Sportsvival has been locked in on the 2026 MLB Draft class all season, watching the college stars, high school risers, power bats, athletic shortstops, catchers, and arms who could shape the future of baseball. This class has a little bit of everything, from polished college players who could move fast to high-upside high school prospects who may take longer but carry star potential.
As draft season gets closer, the board continues to shift. Some teams will value safer college production, while others will swing on tools, projection, athleticism, and long-term upside. That is what makes this draft so interesting. There are several different directions teams could go at the top, and the middle of the first day could be where some future stars are found.
Here is Sportsvival’s 2026 MLB Mock Draft.
1) Chicago White Sox, Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
The White Sox open the draft by taking the most complete player on the board. Cholowsky brings a polished bat, strong defensive ability, and the type of all-around game that can help lead a rebuild.
2) Tampa Bay Rays, Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech
The Rays land a premium player at a premium position. Lackey gives Tampa Bay a catcher with offensive upside and the potential to become a long-term piece behind the plate.
3) Minnesota Twins, Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS, Texas
The Twins take one of the best high school bats in the draft. Emerson has athleticism, left-handed hitting ability, and big-time upside at shortstop.
4) San Francisco Giants, Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS, Florida
The Giants swing on upside with Lombard. He has tools, bloodlines, athleticism, and the type of ceiling that could make him one of the stars of this draft class.
5) Pittsburgh Pirates, Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove HS, Mississippi
Sportsvival has the Pirates taking Booth, one of the most electric athletes in the draft. He gives Pittsburgh a true center-field prospect with speed, bat speed, and the upside to become a major impact player.
6) Kansas City Royals, Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
The Royals grab one of the best college arms available. Flora has the size, stuff, and starter profile to move quickly through a system.
7) Baltimore Orioles, Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
Baltimore adds another hitter who knows how to produce. Burress has a strong feel for the barrel and gives the Orioles another dangerous offensive piece.
8) Athletics, Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas
The A’s add a catcher with athleticism and offensive upside. Helfrick gives them a strong building block at a tough position to fill.
9) Atlanta Braves, Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS, Florida
The Braves love upside arms, and Rojas fits perfectly. He is a high-ceiling left-hander with the type of stuff Atlanta can dream on.
10) Colorado Rockies, Derek Curiel, OF, LSU
The Rockies add a polished college outfielder with a strong hit tool. Curiel’s bat could play very well in Colorado’s system.
11) Washington Nationals, Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
Washington grabs an SEC shortstop with a strong offensive profile. Bell gives the Nationals another quality infield piece with everyday upside.
12) Los Angeles Angels, Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M
The Angels take a college bat who could move quickly. Hacopian has hitting ability, toughness, and the type of offensive approach teams like.
13) St. Louis Cardinals, Jared Grindlinger, OF/LHP, Huntington Beach HS, California
The Cardinals take one of the more interesting players in the class. Grindlinger has two-way talent, but his long-term upside may be highest as an athletic left-handed bat.
14) Miami Marlins, Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State
The Marlins add power with Reese. He gives Miami a corner bat with strength and the ability to drive the baseball.
15) Arizona Diamondbacks, A.J. Gracia, OF, Virginia
Arizona takes a left-handed college outfielder with a strong hit tool. Gracia gives the Diamondbacks a reliable bat with room for more power.
16) Texas Rangers, Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
The Rangers swing on tools with Lebron. There is some risk, but the athleticism and upside make this a very interesting pick.
17) Houston Astros, Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
Houston grabs a college arm with starter traits. Peterson has the stuff and frame to become a valuable piece if everything comes together.
18) Cincinnati Reds, Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina
The Reds add a college pitcher with a strong arm and big-game experience. Flukey could move quickly if he stays healthy and commands the zone.
19) Cleveland Guardians, Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah HS, Georgia
Cleveland takes an athletic high school outfielder with upside. Condon fits the Guardians’ style as a player with tools and room to grow.
20) Boston Red Sox, Bo Lowrance, 3B, Christ Church Episcopal HS, South Carolina
Boston adds a prep bat with power potential. Lowrance has the chance to develop into a run-producing corner infielder.
21) San Diego Padres, Cole Prosek, 3B/C, Magnolia Heights HS, Mississippi
The Padres take a versatile high school bat. Prosek gives San Diego power upside and defensive flexibility.
22) Detroit Tigers, Landon Thome, 2B/3B, Nazareth Academy HS, Illinois
Detroit grabs a left-handed prep bat with baseball bloodlines. Thome has a good feel for hitting and could grow into more power.
23) Chicago Cubs, Daniel Jackson, C, Georgia
The Cubs add a college catcher with offensive ability. Jackson gives Chicago a player who can stay behind the plate and bring value with the bat.
24) Seattle Mariners, Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee
Seattle lands a college right-hander with size and stuff. Kuhns has starter upside and could be a strong fit in the Mariners’ pitching development system.
25) Milwaukee Brewers, Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU
The Brewers take a college outfielder with offensive upside. Strosnider has power, athleticism, and the ability to impact the baseball.
26) Atlanta Braves, Caden Sorrell, OF, Texas A&M
Atlanta uses this pick to add another talented college outfielder. Sorrell brings strength, athleticism, and power potential.
27) New York Mets, Aiden Robbins, OF, Texas
The Mets add a physical college bat. Robbins has the strength to drive the ball and profiles as a potential corner outfielder.
28) Houston Astros, Zion Rose, OF, Louisville
Houston adds an athletic outfielder with speed and defensive value. Rose gives the Astros another toolsy player with upside.
29) San Francisco Giants, Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian HS, South Carolina
The Giants take a projectable high school left-hander. Bolemon has starter upside and gives San Francisco a long-term arm to develop.
30) Kansas City Royals, Cade Townsend, RHP, Ole Miss
Kansas City adds another college arm. Townsend has pitchability and enough stuff to remain a starter.
31) Arizona Diamondbacks, Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State
Arizona keeps a local left-handed arm close to home. Carlon gives the Diamondbacks a polished pitcher with starter potential.
32) St. Louis Cardinals, Mason Edwards, LHP, USC
The Cardinals add a college left-hander with feel and projection. Edwards gives St. Louis another arm who could develop into a future rotation option.
33) Tampa Bay Rays, Aiden Ruiz, SS, The Stony Brook School, New York
Tampa Bay adds an athletic shortstop with defensive tools. Ruiz fits the Rays because of his up-the-middle value and long-term upside.
34) Pittsburgh Pirates, Taj Marchand, SS, James Island HS, South Carolina
After landing Booth at No. 5, the Pirates come back with another athletic high school player. Marchand gives Pittsburgh speed, projection, and a toolsy shortstop profile.
35) New York Yankees, Logan Reddemann, RHP, UCLA
The Yankees take a college arm with upside. Reddemann has the stuff to be a strong value pick if his health and command hold up.
36) Philadelphia Phillies, Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas
Philadelphia adds a big left-handed college arm. Dietz has real upside and could be a major steal if he stays healthy.
37) Colorado Rockies, Gavin Grahovac, 1B, Texas A&M
The Rockies add power with Grahovac. His bat gives Colorado a potential run producer who could fit well in their ballpark.
38) Colorado Rockies, Wes Mendes, LHP, Florida State
Colorado comes back with a college left-hander. Mendes gives the Rockies another needed pitching piece with starter potential.
39) Toronto Blue Jays, Jack Radel, RHP, Notre Dame
Toronto takes a polished college right-hander. Radel has the traits to develop into a reliable rotation option.
40) Los Angeles Dodgers, Will Brick, C, Christian Brothers HS, Tennessee
The Dodgers close out the top 40 with a high school catcher. Brick brings defensive value and gives Los Angeles time to develop the bat.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 MLB Draft has the feel of a class that could be shaped by upside, athleticism, and player development. There may not be one clear runaway name at the top, but there is plenty of talent throughout the first day. Teams looking for shortstops, catchers, athletic outfielders, and projectable arms should have several strong options.
What makes this class interesting is the mix of safer college players and high-ceiling high school prospects. Some organizations may chase players who can move quickly through the system, while others may swing big on tools and long-term upside. That balance could make draft night very unpredictable.
For Sportsvival, this mock shows how quickly the board can change once teams start matching talent with organizational needs. The 2026 class has star potential, and the teams that trust their scouting departments could walk away with future impact players well beyond the top ten picks.