MLB 2026 Mock Draft 2.0 Predictions for Every 1st-Round Pick
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft belongs to the Chicago White Sox after they won the draft lottery at the annual winter meetings in December, and all signs point to UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky being the consensus top talent in the upcoming draft class.
While the college and high school baseball seasons are not yet underway, past production, summer performance and rumblings out of fall and winter workouts provide us with plenty of fodder to assess the 2026 draft class.
Ahead is a full first-round mock draft, all the way through pick No. 40. That allows at least one pick for all 30 teams, as the Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays and Dodgers all had their first selection moved back 10 spots as a penalty for exceeding the highest level of the luxury-tax threshold.
In case you missed it: 2026 MLB Mock Draft for Every 1st-Round Pick After Draft Lottery Results
Nos. 1-3
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1. Chicago White Sox: SS Roch Cholowsky, UCLA
Cholowsky was arguably the best player in college baseball last season as a sophomore, hitting .353/.480/.710 with 19 doubles, 23 home runs, 74 RBI and more walks (45) than strikeouts (30). He would slot alongside Konnor Griffin and Kevin McGonigle as one of baseball's elite prospects right now, and on top of his 60-hit, 60-power offensive profile, he also checks all the boxes to be a standout defender at shortstop. He is the most slam dunk No. 1 overall pick since Adley Rutschman.
2. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian School (TX)
A true five-tool talent at the shortstop position, Emerson is the headliner of this year's high school class, with an advanced hit tool and smooth defensive tools at shortstop his best present skills. There is projection remaining in his 6'2", 180-pound frame that should mean more power to come, and more than enough athleticism that he should be a threat on the bases and a lock to stick at shortstop even as he fills out.
3. Minnesota Twins: SS Justin Lebron, Alabama
Terrific numbers as a freshman (.975 OPS, 12 HR) and sophomore (1.058 OPS, 18 HR) while playing in the SEC have made LeBron one of the top prospects in the 2026 draft class since the onset of his college career. His 68 strikeouts in 59 games last season raise some minor questions about his hit tool, but even with some swing-and-miss, 60-power, 60-speed shortstops don't exactly grow on trees.
Nos. 4-6
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4. San Francisco Giants: OF Drew Burress, Georgia Tech
Despite an undersized frame that lacks further physical projection, the current toolbox is enough to make Burress one of the top all-around prospects in the 2026 draft class. In two seasons at Georgia Tech, he has hit .357/.490/.756 with 44 home runs and 129 RBI in 118 games, and most expect him to be able to stick in center field at the next level. Some struggles with Team USA over the summer can quickly be erased with a strong spring.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: OF Derek Curiel, LSU
Curiel hit .345/.470/.519 with 29 extra-base hits and 67 runs scored in 68 games as a true freshman starter for the national champion LSU Tigers last year, and he is one of the top draft-eligible sophomores in the 2026 class. He has drawn comparisons to Christian Yelich at the same point in his career, and similarly his power game is more about projection than production, but the potential is there for him to be a 20/20 center fielder and table-setter atop the lineup.
6. Kansas City Royals: SS Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep (FL)
With an athletic 6'3", 185-pound frame and a 55-hit, 60-power offensive profile, Lombard is one of the 2026 draft's elite prep prospects. He had an inconsistent summer on the showcase circuit, which will put more eyes on his spring performance, but the tools are impossible to ignore. He is the younger brother of Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr.
Nos. 7-9
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7. Baltimore Orioles: RHP Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina
Flukey finished 8-2 with a 3.19 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 118 strikeouts in 101.2 innings as the co-ace of the staff for a Coastal Carolina team that made it all the way to the College World Series finals last year. The 6'6", 210-pound right-hander has a polished four-pitch mix, including an elite fastball-curveball pairing, and there is still room for him to add strength and velocity.
8. Athletics: RHP Jackson Flora, UC Santa Barbara
Teams saw plenty of Flora last spring while scouting No. 2 overall pick Tyler Bremner, and he impressed with a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 86 strikeouts in 75 innings. He has a strong 6'5", 205-pound frame and an elite 70-grade fastball that regularly touched 100 mph in 2025. A step forward with his secondary stuff this spring could make him the first pitcher off the board, and his elite fastball gives him a high floor.
9. Atlanta Braves: LHP Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian School (SC)
Bolemon logged a 135-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 55.1 innings without allowing an earned run as a junior, and he enters the spring as the consensus top prep arm in the 2026 class. He has four quality pitches, more development on his secondary stuff than most prep pitchers and clean mechanics. An internal brace procedure in eighth grade is the one red flag, but that won't push him down the draft board if he's healthy again this spring.
Nos. 10-12
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10. Colorado Rockies: C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech
There is a long history of Georgia Tech churning out catching talent, with guys like Matt Wieters, Joey Bart, Kyle McCann and Kevin Parada among the notable backstops taken early in their respective draft classes. Lackey now stands as the top catching prospect in the 2026 draft, as he hit .347/.421/.500 with 21 extra-base hits during a breakout sophomore season while also showcasing standout defensive tools.
11. Washington Nationals: RHP Liam Peterson, Florida
Peterson has logged 132.1 innings during his first two seasons on campus at Florida, and while his 5.30 ERA and 1.56 WHIP do not jump off the page, his 173 strikeouts and 28.5 percent strikeout rate speak volumes. If the results start to better match the pure stuff this spring, he could be the first arm off the board and a top-five selection, but potential alone makes him a clear first-round prospect.
12. Los Angeles Angels: OF AJ Gracia, Virginia
One of the top players in the transfer portal during the offseason, Gracia landed at Virginia after posting a 1.003 OPS with 29 home runs, 112 RBI and more walks (105) than strikeouts (91) over two seasons at Duke. He could end up in left field due to his limited arm strength, but it's his 55-hit, 60-power offensive profile and overall polish that makes him one of the top college position players in the class.
Nos. 13-15
5 of 1013. St. Louis Cardinals: OF Sawyer Strosnider, TCU
A loud .350/.420/.650 line with 13 doubles, 10 triples, 11 home runs, 51 RBI and 10 steals made Strosnider one of the top freshmen in the nation last season, and a 60-power, 60-speed profile is generally a ticket to hearing your name called early in the draft. He underwent shoulder surgery last summer, but sat in the low 90s with his fastball as a prep pitcher and should profile well in right field at the next level.
14. Miami Marlins: SS Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M
Hacopian was a two-year starter for Maryland, manning third base as a freshman before shifting to shortstop last spring, and he hit .347/.465/.614 with 29 home runs and 103 RBI in 107 games before entering the transfer portal. Now he has a chance to showcase his skills in the SEC, as he is expected to replace Kaeden Kent as the Aggies starting shortstop.
15. Arizona Diamondbacks: SS Tyler Spangler, De La Salle HS (CA)
A polished all-around game and above-average tools across the board make Spangler arguably the top prep shortstop in the 2026 class behind Grady Emerson and Jacob Lombard. None of his tools are particularly loud, but there are also no glaring holes in his game. His 6'3", 195-pound frame offers significant physical projection, and his 55-hit, 55-power offensive profile would allow for a shift to third base if needed.
Nos. 16-18
6 of 1016. Texas Rangers: LHP Gio Rojas, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
Rojas is part of a clear top-tier of prep pitchers that also includes left-handers Carson Bolemon and Logan Schmidt. On talent alone, he is a top-10 player in the 2026 class, though the volatility of high school pitching always makes slotting them in mock drafts difficult. With a projectable 6'4", 190-pound frame, three quality pitches, plus command and good athleticism, he would immediately become the Rangers' top pitching prospect.
17. Houston Astros: 3B Ace Reese, Mississippi State
The Astros have often targeted players with one loud carrying tool, and Reese fits the mold with some of the best raw power in the 2026 class. The 6'4", 220-pound slugger hit .352/.422/.718 with 21 home runs and 66 RBI last season after transferring from Houston to Mississippi State, and his bat will need to drive his value with limited athleticism and a defensive profile that could eventually land him at first base or in left field.
18. Cincinnati Reds: SS Eric Becker, Virginia
One of the best pure hitters in the college class, Becker has a .366/.459/.637 line in 95 games as a two-year starter at Virginia. He has limited present power, but there is room to add strength to his 6'3", 190-pound frame, and how much impact teams project at the plate will determine how high he climbs on draft boards. He played third base for Team USA over the summer, and could fit anywhere on the infield.
Nos. 19-21
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19. Cleveland Guardians: SS Tyler Bell, Kentucky
Bell was the No. 66 overall pick in the 2024 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, but he opted to honor his commitment to Kentucky. After hitting .296/.385/.522 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs, 46 RBI and 11 steals as a true freshman and putting together a solid run in the Cape Cod League before suiting up for Team USA, all signs point to him exceeding that draft position two years later as an eligible sophomore.
20. Boston Red Sox: 2B Chris Rembert, Auburn
Rembert was one of the top performers for Team USA last summer following a freshman campaign where he hit .344/.467/.555 with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, 46 RBI and more walks (37) than strikeouts (36). His quick hands and advanced approach give him a 60-grade hit tool, and he offers one of the highest floors in the class, drawing comparisons to former All-Star Howie Kendrick.
21. San Diego Padres: LHP Logan Schmidt, Ganesha HS (CA)
The Padres are one of the few teams that have consistently targeted high school talent at a time when the industry is starting to skew more toward the safer college demographic at the top of drafts. There's a good chance one of the top three prep arms will still be on the board for their first pick, and Schmidt has frontline upside with a 6'4", 215-pound frame, plus command of his three-pitch arsenal and clean mechanics. He reclassified and will not turn 18 until a few weeks after the 2026 draft.
Nos. 22-25
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22. Detroit Tigers: OF Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M
Sorrell played just 26 games last spring while navigating hamate and hamstring injuries, but he hit .337/.430/.789 with 12 home runs in his limited action, and he was the starting left fielder for the College World Series runners-up as a true freshman. A strong start and clean bill of health could push him up the board quickly once the 2026 season is underway.
23. Chicago Cubs: RHP Gabe Gaeckle, Arkansas
After the top-tier trio of Cameron Flukey, Jackson Flora and Liam Peterson, there is a wide open field vying for the No. 4 spot among college arms. Gaeckle is undersized with a 6'0", 190-pound frame and has some reliever risk, but he has electric stuff with an upper 90s fastball that has great carry and can be unhittable at times backed by a plus slider. He has 149 strikeouts in 114 innings over two seasons at Arkansas, and has pitched in a variety of roles on their staff.
24. Seattle Mariners: RHP Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee
Kuhns was one of the standout performers in the Cape Cod League last summer, logging a 1.35 ERA and a 20-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 13.1 innings over three starts. His command was hit-and-miss during the spring in a complementary role on a loaded Tennessee staff, but he figures to move into a weekend starter mix with Liam Doyle, Marcus Phillips and AJ Russell all moving on to pro ball.
25. Milwaukee Brewers: OF Eric Booth Jr., Oak Grove HS (MS)
Booth is a raw prospect compared to some of the other players in the first-round conversation, but his toolbox runneth over, with a 55-hit, 50-power, 70-speed profile and the upside to be a true impact center fielder. His swing mechanics need work, but he still makes consistent hard contact, and there is a wealth of untapped potential in his game.
Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks
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26. Atlanta Braves: RHP Joey Volchko, Georgia
PPI pick for Drake Baldwin winning NL Rookie of the Year
Volchko is similar in some ways to 2024 first-round pick Brody Brecht in that he has some of the best pure stuff in the draft class and a strong, physical frame, but has yet to fully realize his potential due to inconsistent command. With a fastball that has touched 101 mph and a lethal 70-grade slider, he could be one of the breakout stars of the 2026 season with a step forward in his command.
27. New York Mets: C Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
Helfrick might be the only catcher capable of chasing down Vahn Lackey as the top catcher in the 2026 draft class. After logging an .837 OPS with 11 home runs in 36 games in the Cape Cod League following his freshman season, he turned in a breakout sophomore campaign, hitting .305/.420/.616 with 15 home runs last spring. A plus defender with playable power, he offers a high floor and plenty of upside if his hit tool continues to develop.
28. Houston Astros: OF Blake Bowen, JSerra Catholic HS (CA)
PPI pick for Hunter Brown finishing top-three in AL Cy Young
Bowen boosted his stock significantly on the showcase circuit last summer, with his raw tools translating to better on-field success than expected after he had previously split his time between baseball and football. There is 60-power, 60-speed potential in his profile, but he still needs to prove he has the hit tool to consistently get to that tantalizing upside.
Note: If Zac Gallen signs a contract worth $50 million or more with another team, the D-backs will receive the No. 29 overall pick as compensation after he declined a qualifying offer. At this point in the offseason, that looks increasingly unlikely, and a reunion with the D-backs or a short-term deal is the most likely outcome.
Competitive Balance A Picks
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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.
29. Cleveland Guardians: 3B Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M
30. Kansas City Royals: OF Aiden Robbins, Texas
31. Arizona Diamondbacks: SS Maddox Molony, Oregon
32. St. Louis Cardinals: OF Kevin Roberts Jr., Jackson Prep (MS)
33. Tampa Bay Rays: RHP Tommy LaPour, TCU
Pick acquired from Orioles in Shane Baz trade
34. Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Coleman Borthwick, South Walton HS (FL)
35. New York Yankees: SS Aiden Ruiz, The Stony Brook School (NY)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
36. Philadelphia Phillies: RHP Jensen Hirschkorn, Kingsburg HS (CA)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
37. Colorado Rockies: OF Zion Rose, Louisville
38. Colorado Rockies: RHP Ryan Lynch, North Carolina
39. Toronto Blue Jays: OF Trevor Condon, Etowah HS (GA)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
40. Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Joseph Contreras, Blessed Trinity Catholic HS (GA)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
