.jpg?w=1280 "MLB Mock Draft")
Fresh 2026 MLB Mock Draft With New No. 1 Pick Ahead of College World Series
The College World Series is underway and the 2026 MLB draft is now less than a month away, as the nation's top amateur baseball talent will soon begin their pro careers.
UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky has been viewed as the draft's top prospect all spring, but prep shortstop Grady Emerson and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey are also part of the top-tier of prospects and remain in the conversation to go No. 1 overall.
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 Before Super Regionals
Nos. 1-3
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1. Chicago White Sox: SS Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian School (TX)
It is still entirely possible that Roch Cholowsky is firmly locked in as the No. 1 overall pick, but the White Sox decision has been increasingly framed as something closer to a coin toss in recent weeks.
Emerson is a sure-fire future shortstop with a 60-hit, 55-power offensive profile and plenty of room to continue growing into his 6'3", 185-pound frame. He might be the best all-around prep shortstop prospect since Bobby Witt Jr. in 2019.
2. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Roch Cholowsky, UCLA
In a bubble, Cholowsky had a fantastic 2026 season, hitting .320/.452/.636 with 21 home runs for a UCLA team that spent much of the year ranked No. 1 in the nation. He is the safest pick in this class to develop into an impact regular.
However, his strikeout rate (9.2 to 12.0 percent) and walk rate (13.9 to 12.0 percent) both went in the wrong direction this spring, and he hit a good-not-great .308/.458/.496 with six home runs over 30 games in Big Ten play. He is still a top-tier talent in this draft, but the door has swung open for him to still be on the board at No. 2.
3. Minnesota Twins: C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech
After hitting .397/.519/.772 with 20 home runs and more walks (50) than strikeouts (38) this spring, Lackey has gone from top catcher in the draft to one of the best all-around offensive threats in the college class.
He does not have a below-average tool, which is something few catchers can say, and if his development stalls behind the plate he is athletic enough to handle a shift to third base or a corner outfield spot.
Nos. 4-6
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4. San Francisco Giants: RHP Jackson Flora, UC Santa Barbara
Flora is the unquestioned top arm in the 2026 class, and he fits somewhere immediately following the consensus top three, whether it's here to the Giants or at No. 5 to a Pirates team on a great run of developing pitching talent. The 6'5" right-hander went 12-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 102 innings this spring while allowing just 55 hits and three home runs.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: OF Drew Burress, Georgia Tech
Burress hit .381/.512/.821 with 25 home runs as a true freshman and never stopped producing during his three years at Georgia Tech. He finished with a .357/.484/.720 line and 60 long balls in 179 games, and played a solid center field while doing it, though his 60-grade power would also be a clean fit in right field. If the Pirates are looking for more near-term impact, he makes more sense than Eric Booth Jr. or Jacob Lombard.
6. Kansas City Royals: SS Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep (FL)
With 60-grade power, a projectable 6'3" frame and the defensive chops to stick at a premium position, Lombard would be the consensus No. 1 high school shortstop in a lot of other recent draft classes. The Royals have not been afraid to get creative in the past with how they spread out their draft pool, so this is a spot to watch for a potential below-slot deal with one of the high school pitchers.
Nos. 7-9
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7. Baltimore Orioles: C Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas
The top college catchers tend to steadily climb during the predraft process due to positional scarcity, and Helfrick is getting more and more buzz inside the top 10 as the draft approaches. He is the best defensive backstop in the class, and also slugged 33 home runs in 123 games the last two seasons. The Orioles know how to develop catching talent, and there is no such thing as too many good, young catchers in one organization.
8. Athletics: SS Tyler Bell, Kentucky
Bell gave his draft stock a nice boost down the stretch when he started registering better exit velocity numbers and elevating the ball more, seemingly fully recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered on Opening Day. He hit .343/.510/.608 with 19 extra-base hits in 41 games, and two years after not signing as the No. 66 overall pick in the 2024 draft, it looks like he made the right decision.
9. Atlanta Braves: LHP Gio Rojas, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
The Braves have been regularly linked to Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress, but if he's not available, they could look to cut a deal with whichever prep pitcher they have at the top of their board. Rojas has the best combination of present polish and future upside with three quality pitches, plus command and plenty of projection left in his 6'4", 195-pound frame.
Nos. 10-12
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10. Colorado Rockies: OF Eric Booth Jr., Oak Grove HS (MS)
Booth might be the fastest player in the draft, but he's more than just a burner with a 55-grade hit tool and budding power thanks to his plus bat speed and strength. The Rockies are far enough from contention to swing for the fences on upside, and Booth has legitimate star potential. This is likely the floor for Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick, who has been frequently linked to Colorado.
11. Washington Nationals: SS Justin Lebron, Alabama
Lebron has seen his draft stock tumble after hitting .222/.323/.407 in SEC play, but he still has arguably the most impressive toolbox of any college player in this class, starting with his 60-power, 60-speed offensive profile. The ceiling here could be a franchise shortstop and perennial All-Star, but there is serious boom-or-bust risk. The Nationals will likely be hunting upside, and his stacks up to any player in the draft.
12. Los Angeles Angels: LHP Hunter Dietz, Arkansas
Dietz pitched just 1.2 innings during his first two seasons at Arkansas and got shelled in the Cape Cod League last summer, but he has been soaring up draft boards following a dominant spring. The 6'6", 235-pound southpaw racked up 83 strikeouts in 59.2 innings during SEC play, and despite his limited track record, he checks a lot of boxes to be a future impact starter.
Nos. 13-15
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13. St. Louis Cardinals: OF Derek Curiel, LSU
Curiel hit .349/.452/.522 with 55 extra-base hits and 16 steals in 126 games at LSU, and he is one of the top draft-eligible sophomores. There are some questions about his offensive impact given his lack of raw power, but elite bat-to-ball skills and a no doubt center field profile defensively also give him one of the highest floors in the draft. The Cardinals value defense up the middle as highly as any organization.
14. Miami Marlins: 2B Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M
Hacopian struck out just 66 times in 711 plate appearances during his three-year college career, and he made a seamless transition to the SEC this spring after two seasons at Maryland. He might have the most polished hit tool in the entire draft class, and his ability to consistently find the barrel helps him maximize his power potential. The Marlins have a long-standing need for offense, and he shares some similarities with last year's first-round selection Aiva Arquette.
15. Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Liam Peterson, Florida
With a 4.59 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 84.1 innings, Peterson did not have the dominant spring many were expecting after he tallied 96 strikeouts in 69.1 innings as a sophomore. He still has some of the best pure stuff in the class, with a fastball that touches 99 mph and three quality offspeed pitches, and his 111 strikeouts this spring back that up. There is clear risk, but the reward could be a frontline arm.
Nos. 16-18
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16. Texas Rangers: OF Trevor Condon, Etowah HS (GA)
With a 60-grade hit tool and top-of-the-scale speed, Condon has some serious helium this spring, and it now looks like he fits comfortably inside the top 20 picks. He has drawn comparisons to Lenny Dykstra and Brett Gardner as a left-handed hitting, contact-oriented outfielder who can serve as a table-setter for the offense. The Rangers search for a long-term answer in center field continues amid Evan Carter's struggles.
17. Houston Astros: OF/LHP Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach HS (CA)
One of the top prospects in the 2027 draft class, Grindlinger reclassified in February, and it's still not clear whether his future is on the mound or as a contact-oriented corner outfielder. The Astros pick again at No. 28 overall, so they can afford to take a big swing here and then target a more polished college player with their next selection.
18. Cincinnati Reds: LHP Cole Carlon, Arizona State
Carlon moved into the starting rotation this spring after pitching well in relief as a freshman and sophomore, and with a 6'5", 230-pound frame and four quality offerings it has been a smooth transition. He piled up 133 strikeouts while allowing just 69 hits in 83.2 innings this spring, and his proven production out of the bullpen gives him an extremely high floor.
Nos. 19-21
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19. Cleveland Guardians: RHP Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina
Flukey pitched just 24 innings this spring due to a stress fracture in his rib, and he has fallen out of the top 10 conversation as a result, but he still has a very real chance of being the best pitcher in the 2026 draft. The 6'6" right-hander has four plus pitches and room to add additional strength to his 210-pound frame, and the Cleveland organization might be the perfect place for him to maximize his potential.
20. Boston Red Sox: 3B Bo Lowrance, Christ Church Episcopal HS (SC)
Lowrance has been a late-riser up draft boards this spring, and there's a lot to like about the offensive potential packed into his 6'5", 200-pound frame. He has a hit-over-power profile now, but with a bit more lift in his swing he could easily develop 20-homer power. His smooth left-handed swing and track record on the showcase circuit give him one of the higher offensive ceilings in the prep class, though his long-term defensive home is still a question mark.
21. San Diego Padres: LHP Brody Bumila, Bishop Feehan HS (MA)
Which prep pitcher will the Padres select? The AJ Preller-led front office has been one of the few to consistently pluck talent from that demographic in recent years, due in part to their willingness to then turn around and use them as trade chips. With a 6'9" frame and a triple-digit fastball, Bumila oozes potential, though his secondary stuff lags behind. Also a standout basketball player, he could take off once he turns his full attention to baseball.
Nos. 22-25
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22. Detroit Tigers: OF Aiden Robbins, Texas
After hitting .422/.537/.652 as a sophomore at Seton Hall, Robbins employed a more aggressive approach at the plate this spring. His strikeout rate jumped from 12.5 to 22.1 percent, but he quadrupled his home run total from six to 24 while batting .342/.435/.720 and making the jump to SEC competition. His more well-rounded offensive game has helped him leapfrog several other college outfielders in the 2026 class.
23. Chicago Cubs: LHP Mason Edwards, USC
Edwards only pitched 70.1 innings during his first two seasons at USC while working in a swingman role, but he thrived as the ace of the Trojans staff this spring, finishing 8-0 with a 2.07 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and an NCAA-leading 169 strikeouts in 95.2 innings. The Cubs are in a prime spot to take a college player who can move quickly, and Edwards fits the bill with improved command this year.
24. Seattle Mariners: RHP Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee
The Mariners have been frequently linked to Kuhns, and there is little question his stuff is first-round caliber with a lively fastball that touches 98 mph and a terrific curveball. He was briefly demoted to the bullpen this spring, but rebounded nicely and finished with a 3.52 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 53.2 innings during SEC play. He needs to develop a third reliable offering and hone his command, but the Mariners know how to develop pitching talent.
25. Milwaukee Brewers: C Daniel Jackson, Georgia
Prospect projection is not as simple as just looking at stats, but Jackson's numbers have become increasingly difficult to ignore. With an absurd .396/.492/.837 line that includes 31 home runs and 26 steals, he has led Georgia to the College World Series. He has continued to make strides defensively behind the plate, but he is also athletic enough to handle an outfield corner, and the bat alone is first-round worthy.
Nos. 26-28
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26. Atlanta Braves: OF Sawyer Strosnider, TCU
PPI pick for Drake Baldwin winning NL Rookie of the Year
If the Braves cut a below-slot deal with Gio Rojas or one of the other top prep pitchers at No. 9 overall, they can go a lot of different directions with this pick. Strosnider has a less advanced hit tool than Drew Burress, who the Braves have been linked to for their first pick, but he checks a lot of the same boxes with 60-grade power and a center field profile defensively.
27. New York Mets: OF AJ Gracia, Virginia
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
After two productive seasons at Duke, Gracia transferred to Virginia and put together the best campaign of his collegiate career, hitting .354/.489/.632 with 14 home runs and more walks (47) than strikeouts (38). He might only fit in left field defensively, which puts a lot of pressure on his bat, but he is one of the more polished hitters in the college class.
28. Houston Astros: RHP Taylor Rabe, Ole Miss
PPI pick for Hunter Brown finishing top-three in AL Cy Young
Over his last three starts, Rabe has allowed 11 hits and three earned runs while racking up 30 strikeouts in 19 innings against Alabama in the SEC tournament, Nebraska in regionals and Auburn in super regionals. His 70-grade fastball regularly touches 100 mph and is one of the best in the class, which coupled with his durable 6'5" frame, quality secondary stuff and plus command has made him a fast-rising arm down the stretch.
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: SS Aiden Ruiz, The Stony Brook School (NY)
Pick acquired from Guardians in Patrick Bailey trade
30. Kansas City Royals: 3B Ace Reese, Mississippi State
31. Arizona Diamondbacks: 2B Chris Rembert, Auburn
32. St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Cade Townsend, Ole Miss
33. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Taj Marchand, James Island HS (SC)
Pick acquired from Orioles in Shane Baz trade
34. Pittsburgh Pirates: C/3B Cole Prosek, Magnolia Heights (MS)
35. New York Yankees: RHP Jack Radel, Notre Dame
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
36. Philadelphia Phillies: 1B Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
37. Colorado Rockies: RHP Logan Reddemann, UCLA
Second Round
38. Colorado Rockies: OF Zion Rose, Louisville
39. Toronto Blue Jays: SS Eric Becker, Virginia
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
40. Los Angeles Dodgers: LHP Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian School (SC)
First pick moved back 10 spots for exceeding top of luxury-tax threshold
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