2026 MLB Mock Draft 1st-Round Predictions for Where Top Prospects Will Land

The 2026 MLB Draft kicks off this Saturday, July 11, from the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, with the top prospects from college and high school hearing their names called by the teams for which they will continue their baseball careers.

Who are the top prospects and which players may be taken when?

Find out with this mock draft and a deeper dive into the two players who may go with the top two picks in this year's event.

First Round Mock Draft

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1. Chicago White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA

2. Tampa Bay Rays: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech

3. Minnesota Twins: Grady Emerson, SS, Forth Worth Christian (HS)

4. San Francisco Giants: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

5. Pittsburgh Pirates: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep (HS)

6. Kansas City Royals: Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove High School

7. Baltimore Orioles: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky

8. Athletics: Zion Rose, OF, Louisville

9. Atlanta Braves: Derek Curiel, CF, LSU

10. Colorado Rockies: Christopher Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M

11. Washington Nationals: Jared Grindlinger, OF/LHP, Huntington Beach HS

12. Los Angeles Angels: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS

13. St. Louis Cardinals: Mason Edwards, LHP, USC

14. Miami Marlins: Trevor Condon, CF, Etowah HS

15. Arizona Diamondbacks: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech

16. Texas Rangers: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida

17. Houston Astros: Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas

18. Cincinnati Reds: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina

19. Cleveland Guardians: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama

20. Boston Red Sox: Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle HS

21. San Diego Padres: Bo Lowrence, 3B, Christ Church Episcopal

22. Detroit Tigers: Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State

23. Chicago Cubs: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas

24. Seattle Mariners: Aiden Robbins, OF, Texas

25. Milwaukee Brewers: Carson Boleman, LHP, Southside Christian

26. Atlanta Braves: Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State

27. New York Mets: Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee

28. Houston Astros: Daniel Jackson, C, Georgia

29. San Francisco Giants: Logan Reddemann, RHP, UCLA

30. Kansas City Royals: Brody Bumila, LHP, Bishop Feehan HS

Top Prospect: Roch Cholowsky

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Cholowsky looked to be the consensus No. 1 overall pick for the majority of the last year, but a lesser season than his sophomore outing, coupled with a shocking elimination from the College World Series, has created questions about the likelihood that he hears his name called first.

He was touted by Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com as someone with "a very advanced approach at the plate, with more career walks than strikeouts with the Bruins, and handled the pressure of having the "top prospect" spotlight well all year. He has four plus tools and he's a no-doubt shortstop at the next level and a natural leader who should get to the big leagues quickly."

His prospect profile on MLB.com notes, "He routinely finds the barrel, doesn't swing and miss or chase with an advanced approach at the plate" and compliments his smart base running, even if he is not a typical speedster.

As the draft draws near, though, the pro-ready shortstop has been replaced at the top of some mocks by a high school player with perceived greater upside.

Top Prospect: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian (TX)

Emerson's MLB prospect profile states, "Scouts have a difficult time finding any flaws in Emerson's game, with one noting the worst thing he can say about him is that he's not Bobby Witt Jr."

That is a testament to the physical tools of the Forth Worth Christian high schooler.

Emerson is talented hitter who can drop the ball all over the field but more importantly, limits his swings and misses because he does not rely overly on his power hitting.

"He presently focuses on just making hard contact in game action but can launch balls in batting practice and finished second at the High School Home Run Derby during All-Star Week," his profile states.

And he still has yet to approach his ceiling. A young player, who did not take a step back this past season and has the tools to be a big leaguer for the next decade, his upside makes him a clear top prospect and a player worthy of eclipsing the previously coveted Chowolsky at the top of the draft and, potentially, in the eyes of the Chicago White Sox front office.