All articles tagged with #mlb draft
With a top trio of consensus prospects at the 2026 MLB Draft, the Twins drafted Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey at No. 3, betting on his breakout junior season after entering the year as a borderline first-rounder; Cholowsky went No. 1 to the White Sox and Emerson No. 2 to the Rays, a setup that echoes Minnesota’s 2023 selection of Walker Jenkins.
San Francisco drafted UCSB star Jackson Flora with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. The 6-foot-5 right-hander went 12-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 102 innings as a UCSB junior, and Giants ace Logan Webb endorsed the pick, calling Flora a NorCal kid with big upside and potential to contribute quickly. Webb plans to welcome Flora and mentor him as the Giants build pitching depth toward a possible late-2027 arrival.
Boston used the 20th pick of the 2026 MLB Draft to select UNC shortstop Jake Schaffner, a surprising choice not expected to go in the first round. The Red Sox targeted Schaffner for his contact skills and defense at short, aiming to sign him under-slot to leave money for additional picks. Schaffner, 21, hit .356/.467/.552 with 6 homers, 33 extra-base hits and 26 steals in 68 games for UNC and helped them reach the College World Series finals. Boston envisions him developing more power and a stronger arm in pro ball, and he’ll join UNC roommate Owen Hull, drafted No. 67, in the same draft haul.
The Pirates selected LSU outfielder Derek Curiel with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Curiel is hailed for elite contact and center-field defense, batting .353 with a strong on-base percentage at LSU and stealing 13 bases, but scouts note limited power, suggesting a high-floor, fast-tracking contributor rather than a power hitter.
The Rays used the No. 2 overall pick to draft Texas prep shortstop Grady Emerson, a left-handed hitter from Fort Worth Christian High School, renowned for a premium hit tool and strong amateur pedigree, after Roch Cholowsky went No. 1 to the White Sox. Emerson joins a Rays draft haul that includes Taj Marchand (No. 33) and Ben Blair (No. 49) on Day 1 as Tampa Bay builds its young, high-ceiling core.
Chicago used the 23rd pick to draft Ole Miss right-hander Cade Townsend, a 6'1", 185-pound five-pitch starter who sits 95–96 mph (up to 98) with a plus fastball, cutter, and splitter, plus an average slider and curve. Townsend flashed frontline upside in college but dealt with late-season shoulder soreness and control questions. The Cubs, prioritizing pitching, see a potential mid-rotation type who could move quickly through the system if healthy, potentially reaching the majors by 2028, with medicals at the Combine helping ease concerns.
Texas Rangers drafted Massachusetts prep left-hander Brody Bumila with the 89th overall pick (Round 3) of the 2026 MLB Draft. Bumila is a 6'9", 255-pound lefty from Bishop Feehan HS who has flashed a 100 mph fastball with extension, but carries UCL damage and recently had internal brace surgery; he needs to refine command and improve slider and changeup. Previously viewed as a likely first-round talent before the injury, Bumila is committed to Texas but is expected to sign if drafted in Round 3, and his athleticism and pitching aptitude give him upside if health and development cooperate.
The Chicago Cubs selected Ole Miss right-hander Cade Townsend with the 23rd overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Townsend, a 6'1", 185-pound pitcher, brings a 95-98 mph fastball and a deep five-pitch mix (cutter, slider, curve, splitter, changeup) and is viewed as a potential starter, though shoulder soreness earlier in the season adds some injury risk. The Cubs continue to lean on college pitching to replenish their system, hoping Townsend can progress quickly through the minors if his medicals check out and his control improves.
The Atlanta Braves selected Indiana State outfielder Carter Beck with the 26th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Beck is a toolsy, left-handed hitter from Saskatchewan who showed strong college numbers and elite speed, with potential to develop into a center fielder or left fielder as his hit tool and power continue to progress.
San Francisco used the MLB Draft Lottery to move into the top five and selected UCSB right-hander Jackson Flora at No. 4, addressing a pitching gap in a farm system that lacks impact arms. Flora, who sits in the upper 90s with a plus changeup and posted a 1.06 ERA with 133 strikeouts in 102 innings as a junior, could reach the majors by late 2027 and has a potential ace trajectory for the Giants.
Overslot Baseball's Braves-focused 2026 mock draft 2.0 outlines a ten-round plan that prioritizes underslot signings to maximize depth, targeting Gio Rojas, Hunter Dietz, Caden Bogenpohl, Jason DeCaro, Deiten Lachance, Ryne Barker, Will Adams, Josh McDevitt, Connor Shouse, and Lorenzo Carrier across rounds 1–10 while balancing pitching, catching, and hitting and preserving signing flexibility for Day 3.
The Kansas City Royals selected Zion Rose, a 6'1", 200-pound Louisville outfielder, with the No. 6 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, betting on his powerful bat, speed, and defensive versatility. After an injury delayed his junior year, Rose slashed .417/.491/.646 with six homers in 173 plate appearances, and scouting notes from The Athletic, MLB.com, and Fangraphs highlight plus bat velocity, strong contact skills, and a path to center field or a solid left field profile. Rankings had him between 17th and 30th, suggesting underslot signing with the Royals also holding the 30th pick to target an overslot addition.
With the MLB draft starting and the Orioles at seventh, mocks are split: Baseball America and MLB Pipeline align behind Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress, while Eric Booth Jr., Jackson Flora, and Tyler Bell show up in other scenarios. The pick remains highly uncertain as six players sit ahead and the Orioles weigh who best fits their development plan versus upside.
NBC Sports Rotoworld's 2026 MLB Draft Big Board names Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson and Vahn Lackey as the top trio, highlighting a strong top tier but thinner depth, with a mix of prep and college prospects and a reminder that signing rules and eligibility will shape the actual draft order.
Sports Illustrated’s final 2026 MLB Mock Draft 3.0 projects the White Sox at No. 1 with Roch Cholowsky (UCLA) favored to go first, though Grady Emerson (prep) is closing the gap and Vahn Lackey (Georgia Tech) is a strong alternative. The top three picks—Cholowsky to Chicago, Emerson to the Rays, and Lackey to the Twins—define a college-heavy, bat-driven first round, with prep talent still in play and pitching depth later in the round.