Analyzing Experts' 2026 MLB Mock Drafts Ahead of College Baseball World Series

The 2026 MLB Draft takes place on July 11 and 12 in Philadelphia, with the best and brightest prospects in high school and college baseball expected to hear their names called.

Ahead of the biggest event in their young lives, find out where experts currently expect the top talent to go and what, if any, trends may be changing in this preview of the All-Star week spectacular.

Roch Cholowsky No Longer a Given at No. 1

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For the longest time, UCLA's Roch Cholowsky looked to be the preeminent No. 1 pick by the Chicago White Sox. He was the best player, the most certain top pick since Baltimore selected Adley Rutschman seven years ago.

While B/R's Joel Reuter and MLB.com's Jim Callis both still have the shortstop at the top of their mock drafts, it is with considerably less confidence than before.

Reuter wrote, "A less-than-spectacular .308/.358/.496 line and only six home runs in 153 plate appearances during conference play has at least opened up the conversation to other candidates."

Callis noted, "He's still very talented and has the highest floor of any player available, but a lot of teams believe (Fort Worth Christian shortstop Grady) Emerson has more upside and is a better prospect at the same stage of their careers.

The Athletic's Keith Law has Cholowsky dropping to No. 3 overall and the Minnesota Twins.

That the budding star's UCLA Bruins were eliminated in regional play, despite entering as the No. 1 seed, was a monumental disappointment for Cholowsky. It may also have forced front offices to look at their big boards and, potentially, move him down in favor of a player whose play was more explosive in bigger moments.

Callis added that the decision could come down to Chicago's most powerful, writing, "While White Sox scouts may prefer Emerson, other clubs think upper management will dictate a college selection."

Vahn Lackey Surging

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"With a .397/.519/.772 line that included 16 doubles, 20 home runs, 78 RBI, 15 steals and more walks (50) than strikeouts (38), Lackey has raised his stock as much as anyone this spring," Reuter wrote in his mock, which has the potential future All-Star catcher going No. 3 to Minnesota, a club familiar with greatness behind home plate.

Callis also has the 20-year-old out of Georgia Tech going to Minnesota with the third overall pick in this year's draft.

It is Law's mock for The Athletic, though, that highlights how far Lackey has come in pre-draft conversations. He has the Yellow Jackets catcher going to Chicago with the first pick, writing:

"I had the White Sox with Grady Emerson in my first mock draft, and mentioned Jacob Lombard as well. In this case, nothing has actually changed — I believe their mix still includes those two, and, yes, Roch Cholowsky. It has just sounded a little more like they're leaning towards Lackey in the last week or so."

Not bad for a player who did not receive a single Division I offer until his senior year in 2023.

That he can play at third base, too, makes him an even more intriguing prospect.

Could Pittsburgh End Up With Another Elite Pitching Prospect?

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As if drafting Paul Skenes in 2024 was not enough, the Pittsburgh Pirates could wind up with the best pitching prospect in this year's draft, too.

Both Law and Callis have the organization selecting Jackson Flora, the right-hander out of UC Santa Barbara, with the fifth pick.

The latter wrote, "After nabbing Paul Skenes, Konnor Griffin and Seth Hernandez with their previous three first-rounders, could the Pirates get the highest-ceilinged player for the fourth straight Draft?"

Law called it an "absolute dream" for Pittsburgh.

Reuter predicts the 21-year-old out of Walnut Creek, California, will land a spot earlier with the San Francisco Giants, who could use an upgrade to their starting rotation.

He wrote of the young thrower, "Flora has been far and away the most consistent performer in the college pitcher class all spring, going 12-0 with a 1.06 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 133 strikeouts in 102 innings."

With pitching dominating the game in 2026, it stands to reason that the Giants or Pirates would be high on a player who struck out that many batters and went unbeaten.