2026 Final MLB Mock Draft

There have been multiple changes to the Major League Baseball Draft and the television product in recent years. In 2026, the draft will take place live from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in advance of the All Star Break. This year will be different however as the first four rounds will take place on Saturday July 11th in the afternoon. Rounds five-20 will occur on Sunday July 12th. It’s another change from last season as round four moves to the first day.

The Chicago White Sox have landed the first overall pick. They had the best odds with a 27.7% chance but it’s the first time in the lottery system that the team with the top odds will choose first. The Tampa Bay Rays will pick 2nd overall followed by the Minnesota Twins at third. The San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals vaulted into the top six while the Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels were in the penalty box.

The Chicago White Sox have a bonus pool of around $21.5 million in total and the number one pick comes with an assigned slot value of $11,350,600. The record bonus is nearly $9.3 million. Our Mock Draft 1.0 can be found here with version 2.0 available as well. Bonus pools and slot values have been made available as well.

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

Cholowsky provides a hit/power combo with plus defense at shortstop. He also hit .329/.448/.642 with 52 homers and 41 doubles in three college seasons. Cholowsky posted an 11.7% strikeout rate as well which is the lowest rate of any player with 45 plus homers over the past three seasons. He should be a quick mover to the big leagues. The White Sox likely consider Grady Emerson and Vahn Lackey here as well but the UCLA shortstop still seems like the favorite to me.

2. Tampa Bay Rays: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)

The Rays would have plenty of options in this spot but likely opt for the premium high school shortstop with a left-handed bat and plus hit tool. The club is familiar with taking left-handed hitting prep players. Vahn Lackey is a definite option with this selection as well and there are consistent rumors about Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell in an underslot deal as well.

3. Minnesota Twins: Vahn Lackey, Catcher, Georgia Tech

The Twins could try and save some money here and deviate from the top three but it seems likely that they’ll take the premium player who falls to them. Lackey had a massive breakout season and the Twins are sitting in a great spot.

4. San Francisco Giants: Eric Booth Jr, CF, Oak Grove HS (MS)

Booth is a plus runner with power potential who should stay in CF. This could be any number of players in this spot due to large San Francisco bonus pool.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech

I believe that the Pirates target a quick moving college performer in this spot. It could be Flora with their pitching development group but Burress fits as well.

6. Kansas City Royals: Jackson Flora, RHP, UCSB

The Royals are a real wild card and they could go with a college pitcher on a massive cut in this spot. Ultimately, Flora is too good of value to not take in this spot.

7. Baltimore Orioles: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL)

Lombard is a premium defender with huge power and bloodlines and the Orioles haven’t been afraid to take on hit tool risk profiles.

8. Athletics: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky

Bell is a no doubt shortstop who is a switch-hitter. He missed most of the season but starred for Kentucky otherwise.

9. Atlanta Braves: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)

Rojas is the top prep lefty in the class and he could go higher than this. The Braves are one of the options for the Florida product early in the draft.

10. Colorado Rockies: Derek Curiel, OF, LSU

Curiel has been rumored in this spot in what should be an interesting return for new baseball boss Paul DePodesta.

11. Washington Nationals: Ryder Helfrick, Catcher, Arkansas

The Nationals could a lot of different ways but settle on one of remaining college bats.

12. Los Angeles Angels: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina

The Angels are a true enigma and now John Mozeliak could do anything in the big chair. Flukey might’ve gone higher if healthy all season.

13. St. Louis Cardinals: Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M

Hacopian can really hit but the lack of defensive value drives him down into this range for St. Louis

14. Miami Marlins: AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia

The Marlins have been very college heavy as they continue to add to their offensive inventory.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks: Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah HS (GA)

Condon is the Diamondbacks type with plus-plus speed and hitting ability in center field.

16. Texas Rangers: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida

Peterson has big stuff and the Rangers have done a decent jobs with arms like this.

17. Houston Astros: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama

Lebron could go higher or lower than this. A top 5 projection this spring; struggles in SEC play move him down despite plus-plus tools.

18. Cincinnati Reds: Mason Edwards, LHP, USC

Edwards has moved up throughout the process and could ultimately end up much higher than this.

19. Cleveland Guardians: Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State

The Guardians have prioritized power recently and Reese has it despite defensive questions.

20. Boston Red Sox: Jared Grindlinger, LHP/OF, Huntington Beach HS (CA)

Grindlinger is a two-way player with some legitimate upside in both directions and he could go as high #6 overall.

21. San Diego Padres: Bo Lowrance, 3B, Christ Church Episcopal HS (SC)

Lowrance is a bit of a pop up guy and the Padres love taking prep players.

22. Detroit Tigers: Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle HS (CA)

The Tigers love selecting prep players. Spangler has a strong commitment to Stanford but the left-handed hitting infielder would sign if taken in this range. New York prep Aiden Ruiz seems like another option in this spot.

23. Chicago Cubs: Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas

The Cubs have been taking college bats lately and could go that direction again with an underslot guy but Dietz’s power arsenal from left side is exactly what they need.

24. Seattle Mariners: Cade Townsend, RHP, Ole Miss

Athlete with a three quarter delivery and feel to spin that really fits what Seattle does.

25. Milwaukee Brewers: Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU

The Brewers always take shots on upside and this would be that on an underachiever with big tools.

26. Atlanta Braves: Zion Rose, OF, Louisville

Rose could end up much higher than this but it’s great value for Atlanta’s second pick.

27. New York Mets: Aiden Robbins, OF, Texas

Right-handed hitter with a decorated track record of performance and Cape success.

28. Houston Astros: Daniel Jackson, Catcher, Georgia

Jackson isn’t a definite catcher but the Golden Spikes winner provides big offensive value somewhere.

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

Reddeman could’ve gone higher than this if he hadn’t been injured but this is likely an overshot deal in this spot.

30. Kansas City Royals: Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian (SC)

The Royals have been all over the prep pitching class and they like prep lefties. Bolemon would receive a lofty bonus number in this spot.

31. Arizona Diamondbacks: Logan Schmidt, LHP, Ganesha HS (CA)

Arizona has been tied to some of the prep lefties and Schmidt is a reclass into 2026.

32. St. Louis Cardinals: Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State

Power stuff from a college profile who might not last this long.

33. Tampa Bay Rays: Taj Marchand, SS, James Island HS (SC)

Marchand is a 17-year-old with a chance to stick at shortstop and 25 homer potential.

34. Chicago White Sox: Jack Slightom, RHP, Lyons Township HS (IL)

The White Sox acquired this pick the night before the draft in a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jacob Gonzalez and lefty reliever Brandon Eisert. Slightom really popped this spring on the mound after starring at quarterback for Lyons Township High School.

35. New York Yankees: Archer Horn, SS, St. Ignatius HS (CA)

The Yankees have a small bonus pool but likely enough to keep Horn from attending Stanford in the fall.

36. Philadelphia Phillies: Coleman Borthwick, RHP, South Walton HS (FL)

Borthwick is a massive righty from North Florida with a big fastball and secondaries.

37. Colorado Rockies: Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee

Kuhns is a draft-eligible sophomore but Colorado has the pool space to get this done here.

38. Colorado Rockies: Chase Brunson, OF, TCU

Another analytically driven college bat for the Rockies.

39. Toronto Blue Jays: Taylor Rabe, RHP, Ole Miss

Rabe is another college starter who could go anywhere in this range.

40. Los Angeles Dodgers: Caden Sorrell, OF, Texas A&M

Another outfielder and upside play on the college side for the Dodgers.

Additional White Sox Selections

41. Chicago White Sox: Dominic Santarelli, OF, St. Joseph’s HS (WI)

77. Chicago White Sox: Landon Thome, SS, Nazareth Academy (IL)

Santarelli has massive power and a left-handed swing with a strong LSU commitment. Thome is a local product from Nazareth Academy in Illinois. The big bonus pool affords the club the chance to land premium prep products from their Area Codes Team.