The draft lottery is over and the order for the 2026 MLB Draft is pretty much set at this point, with the exception of picks moving around due to free agent signings. The Atlanta Braves are set to pick with the 9th pick, their own first round pick, and the 26th pick, which is the one they are receiving for Drake Baldwin’s Rookie of the Year.
This is a super early mock draft, and isn’t likely to be accurate to what happens in July as there is still a lot of player movement yet to come, and we haven’t really gotten into bonus demands yet. Still this mock draft shows where things might look if the draft was held today.
1.White Sox – Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
Roch is #1 on my board at the moment and same for most boards, though I also don’t buy that he’s a slam dunk number one right now. He really struggled with the US National Team over in Japan, striking out a ton in that small sample size, and that has left the door open for some of the prospects just behind him.
2.Rays – Grady Emerson, SS, Texas HS
Emerson is the leading candidate to steal the #1 spot, and is a guy I would have taken over any of the shortstops in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft if he was available. He’s a true potential five tool player who could be a standout on both sides of the ball.
3.Twins – Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
Lebron is the clear second best college hitter in this draft right now and with the Twins need up the middle plus preferring college guys, he seems like the most likely pick.
4.Giants – Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
Peterson is the top arm in the draft and one of just two who seem to have a strong chance at going in the Top 10 as of right now.
5.Pirates – Derek Curiel, OF, LSU
Curiel is a potential center field answer with an excellent hit tool, but there are some questions regarding his power potential. For the Pirates who need immediate help with the bats, he makes more sense than some of the talented prep options.
6.Royals – Tyler Spangler, SS, California HS
Spangler is a prospect on the rise since the summer and the Stanford commit is even a candidate for the #1 pick, though the potential price tag of Stanford commitment could scare some teams away.
7.Orioles – AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia
The Orioles grab arguably the biggest bat in the draft and stick with a player who is playing in their back yard at UVA. He also fits their recent preference of college bats.
8.A’s – Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina
Flukey is the other pitcher in the Top 10 and taking a top college pitcher makes sense for the A’s, especially considering their young offense and need for pitching.
9.Braves – Jacob Lombard, SS, Florida HS
The son of former Braves top prospect George Lombard, and the brother of the Yankees top prospect of the same name, Jacob is a player who could potentially push himself higher if he answers some hit tool questions this spring. Still he’s got potential five tool ability if the hit tool concerns that popped up over the summer get answered.
If Flukey was available here, he would also fit. I could also see the Braves drafting Becker or even Bell here to further solidify their shortstop issues if they decide to go the college route, or don’t buy into Lombard’s hit tool this spring. Strosnider is the other name that would have to be in consideration.
10.Rockies – Eric Becker, SS, Virginia
The older brother of Mariners 2025 second rounder Nick Becker, Eric is a solid all around shortstop. He also helps the Rockies fill the shortstop position, since 2025 first rounder Ethan Holliday is more of a third baseman.
11.Nationals – Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU
Strosnider is a draft-eligible sophomore who is coming off a huge freshman season. He is the top available player at this point in the draft with all of the offensive tools.
12.Angels – Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
The Angels search for college pitching sees them take the best available one remaining on the board with two pitches capable of missing bats.
13.Cardinals – Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
Burress presents the Cardinals with an outfielder who can get on base, hit for power, and play solid defense.
14.Marlins – Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State
Reese gives the Marlins a potential big bat to help a lineup in need of a couple of them.
15.DBacks – Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
Bell is a clear fit for Arizona as a player having a standout hit tool with speed and versatility.
16.Rangers – Chris Hacopian, SS, Texas A&M
The Rangers are a team who can use some more infielders, especially after dealing Marcus Semien, and Hacopian is the last one left among the top tiers. He will have a chance to move up the board with a strong performance in his first year in the SEC.
17.Astros – Kevin Roberts Jr., OF/RHP, Mississippi HS
The Astros take a toolsy prep who is fairly local and offers the fallback upside as a pitcher, though Roberts is seen as more desirable in the outfield.
18.Reds – Caden Sorrell, OF, Texas A&M
The Reds are another team in need of a big bat and a team who can use big league help fairly quickly, so Sorrell checks a bunch of boxes for them.
19.Guardians – Carson Bolemon, LHP, South Carolina HS
The Guardians are a team good at drafting and developing pitching, and Bolemon is the best of the second tier of arms. He is advanced for a prep arm with quality stuff to go with his pitchability.
20.Red Sox – Blake Bowen, OF, California HS
Bowen is a riser who has shown real promise with the bat after his breakout summer.
21.Padres – Brady Harris, OF, Florida HS
The Padres are a team known for drafting high upside prospects, and Harris is arguably the highest remaining. He’s a potential five tool talent if the hit tool comes together.
22.Tigers – Gio Rojas, LHP, Florida HS
Rojas is the best available player remaining and the Tigers end his slide at 22. Rojas has big upside with his three pitch mix.
23.Cubs – Joey Volchko, RHP, Georgia
The Cubs grab the top college pitcher remaining in Volchko. His upside is huge, but the command has left the results below what you would expect for a guy with his stuff. A change of scenery from Stanford could help him take the next step.
24.Mariners – Coleman Borthwick, RHP, Florida HS
The Mariners are a team who loves upside picks, and Borthwick is an upside selection. He’s similar to Kruz Schoolcraft last year in that he’s large framed and would also be a serious prospect if he was a bat, though his future is on the mound.
25.Brewers – Chris Rembert, 2B, Auburn
Rembert’s hit tool fits the Brewers profile, as they draft the draft eligible sophomore here.
26.Braves – Logan Schmidt, LHP, California HS
Schmidt fits the Braves profile as still age-17 lefty pitcher on draft day. He’s projectable, already in the mid-90’s, has a swing and miss slider, and a changeup which has shown promise already. He’s a guy not too far off of Briggs McKenzie from last year. I believe Gio Rojas would be the pick if he was available, but with him gone it comes down to Schmidt, Savion Sims, and some of the available bats.
Maddox Molony, SS, Oregon
Aiden Ruiz, SS, New York HS
Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech
Gavin Grahovac, 3B, Texas A&M
Savion Sims, RHP, Texas HS
Daniel Cuvet, 3B/1B, Miami
Will Brick, C, Tennessee HS
Gavin Gallagher, 3B, North Carolina
Joseph Contreras, RHP, Georgia HS
Trevor Condon, OF, Georgia HS
