1stOverall Sports: 2026 MLB Mock Draft

2026 MLB Draft – Mock Draft Round One

1. Chicago White Sox

Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA The consensus No. 1 prospect in the class, Cholowsky is an elite defender with an advanced hit tool, developing power, and exceptional baseball instincts. He projects as a franchise shortstop capable of moving quickly through the minors.

2. Tampa Bay Rays

Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX) One of the premier prep talents in recent years, Emerson combines a smooth left-handed swing with plus speed, athleticism, and the defensive actions to remain at shortstop.

3. Minnesota Twins

Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech The best catcher available, Lackey brings impact offensive upside while already possessing professional-caliber receiving and leadership skills behind the plate.

4. San Francisco Giants

Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep (FL) A premium athlete with outstanding defensive ability and growing offensive impact, Lombard fits San Francisco's emphasis on athletic up-the-middle players.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates

Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara The top college arm in the draft features a mid-to-upper-90s fastball, quality slider, and excellent strike-throwing ability, giving him frontline starter potential.

6. Kansas City Royals

Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama Lebron possesses arguably the loudest overall toolset among college position players. His power, arm strength, and defensive versatility give him All-Star upside.

7. Baltimore Orioles

Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech An advanced hitter with plus raw power and excellent strike-zone discipline, Burress profiles as a middle-of-the-order run producer.

8. Athletics

Eric Booth Jr., OF, Magnolia Heights HS (MS) One of the most dynamic athletes in the class, Booth combines elite speed, outstanding center-field defense, and exciting long-term power projection.

9. Atlanta Braves

Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky Bell is one of the safest college bats available, offering advanced contact skills, gap power, and defensive versatility throughout the infield.

10. Colorado Rockies

Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU A polished college outfielder with above-average tools across the board, Strosnider's combination of athleticism and offensive consistency makes him an excellent fit for Coors Field.

11. Washington Nationals

Carson Tinney, C, Texas The Nationals continue building around premium position players by selecting one of the best offensive catchers in the draft with legitimate middle-of-the-order potential.

12. Los Angeles Angels

C.J. Sampson, RHP, Tomball HS (TX) The Angels bet on upside with one of the draft's top prep pitchers. Sampson features an electric fastball and significant projection.

13. St. Louis Cardinals

Christopher Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M A polished hitter with outstanding strike-zone awareness and excellent bat-to-ball skills, Hacopian projects as a high-OBP everyday infielder.

14. Miami Marlins

Gavin Grahovac, 3B, Texas A&M Despite injuries during his collegiate career, Grahovac's right-handed power remains among the best in the draft class.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks

Sean Gamble, SS/OF, IMG Academy (FL) A switch-hitter with plus speed and defensive versatility, Gamble possesses one of the highest ceilings among prep position players.

16. Texas Rangers

Ruger Riojas, RHP, Texas Riojas has significantly improved his velocity and command over the past year and projects comfortably as a future mid-rotation starter.

17. Houston Astros

Tre Broussard, OF, Houston Remaining in Houston, Broussard brings a combination of athleticism, left-handed power, and defensive versatility that fits the Astros' developmental model.

18. Cincinnati Reds

AJ Garcia, OF, Florida State Garcia's advanced approach, athleticism, and ability to impact the game in multiple ways make him an attractive fit for Cincinnati.

19. Cleveland Guardians

Jared Grindlinger, OF, Huntington Beach HS (CA) The Guardians add one of the draft's highest-upside prep bats, featuring plus raw power and improving overall athleticism.

20. Boston Red Sox

Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina Flukey owns one of the better fastball-slider combinations in college baseball and projects as a durable starter.

21. San Diego Padres

Brody Bumila, RHP, Dexter Southfield HS (MA)

If healthy, Bumila has true top-10 talent with a power fastball and swing-and-miss breaking ball.

22. Detroit Tigers

Aiden Ruiz, SS, Orange Lutheran HS (CA) Ruiz is regarded as one of the best pure defensive shortstops in the class, pairing elite actions with a steadily improving offensive profile.

23. Chicago Cubs

Gio Rojas, LHP, Miami A polished left-hander with three quality pitches and advanced command, Rojas offers one of the safest pitching profiles in the class.

24. Seattle Mariners

Braden Burress, 3B, Oklahoma State Burress brings plus bat speed, developing power, and offensive upside that Seattle's player development group can maximize.

25. Milwaukee Brewers

Myles Bailey, 1B/OF, Florida State The Brewers add one of the premier power hitters in the draft, capable of becoming a middle-of-the-order run producer.

26. New York Mets

Joseph Contreras, RHP, IMG Academy (FL )An explosive prep right-hander with a fastball already touching the upper 90s, Contreras has frontline starter upside if his secondary pitches continue to develop.

27. Philadelphia Phillies

Sean Duncan, LHP, St. Sebastian's School (MA) Despite recovering from Tommy John surgery, Duncan remains one of the highest-upside left-handed pitchers in the class thanks to his athletic delivery, advanced pitchability, and projectable arsenal.

28. New York Yankees

Ethan Wachsmann, RHP, Tremper HS (WI)A favorite among evaluators because of his clean mechanics, command, and projectable frame, Wachsmann fits New York's recent emphasis on developing high-upside starting pitching.

29. Toronto Blue Jays

Eric Becker, 3B, Virginia The Blue Jays add one of the most polished college hitters available. Becker controls the strike zone exceptionally well, consistently impacts the baseball, and profiles as a high-floor everyday infielder.

30. Los Angeles Dodgers

Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina The Dodgers conclude the opening round by selecting a well-rounded collegiate catcher with left-handed power, strong on-base skills, and defensive reliability—an ideal fit for one of baseball's strongest player-development systems.