MLB Mock Draft 2026 and Breakdown of Top 1st-Round Prospects

The 2026 MLB Draft kicks off Saturday from the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, with prospects such as UCLA's Roch Cholowsky, Georgia Tech's Vahn Lackey, and Fort Worth Christian (TX) standout Grady Emerson all expected to hear their names in the first few picks.

Who else will find out their MLB futures in the annual event, and which two top-five picks are worth keeping an eye on?

Find out in this mock draft.

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

First-Round Prospect: Jackson Flora

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The top pitching prospect in this year's class, Flora is a big, 21-year-old out of UC Santa Barbara at six-foot-five-inches, who can deliver a ball right down the middle at 97mph, making him an intriguing potential asset to an organization in need of pitching depth.

He can hit 100mph, too, if he wants to power the ball past an opposing batter.

Flora possesses two different sweepers and a changeup that still needs work, but could potentially flourish in the right system.

This past season, Flora pitched 102 innings, achieving 133 strikeouts, a WHIP of 0.853, and just under five hits per nine innings. He did not give up the long ball, either, allowing just three home runs in 16 appearances.

The clear best arm in this draft, Flora could be the only pitcher to hear his name called in the top half of the draft.

First Round Prospect: Jacob Lombard

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The 18-year-old, six-foot-three-inch player out of Gulliver Prep near Miami, Florida was dubbed a "premium athlete at a premium position" by his MLB prospect profile, and it is not hard to see why.

In his senior season, he hit .477, drove in 25 runs, and hit 10 homers while accumulating a fielding percentage of .926. He had an on-base percentage of .607, showing great patience at the plate as he walked 24 times, just over a quarter of his 88 at-bats.

A player with great range who can get to balls and show the necessary arm strength in key moments, Lombard should follow in his father, George's, footsteps by being the latest in his family to be a consistent, steady big leaguer.

If not greater than that.

His raw athleticism will capture the attention of scouts and should earn him a high draft position, potentially in the top five.