 66 overall pick in the 2024 draft out of high school, but he opted to honor his commitment to Kentucky where he hit .296/.385/.522 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs, 46 RBI and 11 steals as a freshman. A switch-hitter with above-average tools across the board, Bell offers a high floor and the potential to climb further up draft boards with a strong sophomore season.
20. Boston Red Sox: C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech
Lackey hit .214 in 103 plate appearances as a freshman, then sent his draft stock soaring as a sophomore by batting .347/.421/.500 with 21 extra-base hits and 18 steals in 60 games. He is a terrific athlete for a catcher and also saw some time at third base, and his plus hit tool and strong defensive tools are enough to make him the top catcher in the 2026 class.
21. San Diego Padres: OF Blake Bowen, JSerra Catholic HS (CA)
The Padres have never been shy about rolling the dice on upside with high school talent, and Bowen offers one of the highest ceilings in the class thanks to his 60-power, 60-speed profile. There are still questions about his hit tool, but he made more consistent contact last summer, and more of the same this spring could push him significantly further up draft boards.
Nos. 22-24
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22. Detroit Tigers: OF Kevin Roberts Jr., Jackson Prep (MS)
With an athletic 6'5", 215-pound frame and elite bat speed, Roberts has one of the highest offensive ceilings in the draft, but he might also be the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the 2026 class. He struggled against high-level competition on the showcase circuit and has an unrefined approach, but if everything clicks, the end result could be a 30/30 center fielder.
23. Chicago Cubs: RHP Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee
Kuhns logged a 5.40 ERA and 1.61 WHIP with 40 strikeouts in 36.2 innings as a freshman, but turned heads in the Cape Cod League last summer with a 1.35 ERA and a 20-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 13.1 innings in three starts. He should compete for the Friday starter job and could be one of college baseball's breakout stars in 2026.
24. Seattle Mariners: 2B Chris Rembert, Auburn
After hitting .344/.467/.555 with 14 doubles, 10 home runs and 46 RBI in 57 games as a freshman, Rembert went 9-for-21 with two doubles, three home runs and eight RBI in five games in the Cape Cod League and led Team USA with a .278 batting average over the summer. His 60-grade hit tool will be what carries his value, and it's one of the better bats in the college class.
Nos. 25-27
9 of 1025. Milwaukee Brewers: SS Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M
A two-year starter at Maryland who hit .375/.502/.656 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI in 52 games last spring, Hacopian was one of the top bats in the transfer portal before landing at Texas A&M where he will be tasked with replacing Kaeden Kent. He is expected to shift to third base or the outfield in pro ball, which puts more pressure on his bat, so a strong showing in the SEC would go a long way.
26. Atlanta Braves: OF Trevor Condon, Etowah HS (GA)
PPI pick for Drake Baldwin winning NL Rookie of the Year
The Braves have turned to their own backyard early in the draft more than a few times in the past, and Condon plays his high school ball about 20 miles from Truist Park. With an undersized 5'11" frame and a strong mix of hit tool and speed, he has drawn some comparisons to Lenny Dykstra, Brett Gardner and Sal Frelick.
27. New York Mets: OF Brady Harris, Trinity Christian Academy (FL)
Harris has above-average tools across the board, including 55-grade present power and room to add more as he fills out his 6'2", 185-pound frame. After an up-and-down summer on the showcase circuit, he needs to show a more consistent hit tool this spring, but his power potential alone is enough to make him one of the top high school outfielders in the class.
Compensation/Competitive Balance A Picks
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If a player was rated as a preseason Top 100 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Baseball America and/or ESPN (at least two of the three), was on his team's Opening Day roster and goes on to win the Rookie of the Year Award or place in the top three in MVP or Cy Young voting prior to qualifying for arbitration, the club is awarded a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick after the first round. As a result, Hunter Brown (HOU) earned his team a draft pick for finishing third in AL Cy Young voting.
28. Houston Astros: RHP Coleman Borthwick, South Walton HS (FL)
If a team that loses a qualifying free agent is a revenue-sharing recipient and the free agent signs for at least $50 million, the team will be awarded a pick between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A. Assuming Zac Gallen signs a deal north of $50 million, the D-backs will receive the No. 29 overall pick. Otherwise, their compensation pick will move back and everyone below will move up one spot.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks: C Will Brick, Christian Brothers HS (TN)
Competitive Balance Round A Picks
All teams that have either one of the 10 smallest markets or 10 smallest revenue pools receive an additional pick at the end of the first or second round. The groups of teams alternate between the two rounds each year. These are the only picks that are eligible to be traded.
The Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays and Dodgers also each received a 10-pick penalty on their first selection for exceeding the second luxury tax threshold, leaving their first picks as part of the Competitive Balance Round A.
30. Cleveland Guardians: RHP Gabe Gaeckle, Arkansas
31. Kansas City Royals: OF Caden Bogenpohl, Missouri State
32. Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Joey Volchko, Georgia
33. St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Kaden Waechter, Jesuit HS (FL)
34. Baltimore Orioles: SS Aiden Ruiz, The Stony Brook School (NY)
35. Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Jensen Hirschkorn, Kingsburg HS (CA)
36. New York Yankees: 3B Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M
37. Philadelphia Phillies: OF Zion Rose, Louisville
38. Colorado Rockies: 3B Daniel Cuvet, Miami
39. Colorado Rockies: C Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas
40. Toronto Blue Jays: OF Lucas Moore, Louisville
41. Los Angeles Dodgers: SS Maddox Molony, Oregon
