Sportsvival's 2026 MLB Draft: First Round Recap (Part 1)
The future of Major League Baseball officially took center stage as organizations from around the league gathered to begin building for tomorrow during the opening night of the 2026 MLB Draft. As expected, this year's class featured a tremendous blend of polished college performers, high-upside high school stars and power arms capable of climbing through the minor leagues in a hurry. While many of these players won't arrive in the big leagues for several seasons, history has shown that championship organizations are often built through successful draft classes.
Sportsvival has spent the past year following many of these prospects, highlighting their accomplishments and projecting where they could land. Saturday night rewarded years of hard work for dozens of young athletes whose dreams officially became reality as they heard their names called by Major League Baseball clubs. Several organizations stayed true to their scouting philosophies, while others surprised fans with selections that may prove to be steals several years from now.
Here is Sportsvival's breakdown of every selection from the opening round of the 2026 MLB Draft.
1) Chicago White Sox – SS Roch Cholowsky, UCLA
The White Sox selected one of the safest players in the entire draft. Cholowsky is an outstanding two-way shortstop who combines power, patience and defensive reliability. He projects as a long-term cornerstone capable of impacting the game on both sides of the baseball.
2) Tampa Bay Rays – SS Grady Emerson, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)
The Rays once again bet on tremendous upside by selecting one of the premier prep players in the country. Emerson possesses outstanding athleticism, a smooth left-handed swing and the defensive tools to remain at shortstop throughout his professional career.
3) Minnesota Twins – C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech
Minnesota landed the top catcher in this year's draft. Lackey offers a complete package behind the plate with leadership, defensive skills and middle-of-the-order power that could make him a fixture in the Twins lineup for years.
4) San Francisco Giants – RHP Jackson Flora, UC Santa Barbara
Flora became the first pitcher selected after an outstanding collegiate career. His combination of size, command and swing-and-miss stuff gives the Giants a pitcher who could move quickly through their farm system.
5) Pittsburgh Pirates – OF Derek Curiel, LSU
Sportsvival has been extremely high on Curiel throughout the scouting process, and it's easy to understand why. His advanced approach, outstanding bat-to-ball skills and ability to use the entire field make him one of the purest hitters in the draft and a tremendous addition to Pittsburgh's growing young core.
6) Kansas City Royals – OF Zion Rose, Louisville
Rose is one of the most athletic players available and possesses exciting five-tool potential. His speed, developing power and defensive ability in the outfield give Kansas City another high-ceiling prospect to develop.
7) Baltimore Orioles – OF Eric Booth Jr., Oak Grove HS (MS)
One of the biggest upside picks in the draft, Booth brings elite speed, explosive athleticism and tremendous defensive potential. If his bat continues to develop, Baltimore may have landed one of the biggest steals of the first round.
8) Athletics – OF Drew Burress, Georgia Tech
Burress may be undersized compared to many corner outfielders, but few hitters consistently square up baseballs the way he does. His combination of power, competitiveness and offensive production made him one of the best college hitters available.
9) Atlanta Braves – OF AJ Gracia, Virginia
Atlanta continued adding athletic position players with Gracia, a polished outfielder who combines a disciplined approach with the ability to impact the game offensively and defensively. He fits the Braves' player development philosophy extremely well.
10) Colorado Rockies – SS Tyler Bell, Kentucky
Bell gives Colorado another fundamentally sound infielder with switch-hitting ability and outstanding baseball instincts. His all-around game should allow him to develop into an everyday major league player.
11) Washington Nationals – 2B Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M
Hacopian has proven himself against some of the nation's best competition and consistently finds ways to produce offensively. Washington adds another polished college bat capable of moving through the system relatively quickly.
12) Los Angeles Angels – OF Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach HS (CA)
Grindlinger offers tremendous raw power and one of the highest offensive ceilings among the high school players in this class. While he'll require patience, the Angels could eventually be rewarded with an impact middle-of-the-order hitter.
13) St. Louis Cardinals – OF Trevor Condon, Etowah HS (GA)
One of Sportsvival's favorite prep outfielders throughout the season, Condon brings speed, athleticism and excellent instincts to the Cardinals organization. His all-around game gives him the opportunity to become an everyday center fielder.
14) Miami Marlins – SS Jacob Lombard, Gulliver Prep HS (FL)
Lombard entered the draft as one of the premier high school shortstops available. His athleticism, defensive ability and projectable frame give Miami another exciting young player to build around.
15) Arizona Diamondbacks – C Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas
Arizona addressed one of baseball's premium positions by selecting Helfrick. The Arkansas standout offers legitimate power, a strong throwing arm and the toughness clubs look for behind the plate.
16) Texas Rangers – LHP Gio Rojas, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
The Rangers selected one of the best prep left-handers available. Rojas possesses an advanced feel for pitching, quality secondary offerings and the physical tools to eventually become a front-line starter.
17) Houston Astros – OF Logan Hughes, Texas Tech
Hughes developed into one of college baseball's premier power hitters during his time at Texas Tech. Houston adds another dangerous bat capable of providing middle-of-the-order production in the future.
18) Cincinnati Reds – SS Justin Lebron, Alabama
Lebron combines athleticism with outstanding offensive potential and defensive versatility. His ability to impact the game in several different ways made him one of the better values in the middle of the first round.
19) Cleveland Guardians – RHP Liam Peterson, Florida
Peterson owns one of the liveliest arms in this year's college pitching class. Cleveland has built an outstanding reputation for developing pitchers, making this pairing one of the more intriguing selections of the opening round.
20) Boston Red Sox – SS Jake Schaffner, North Carolina
Boston continued adding athletic infield talent by selecting Schaffner, one of the better all-around shortstops in college baseball. He combines solid defensive instincts with an advanced offensive approach and should move quickly through the Red Sox organization.
21) San Diego Padres – RHP Coleman Borthwick, South Walton HS (FL)
Borthwick is one of the biggest projection picks in this year's draft. At 6-foot-6 with an electric arm, the Padres are betting on his tremendous upside and trusting their player development staff to refine his impressive raw tools.
22) Detroit Tigers – RHP Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina
Flukey enjoyed an outstanding collegiate career and established himself as one of the top right-handed pitchers available. Detroit adds another quality arm capable of developing into a dependable major league starter.
23) Chicago Cubs – RHP Cade Townsend, Mississippi
Townsend attacks hitters with confidence and features a quality fastball along with improving secondary pitches. The Cubs continue to build pitching depth by selecting a competitor who has proven himself in the SEC.
24) Seattle Mariners – 3B Ace Reese, Mississippi State
Few hitters in the draft possess Reese's raw power. Seattle adds another impact bat with middle-of-the-order potential, and his offensive upside makes him one of the more exciting selections late in the first round.
25) Milwaukee Brewers – SS Trey Ebel, Corona HS (CA)
Ebel brings excellent baseball instincts, athleticism and a polished overall game to Milwaukee's farm system. As he continues to mature physically, the Brewers believe additional offensive production will follow.
26) Atlanta Braves (Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick) – OF Carter Beck, Indiana State
Atlanta picked up an additional first-round selection and added another productive college hitter. Beck plays with tremendous energy, offers solid power and gives the Braves another quality athlete to develop.
27) New York Mets – RHP Carson Wiggins, Arkansas
Wiggins possesses some of the best pure stuff in the draft class. His combination of size, velocity and swing-and-miss ability gives the Mets a pitcher with tremendous upside if he continues refining his command.
28) Houston Astros (Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick) – RHP Jack Radel, Notre Dame
Houston doubled down on pitching by selecting Radel, a power right-hander with an intimidating 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame. His fastball and developing secondary pitches give him the tools to become another quality arm in the Astros' system.
29) San Francisco Giants (Competitive Balance Round A) – LHP Carson Bolemon, Southside Christian HS (SC)
Bolemon is one of the top prep left-handers in the class and offers significant long-term potential. The Giants continue adding high-upside pitching to an already improving farm system.
30) Kansas City Royals (Competitive Balance Round A) – RHP Taylor Rabe, Mississippi
Rabe quietly put together one of the better college pitching seasons entering the draft. His size, command and ability to attack the strike zone made him an excellent value selection for Kansas City.
31) Arizona Diamondbacks (Competitive Balance Round A) – RHP Blake Bryant, Citizens Christian HS (GA)
Bryant is another projectable high school pitcher with plenty of room to develop physically. Arizona is betting on his live arm and long-term upside as he begins his professional career.
32) St. Louis Cardinals (Competitive Balance Round A) – RHP Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee
One of Sportsvival's favorite pitchers throughout the scouting process, Kuhns features a lively fastball, quality breaking ball and outstanding competitiveness. The Cardinals landed a pitcher with the talent to climb their system quickly.
33) Tampa Bay Rays (Competitive Balance Round A) – SS Taj Marchand, James Island HS (SC)
Marchand gives Tampa Bay another athletic middle infielder with outstanding defensive tools and offensive projection. His versatility and upside fit perfectly with the Rays' developmental philosophy.
34) Chicago White Sox (Competitive Balance Round A – acquired from Pittsburgh) – SS Landon Thome, Nazareth Academy HS (IL)
After acquiring the selection from Pittsburgh, Chicago added Landon Thome, the son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome. He brings an advanced left-handed swing, strong baseball instincts and the potential to develop into another quality infield prospect for the White Sox.
35) New York Yankees – LHP Hunter Dietz, Arkansas
Dietz possesses the type of power left-handed arm organizations covet. His fastball, size and strikeout ability make him one of the more intriguing pitching selections late in the opening round.
36) Philadelphia Phillies – SS Tyler Spangler, De La Salle HS (CA)
Spangler offers excellent size, athleticism and a polished offensive approach. Philadelphia continues investing in athletic middle infielders who have the versatility to develop into impact players.
37) Colorado Rockies (Competitive Balance Round A) – C Daniel Jackson, Georgia
Jackson closes out the opening round as one of the better catching prospects available. His combination of defensive ability, leadership and developing offensive game gives Colorado another valuable piece for its future.
The opening night of the 2026 MLB Draft once again reminded everyone that building a championship organization begins long before players ever step onto a major league field. While many of these prospects will spend the next several seasons developing in the minor leagues, several have the talent to become future All-Stars and franchise cornerstones. Clubs such as the White Sox, Pirates, Braves, Giants and Cardinals all strengthened their farm systems with impressive first-round performances, while several organizations took calculated risks on high-upside high school talent.
Sportsvival has followed many of these prospects throughout the past year, and now the next chapter of their baseball journeys officially begins. We'll continue tracking their progress through the minor leagues and into the majors as the stars of tomorrow begin chasing their dreams. The future of baseball looks bright, and Sportsvival will be there every step of the way.
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