10 Biggest Risers in 2026 MLB Mock Drafts Entering May
The 2026 MLB draft is still some time away, with the Chicago White Sox on the clock with the No. 1 overall selection when Day 1 kicks off on July 11 during All-Star Game festivities in Philadelphia.
With the high school and college seasons now in full swing, sample sizes are getting large enough for some legitimate takeaways. Hot starts are beginning to look more like sustainable trends, and some early risers are emerging for the 2026 draft class as a result.
Ahead we've highlighted 10 of the biggest draft risers entering May, with a look at why they're climbing and how they might fit into the 2026 draft order.
In case you missed it: MLB 2026 Mock Draft 4.0 Predictions for Every 1st-Round Pick
OF Jake Brown, LSU
1 of 10
Stats: 194 PA, .309/.404/.642, 23 XBH (16 HR), 49 RBI
Projected Draft Range: Top 50
A 16th-round pick out of high school as a pitcher, Jake Brown made it to campus at LSU where he has been used exclusively as a hitter, posting an .810 OPS in 108 plate appearances as a freshman.
He hit .320/.407/.528 as the starting right fielder for the national champions last year, and he has sent his draft stock soaring this spring with significantly more over-the-fence production.
The arm strength that once made him a pitching prospect is also an asset in right field, and now he has the power profile to fit a more prototypical mold at the position.
LHP Brody Bumila, Bishop Feehan HS (MA)
2 of 10Projected Draft Range: Top 75
With a towering 6'8", 245-pound frame and a fastball that has touched 101 mph this spring, Brody Bumila offers tantalizing upside on the mound, though he is far from a finished product.
He averaged 40.8 points and 20.8 rebounds during the postseason while leading his high school basketball team to a state championship, and that athleticism plays well on the baseball diamond, allowing him to repeat his mechanics better than most pitchers his size.
He had an internal brace procedure on his left elbow and missed his junior season as a result. His secondary stuff also needs refining, as he is often able to mow hitters down with just his fastball. However, proving he's healthy this spring has been a big step in raising his stock.
LHP Cole Carlon, USC
3 of 10
Stats: 10 GS, 3.63 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 19 BB, 86 K, 52.0 IP
Projected Draft Range: Top 50
Left-hander Cole Carlon spent his first two seasons at USC pitching out of the bullpen, and he took a nice step forward as a sophomore when he logged a 3.33 ERA and gaudy 14.3 K/9 in 29 appearances.
A smooth transition into a starting role this spring has him trending up draft boards in a big way, as does the fact that he has trimmed his walk rate from 11.3 to 8.7 percent.
He still has work to do polishing up his command, and he is largely a fastball-slider guy at this point, but his 6'5", 230-pound frame and elite velocity give him impact starter upside with a high reliever floor.
SS James Clark, St. John Bosco School (CA)
4 of 10Projected Draft Range: Top 30
Grady Emerson and Jacob Lombard have been the headliners of the 2026 prep shortstop class for the better part of a year, and they remain the anchors of that demographic, but James Clark is making a strong case to be No. 3 on that list.
He won MVP honors in one of the most competitive high school leagues in California as a junior, and followed it up with a stellar run on the showcase circuit last summer. Now he's solidifying his prospect stock with an impressive senior year.
With a 55-hit, 60-speed offensive profile and the defensive tools to stick at shortstop, he offers a nice combination of upside and polish. There was some question whether he would be signable away from a Princeton commitment where he would have a chance to play alongside his twin brother, but first-round money would be tough to ignore.
TWP Evan Dempsey, Florida Gulf Coast
5 of 10Hitting Stats: 187 PA, .366/.465/.595, 23 XBH (6 HR), 31 RBI
Pitching Stats: 10 GS, 3.41 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 16 BB, 83 K, 60.2 IP
Projected Draft Range: Top 100
Evan Dempsey won the 2025 John Olerud Award as the best two-way player in college baseball, and he is putting together an even more impressive junior campaign.
He profiles best as a pitching prospect, with a lively mid-90s fastball and a high-spin breaking ball, but he has shown more power at the plate this spring to give his stock as an outfielder a significant boost as well.
The raw talent in his profile and multiple potential avenues for him to make an impact makes him a prime candidate to hear his name called above his positioning on predraft boards.
LHP Mason Edwards, USC
6 of 10
Stats: 10 GS, 1.49 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 26 BB, 107 K, 60.1 IP
Projected Draft Range: Top 40
After filling a swingman role during his first two seasons at USC, left-hander Mason Edwards has moved into the Friday starter role for the Trojans and delivered one of the biggest breakouts of the spring.
He works in the 91-93 mph range, but can reach back for 96 on his fastball, and he has a good feel for his entire repertoire, backing his heater with two distinct breaking pitches and a plus changeup.
College lefties with advanced pitchability tend to be late climbers leading up to draft day, and Edwards has as much helium as anyone from that demographic.
OF Will Gasparino, UCLA
7 of 10
Stats: 181 PA, .358/.459/.750, 23 XBH (17 HR), 54 RBI
Projected Draft Range: Top 75
If there is such a thing as a post-hype prospect before a player even begins his pro career, Will Gasparino fits the bill.
He was the No. 92 prospect in the 2023 draft, according to Baseball America, but honored his commitment to the University of Texas. He hit just .241 with a 29.2 percent strikeout rate in two seasons with the Longhorns before transferring to UCLA during the offseason.
He has slashed his strikeout rate to a far more palatable 18.8 percent so far this spring, and he has already set a new career-high for home runs, vaulting him back into early-round consideration.
C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech
8 of 10
Stats: 183 PA, .359/.486/.703, 24 XBH (12 HR), 47 RBI
Projected Draft Range: Top 5
Vahn Lackey was the clear No. 1 catching prospect in the 2026 draft class entering the spring, but he has emerged as arguably the best all-around prospect in the class outside of Roch Cholowsky this spring.
He looked like a contact-over-power offensive player with a rocket arm and good receiving skills following his sophomore season. With more over-the-fence production and stronger on-base skills, he is now one of the best bats in the class regardless of position.
With 50-grade speed and enough athleticism to play some third base at Georgia Tech, he is a rare athlete behind the plate, and one who is making a compelling case to be the second name called on draft day.
RHP Logan Reddemann, UCLA
9 of 10
Stats: 10 GS, 2.87 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 11 BB, 84 K, 59.2 IP
Projected Draft Range: Top 50
Logan Reddemann spent his first two collegiate seasons at the University of San Diego, logging a 3.29 ERA in 131.1 innings while showcasing advanced pitchability and plus command.
After an eye-opening run in the Cape Cod League (3.22 ERA, 25/3 K/BB), he landed at UCLA in the transfer portal, and he has continued to impress with his pinpoint command and ability to miss bats.
He might not have true top-of-the-rotation upside, but he is essentially a finished product. He should be one of the first players from the 2026 class to reach the big leagues, and that's enough to make him one to watch on draft day.
RHP Ruger Riojas, Texas
10 of 10
Stats: 10 GS, 3.25 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 12 BB, 83 K, 52.2 IP
Projected Draft Range: Top 50
For teams looking to funnel some of the bonus pool money toward an above-slot bonus for a top high school player, Ruger Riojas sits near the top of the list of senior targets in the 2026 draft class.
After posting a 5.61 ERA in 69 innings as a junior, he was No. 322 on Baseball America's list of the top 500 draft prospects a year ago, but he returned to campus for his senior season and has boosted his stock considerably.
He has always thrown a lot of strikes, but this spring he is missing significantly more bats, raising his strikeout rate from 20.6 to 38.8 percent. His profile is more floor than ceiling, but that narrative is shifting as he piles up the strikeouts.
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