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New 2026 MLB Mock Draft Ahead of College Baseball Conference Tournaments
With the college baseball regular season winding to a close and conference tournaments set to kick off, there is some high-profile baseball on tap in the coming weeks as top prospects look to cement their place on draft boards.
UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky remains the consensus top player in the class and the heavy favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Chicago White Sox when the 2026 draft kicks off on July 11 during the All-Star Game festivities in Philadelphia.
Ahead is a full mock of the first 40 picks. 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: B/R's 2026 MLB Mock Draft 5.0
Nos. 1-3
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1. Chicago White Sox: SS Roch Cholowsky, UCLA
Cholowsky has been penciled in atop mock draft boards for so long that there will inevitably be some contrarian takes that surface in the coming weeks and months, but it remains highly likely that he will be the No. 1 choice. He is hitting .330/.465/.684 with 21 home runs this spring, and he possesses some of the same intangibles and leadership qualities that Dansby Swanson had coming out of Vanderbilt when he was taken No. 1 overall in 2015.
2. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian School (TX)
The Rays could explore a below-slot deal here since they pick again at No. 33 overall and are no stranger to getting creative with their bonus pool, but Emerson provides a rare combination of upside and polish from the prep shortstop demographic. He has one of the best hit tools in the class, is a sure-fire future shortstop and has room to grow into more power as his 6'2", 180-pound frame fills out.
3. Minnesota Twins: C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech
Lackey has gone from top catcher in this class and a safe bet to be a first-round selection to a consensus top-five prospect, and given the positional scarcity, this might be his floor. Teams don't draft for MLB need, but with Ryan Jeffers headed for free agency and no clear long-term replacement in the pipeline, the fit also makes a lot of sense. Lackey is hitting .402/.518/.747 with 34 extra-base hits in 54 games this spring, and he is a rare athlete behind the dish.
Nos. 4-6
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4. San Francisco Giants: SS Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep (FL)
The further Lombard gets from his inconsistent showing on the summer showcase circuit last year, the more he again finds himself listed alongside the top-tier talent in the 2026 class. With 60-grade raw power, middle-of-the-order upside and a safe shortstop profile, there is enough upside here for the Giants to zero in, despite their inconsistent track record of developing infield talent.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Jackson Flora, UC Santa Barbara
Outfielder Eric Booth Jr. is a popular name here and could be the pick if the Pirates decide to swing for the fences on upside, but with their window of contention potentially opening, they might prefer a safer selection here before rolling the dice at No. 34 overall. Flora is 10-0 with a 1.03 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 115 strikeouts in 87.1 innings this spring, and he has separated himself from the pack as the best arm on the board.
6. Kansas City Royals: LHP Gio Rojas, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
The Royals reached for prep left-hander Frank Mozzicato with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 draft, then used some of the savings to sign a prep catcher named Carter Jensen to an above-slot deal in the third round. A similar approach makes sense this year, and Rojas has long been viewed as the consensus top high school arm in the class. The 6'4", 190-pound southpaw offers an intriguing combination of polish and upside, with ace-caliber upside if everything clicks.
Nos. 7-9
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7. Baltimore Orioles: SS Justin Lebron, Alabama
Despite a disappointing junior campaign relative to expectations, Lebron is still hitting .261/.382/.517 with 14 home runs, 40 RBI and 37 steals in 38 attempts through 53 games. The questions about the hit tool are real, but quality defensive shortstops with 60-power, 60-speed profiles are also a rare commodity.
8. Athletics: RHP Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina
Flukey missed significant time this spring with a stress fracture in his rib, and he is still building his arm back up since returning to the mound. He struck out five batters and allowed just one hit over four scoreless innings in his last start, and a strong final month could put him right alongside Jackson Flora once again as the top arms in the class.
9. Atlanta Braves: 2B Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M
Hacopian is one of the safest picks in the draft thanks to his elite bat-to-ball skills and extremely advanced approach at the plate. He will likely be limited to second base or left field defensively, which puts more pressure on his bat, but there is also some sneaky pop in his profile that helps elevate his value. The Braves pick again at No. 26 overall, where they look like a prime candidate for an above-slot prep pitcher move.
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Nos. 10-12
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10. Colorado Rockies: OF Drew Burress, Georgia Tech
While he lacks physicality with a 5'9", 185-pound frame, Burress has plus tools across the board, including legitimate 60-grade power and the requisite athleticism to stick in center field. He is a .359/.485/.720 hitter with 57 home runs and 183 RBI in 172 career games at Georgia Tech, and stands as the top college outfielder in the 2026 class.
11. Washington Nationals: OF Eric Booth Jr., Oak Grove HS (MS)
Booth has enough upside and helium that it is not out of the question to think he could go as high as No. 5 overall to the Pirates, and this might end up being his floor. The Nationals have never shied away from betting on upside, and his combination of hit tool, budding power and top-of-the-scale speed gives him All-Star potential.
12. Los Angeles Angels: OF AJ Gracia, Virginia
Death, taxes and the Angels taking an advanced college player who can move quickly through their farm system. After two years at Duke, Gracia is enjoying the best season of his collegiate career after transferring to Virginia, hitting .330/.469/.613 with 14 home runs, 42 RBI and more walks (43) than strikeouts (34) for the second year in a row.
Nos. 13-15
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13. St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Liam Peterson, Florida
Peterson began the 2026 season as arguably the top pitcher on the board, but an inconsistent spring has steadily moved him down draft boards. After throwing a gem against LSU last Friday (7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 11 K), he now has a 4.00 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 74.1 innings. A few more starts like that could quickly move him back into the top-10 conversation.
14. Miami Marlins: C Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas
Helfrick is having a fantastic spring offensively, hitting .292/.437/.568 with 15 home runs, 48 RBI and more walks (53) than strikeouts (43) in 54 games. Already viewed as the most polished defensive catcher in the draft, he now offers a more well-rounded profile with a real chance to be a starter at the next level. Not even a lock to go in the first round at the start of the spring, he is now a virtual lock to go inside the first 20 picks.
15. Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee
After a shaky stretch in March that led to a brief demotion to the bullpen, Kuhns is back in a starting role and trending up thanks in part to a 15-strikeout performance against Texas on May 8. Despite the inconsistent results this spring, his arm talent is undeniable, and he now sports a 3.39 ERA with a 100-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 77 innings.
Nos. 16-18
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16. Texas Rangers: OF Trevor Condon, Etowah HS (GA)
With a 60-hit, 70-speed profile, Condon has drawn comparisons to Brett Gardner, Sal Frelick and former Phillies All-Star Lenny Dykstra this spring for both his tools and his all-out style of play. He has some serious helium right now and could be the second high school outfielder taken after Eric Booth Jr. somewhere in the middle of the first round.
17. Houston Astros: LHP Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach HS (CA)
A legitimate two-way talent and one of the top prospects in the 2027 draft before he reclassified in February, Grindlinger looks increasingly likely to go off the board somewhere in the 15-20 range. With a projectable 6'3", 180-pound frame and three present plus pitches, his future is likely on the mound. If he is set on continuing to play both ways, he could be a tough sign away from a Tennessee commitment.
18. Cincinnati Reds: OF Sawyer Strosnider, TCU
Strosnider has seen his batting average dip from .350 as a true freshman to .273 as a draft-eligible sophomore, but he has become a more well-rounded hitter with a massive spike in his walk rate (8.0 to 18.4 percent). He still needs to cut down his chase rate and improve his pitch recognition, but there's a lot to like about a 60-power, 60-speed center fielder with a 1.040 OPS and 24 home runs in 106 collegiate games.
Nos. 19-21
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19. Cleveland Guardians: LHP Mason Edwards, USC
After two years as a swingman, Edwards has enjoyed a breakout season as USC's Friday starter, posting a 1.49 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and an NCAA-leading 154 strikeouts in 84.1 innings. He has great carry and life up in the zone with his fastball, and backs it with a pair of quality offspeed pitches. The Guardians would be the perfect landing spot for his upward trajectory given their track record of pitching development.
20. Boston Red Sox: RHP Logan Reddemann, UCLA
Reddemann turned in an 18-strikeout performance against Rutgers on April 10 and followed it up with a quality start against Minnesota the following Friday, but he has been sidelined since while dealing with arm fatigue. A healthy return will be key to cementing his first-round status, as a 2.87 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 84 strikeouts in 59.2 innings had him trending up in a big way prior to the layoff.
21. San Diego Padres: LHP Brody Bumila, Bishop Feehan HS (MA)
The Padres' long track record of targeting high school talent in the first round, and specifically left-handed pitching, has made Bumila, Logan Schmidt and Jared Grindlinger the most common names tied to them in mocks. With a 6'9" frame, a high-octane fastball that regularly touches triple digits and elite athleticism that made him a star on the basketball court, Bumila has the highest ceiling of that group.
Nos. 22-25
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22. Detroit Tigers: SS Tyler Bell, Kentucky
It looks like Bell made the right choice honoring his commitment to Kentucky rather than signing as the No. 66 overall pick in the 2024 draft out of high school, as he is poised to be a first-round selection two years later. A well-rounded shortstop with no clear hole in his game, he is hitting .347/.518/.573 with 15 extra-base hits, 10 steals and a 17.1 percent walk rate this spring.
23. Chicago Cubs: SS Eric Becker, Virginia
The Cubs will likely have their pick of several polished, high-floor college bats at this spot. Becker has been a steady performer over three seasons at Virginia, hitting .351/.450/.606 in 136 games. He played third base for Team USA last summer, and his hit tool and versatility give him great odds to contribute at the highest level.
24. Seattle Mariners: OF Derek Curiel, LSU
Curiel hit .345 with 67 runs scored in 68 games as a true freshman last season, and he has once again displayed a valuable mix of contact skills, speed and reliable defense in center field as a sophomore. The Mariners have not drafted a college outfielder in the first round since Kyle Lewis in 2016, but Curiel would be a great potential value in this spot.
25. Milwaukee Brewers: RHP Cade Townsend, Ole Miss
Townsend was hit hard by Texas A&M (3.1 IP, 5 H, 6 ER) and Alabama (3.2 IP, 7 H, 5 ER) in his two most recent starts, so he will need to do some damage control down the stretch to solidify his first-round status. He still has a 3.81 ERA and 81-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 59 innings, and after missing time in March with shoulder inflammation, his rough patch is not completely unexpected.
Nos. 26-28
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26. Atlanta Braves: LHP Logan Schmidt, Ganesha HS (CA)
PPI pick for Drake Baldwin winning NL Rookie of the Year
As mentioned earlier, the Braves appear to be a prime candidate to grab a below-slot college player at No. 9 overall with an eye on floating one of the top high school arms to this spot. With a strong 6'4" frame and premium stuff, Schmidt is one of the top arms in the high school class, and he will still be just 17 years old on draft day.
27. New York Mets: LHP Cole Carlon, Arizona State
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding the top luxury-tax threshold
Carlon pitched exclusively in relief as a sophomore and piled up 86 strikeouts in 54 innings. Now his draft stock is up thanks to impressive results in a starting role, as he has a 3.64 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 71.2 innings. There is still some reliever risk in his profile, but swing-and-miss stuff from the left side is always valuable, and if he sticks as a starter he could be a steal this low.
28. Houston Astros: OF Aiden Robbins, Texas
PPI pick for Hunter Brown finishing top-three in AL Cy Young
Robbins raked to the tune of a .422/.537/.652 line at Seton Hall last season, and he has continued to produce while facing much stiffer competition after transferring to Texas. After homering just 12 times in 96 games as a freshman and sophomore, he has a 1.132 OPS with 19 long balls this spring.
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. San Francisco Giants: LHP Hunter Dietz, Arkansas
Pick acquired from Guardians in Patrick Bailey trade
30. Kansas City Royals: 3B Ace Reese, Mississippi State
31. Arizona Diamondbacks: OF Chase Brunson, TCU
32. St. Louis Cardinals: OF Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M
33. Tampa Bay Rays: RHP Jack Radel, Notre Dame
Pick acquired from Orioles in Shane Baz trade
34. Pittsburgh Pirates: 2B Chris Rembert, Auburn
35. New York Yankees: 3B Bo Lowrance, Christ Church Episcopal HS (SC)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding the top luxury-tax threshold
36. Philadelphia Phillies: SS Aiden Ruiz, The Stony Brook School (NY)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding the top luxury-tax threshold
37. Colorado Rockies: OF Zion Rose, Louisville
Second Round
38. Colorado Rockies: LHP Wes Mendes, Florida State
39. Toronto Blue Jays: LHP Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian School (SC)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding the top luxury-tax threshold
40. Los Angeles Dodgers: SS James Clark, St. John Bosco HS (CA)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding the top luxury-tax threshold
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