MLB 2026 Mock Draft 3.0 Predictions for Every 1st-Round Pick
The Chicago White Sox hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft, and they will be closely linked to UCLA star shortstop Roch Cholowsky throughout the spring as he is the consensus top talent in the class and a potential franchise cornerstone.
Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron and prep shortstop Grady Emerson stand out as the other elite-level prospects as the 2026 season gets underway, but the door is open for a number of other players to climb the board and join them with a strong performance in the coming months.
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: MLB 2026 Mock Draft 2.0 Predictions for Every 1st-Round Pick
Nos. 1-3
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1. Chicago White Sox: SS Roch Cholowsky, UCLA
Cholowsky is the slam dunk top talent in the 2026 draft class. After hitting .353/.480/.710 with 23 home runs as a sophomore, he has a 1.320 OPS with eight home runs through 14 games to kick off the 2026 campaign. He has been hailed as the best all-around shortstop prospect to come out of the college ranks since Troy Tulowitzki was at Long Beach State in 2005.
2. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Justin Lebron, Alabama
While he doesn't have the same overall polish or elite-level hit tool, Lebron is a better athlete than Cholowsky with louder raw power. After slugging 30 home runs his first two seasons at Alabama, he is hitting .300/.449/.750 with eight long balls and 15 steals through 16 games this year. More importantly, he has trimmed his strikeout rate from 24.2 to 14.1 percent, and if that trend continues in SEC play he will cement his status as a top-five pick.
3. Minnesota Twins: SS Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian School (TX)
With one of the better hit tools in the 2026 prep class, plus power and all the defensive tools needed to stick at shortstop, Emerson has no obvious hole in his game. There is still physical projection remaining in his 6'2", 180-pound frame, but he has the internal clock and athleticism to remain at a premium defensive position, further adding to his long-term outlook.
Nos. 4-6
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4. San Francisco Giants: RHP Jackson Flora, UC Santa Barbara
Flora spent the 2025 season pitching behind first-round pick Tyler Bremner in the Gauchos rotation. Now he is the unquestioned ace of the staff and a strong candidate to be the first arm off the board. The 6'5", 205-pound righty has been up to 100 mph with his fastball while showing a terrific changeup/slider pairing, and he has a 1.50 ERA and 28-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 24 innings.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: OF Drew Burress, Georgia Tech
Burress slugged 44 home runs during his first two years at Georgia Tech, and he is hitting .344/.487/.590 with 10 extra-base hits in 15 games this season. Despite an undersized 5'9" frame, he has legitimate 60-grade power and still fits cleanly at a corner outfield spot if he is unable to stick in center. His .490 on-base percentage and 19.1 percent walk rate during his time on campus give him one of the highest floors in the class.
6. Kansas City Royals: 3B Ace Reese, Mississippi State
Reese posted a 1.140 OPS with 21 home runs last spring after spending his freshman season at the University of Houston. The 6'4", 220-pound slugger has begun to separate himself from the college corner infielder pack by hitting .406/.473/.750 with 10 doubles, four home runs and 21 RBI in 16 games. The more he hits, the less a potential shift across the diamond to first base becomes a concern.
Nos. 7-9
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7. Baltimore Orioles: RHP Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina
Flukey more than held his own against a stacked LSU lineup in Game 1 of the 2025 College World Series finals (6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 9 K), capping off a sophomore season where he posted a 3.19 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 101.2 innings. He is currently sidelined with a stress reaction in his rib cage, but there is plenty of time for him to get healthy and solidify his standing as one of the top-tier arms in this class.
8. Athletics: LHP Gio Rojas, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
Rojas has an extremely projectable 6'4", 190-pound frame and better present polish than most prep arms with three quality pitches, plus command and clean mechanics. He turns 19 years old before draft day, which gives him leverage in negotiations since he'll be draft-eligible as a sophomore if he honors his commitment to Miami, but that won't be a factor if he's a top-10 pick.
9. Atlanta Braves: OF AJ Gracia, Virginia
One of the top bats in the transfer portal last offseason after two seasons at Duke, Gracia has looked right at home in the middle of the Virginia lineup. The 6'3", 195-pound outfielder is hitting .362/.519/.724 with six home runs and more walks (16) than strikeouts (11) in 16 games. With a 55-hit, 60-power offensive profile and polished approach, he could be one of the first 2026 picks to reach the big leagues.
Nos. 10-12
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10. Colorado Rockies: C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech
Lackey is an elite athlete for a catcher, and he could handle a shift to third base or corner outfield if a team decides to prioritize his bat. He makes a lot of hard contact, and after hitting just six home runs in 266 plate appearances as a sophomore, he is batting .462/.600/.827 with five homers and 25 RBI in 15 games to start 2026. He should be the first catcher off the board.
11. Washington Nationals: RHP Liam Peterson, Florida
Peterson has struck out 34 of the 80 batters he has faced so far this season, and he still possesses arguably the best package of size, stuff and ceiling of any pitcher in the college class. An uptick to his already less-than-ideal walk rate (10.5 to 15.0 percent) has introduced some volatility to his draft stock, but his stuff is too good for him to slip much further down the board.
12. Los Angeles Angels: OF Derek Curiel, LSU
The Angels love a polished prospect who can move quickly through the minors, and Curiel offers one of the safer profiles in the 2026 class thanks to a 60-grade hit tool and the defensive tools to stick in center field. He hit .345/.470/.519 with 29 extra-base hits as a true freshman starter on LSU's title team in 2025, and while questions remain about his power ceiling, he still has impact potential.
Nos. 13-15
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13. St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Cade Townsend, Ole Miss
A new addition to the first-round picture, Townsend has been lights out to start the 2026 season, posting a 0.48 ERA with a 32-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 18.2 innings. The 6'1", 185-pound right-hander is a draft-eligible sophomore who was knocked around to the tune of a 6.35 ERA in 34 innings as a freshman, so this stands as an early helium pick with more he needs to prove once SEC play begins.
14. Miami Marlins: SS Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep (FL)
Lombard was often mentioned alongside Grady Emerson as the top prep shortstops in the 2026 class, but an inconsistent summer showcase circuit and a slow start this spring has him trending in the wrong direction. That said, he still offers a rare 20/20 profile at the shortstop position, and he has strong baseball bloodlines as the younger brother of Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr.
15. Arizona Diamondbacks: SS Eric Becker, Virginia
Becker is the classic college shortstop who doesn't have one loud carrying tool, but does everything well with a strong track record of high-level production. The 20-year-old is a .362/.453/.625 hitter across three seasons at Virginia, and he has 10 extra-base hits and 20 RBI through 15 games this spring. For now, he headlines a second-tier college middle infielder group that also includes Chris Hacopian, Tyler Bell and Chris Rembert.
Nos. 16-18
6 of 1016. Texas Rangers: OF Eric Booth Jr., Oak Grove HS (MS)
Booth is one of the best pure athletes in the 2026 prep class. His tool box includes top-of-the-scale speed, a plus hit tool and sneaky power packed into a strong 6'0", 207-pound frame. The Vanderbilt recruit is off to a hot start this spring and could steadily climb draft boards, with a profile that matches the type of player the Rangers have targeted in the past.
17. Houston Astros: SS Tyler Spangler, De La Salle HS (CA)
Spangler has great bat-to-ball skills and one of the safest profiles from the 2026 prep class. He has the athleticism to stick at shortstop and the offensive ceiling to handle a shift to third base if needed as he grows into his 6'3", 195-pound frame. He could potentially overtake Jacob Lombard to be the second prep shortstop off the board, and offers a nice mix of ceiling and floor from an often volatile demographic.
18. Cincinnati Reds: OF Blake Bowen, JSerra Catholic HS (CA)
A former football player who looks the part with a strong 6'3", 215-pound frame, Bowen offers some of the best raw power in the 2026 high school class. He fits a similar mold to past Cincinnati first-round picks like Will Benson and Austin Hendrick, with a power-over-contact profile. However, his 60-grade speed and strong defense give him a more well-rounded prospect package.
Nos. 19-21
7 of 1019. Cleveland Guardians: OF Sawyer Strosnider, TCU
Strosnider filled up the stat sheet as a freshman, posting a 1.070 OPS with 13 doubles, 10 triples, 11 home runs and 10 steals in 56 games, and he has taken another step forward as a draft-eligible sophomore. He is hitting .341/.525/.634 through his first 13 games, and his walk rate has spiked from 8.0 to 27.1 percent, giving him a more complete offensive game to maximize his 60-power, 60-speed potential.
20. Boston Red Sox: SS James Clark, St. John Bosco HS (CA)
Clark plays for a St. John Bosco squad that many outlets have ranked as the No. 1 high school team in the nation this spring, and he has a clear up arrow next to his name after a strong summer showcase performance. He has a polished hit tool, plus speed and a high baseball IQ that helps him maximize his tools, and he could continue to climb draft boards as the spring unfolds.
21. San Diego Padres: LHP Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian School (SC)
The Padres never shy away from high-ceiling prep talent in the first round, and based on pure talent, Bolemon offers as much pure stuff and upside as any arm in the class. The 6'4", 210-pound southpaw has four plus pitches, command that belies his age and smooth mechanics. The only real knock is an internal brace procedure in eighth grade and the fact that he turns 19 in April, but he would immediately become San Diego's top pitching prospect.
Nos. 22-25
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22. Detroit Tigers: OF Kevin Roberts Jr., Jackson Prep (MS)
An imposing 6'5", 215-pound outfielder with a 55-power, 60-speed profile, Roberts is a potential 30/30 player with a ceiling few can match in this year's high school class. There are questions about his pitch recognition skills and overall hit tool, which gives him a serious boom-or-bust outlook, but the boom would be a middle-of-the-order center fielder.
23. Chicago Cubs: SS Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M
After two years raking at the University of Maryland, Hacopian transferred to Texas A&M and went 5-for-11 with a home run over his first three games of the season before he was sidelined with a back issue. His health going forward will determine whether he climbs closer to the teens, or slides a bit as a potential value selection in this range on the strength of his polished 60-grade hit tool.
24. Seattle Mariners: RHP Gabe Gaeckle, Arkansas
Gaeckle was a standout reliever as a freshman, but struggled shifting into a starting role as a sophomore, finishing with a 4.42 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 71.1 innings. The 6'0", 190-pound right-hander has an elite fastball-slider combination that gives him a strong floor as a high-leverage reliever, but with a 2.61 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 20.2 innings this spring he is trending up as a starter candidate.
25. Milwaukee Brewers: RHP Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee
After taking his lumps as a freshman, Kuhns starred in the Cape Cod League last summer, posting a 1.35 ERA and a 20-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 13.1 innings. That served as the springboard to step into the staff ace role, and he has a 3.09 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 23.1 innings through his first four starts. With a fastball that touches 98 mph and a good feel for spinning a curveball, a reliable third offering could unlock another level.
Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks
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26. Atlanta Braves: SS Rocco Maniscalco, Oxford HS (AL)
PPI pick for Drake Baldwin winning NL Rookie of the Year
Maniscalco reclassified last summer and will be one of the youngest players in the 2026 draft pool, with his 17th birthday just two months before draft day. A switch-hitter with an advanced hit tool and one of the best defensive profiles among this year's prep shortstop class, he has drawn some comparisons to last year's No. 1 overall pick Eli Willits.
27. New York Mets: LHP Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach HS (CA)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
A consensus top-five player in the 2027 draft class, Grindlinger just reclassified in February and now projects as a first-round talent in this year's class. The 6'3", 180-pound lefty has touched 96 mph with his fastball and flashed a quality slider, and he is also a legitimate center field prospect with plus power. He requires more projection than others given his age, but the payoff could be an elite-level prospect.
28. Houston Astros: C Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas
PPI pick for Hunter Brown finishing top-three in AL Cy Young
Helfrick hit .305/.420/.616 with 15 home runs as a sophomore, and also did a great job handling the Arkansas pitching staff while checking all the boxes to stick behind the plate. He is showing a more advanced approach at the plate this season, hitting .353/.500/.667 with five home runs and more walks (16) than strikeouts (9) through 15 games.
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: OF Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M
30. Kansas City Royals: 2B Chris Rembert, Auburn
31. Arizona Diamondbacks: LHP Cameron Johnson, Oklahoma
32. St. Louis Cardinals: OF Trevor Condon, Etowah HS (GA)
33. Tampa Bay Rays: LHP Logan Schmidt, Ganesha HS (CA)
Pick acquired from Orioles in Shane Baz trade
34. Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Joey Volchko, Georgia
35. New York Yankees: SS Tyler Bell, Kentucky
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
36. Philadelphia Phillies: C Will Brick, Christian Brothers HS (TN)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
37. Colorado Rockies: LHP Cole Carlon, Arizona State
38. Colorado Rockies: OF Alex Hernandez, Georgia Tech
39. Toronto Blue Jays: SS Aiden Ruiz, The Stony Brook School (NY)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
40. Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Coleman Borthwick, South Walton HS (FL)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
