Tag

Mlb Draft 2026

All articles tagged with #mlb draft 2026

sports1 month ago•22 min saved

NL Central Draft Day 1: Cardinals deepen depth, Reds chase ceiling with Lebron

In the 2026 MLB Draft's NL Central, each club built a distinct, top-10-round strategy: the Cardinals used extra picks to assemble a deep, balanced class headlined by high-upside prep players and multiple college arms; the Reds kicked off with high-risk/high-reward Justin Lebron and then filled in with safer college talent to bring certainty; the Brewers added more Ebel family picks and a mix of live-armed pitchers and athletic outfielders; the Pirates leaned into strong college bats plus upside high school talent; and the Cubs focused on college pitching, led by Cade Townsend, with several projectable arms behind him. The piece underscores a college-first trend and the ongoing balance between upside and signability in the top rounds.

via The New York Times|

#cardinals #cubs #mlb-draft-2026

sports1 month ago•5 min saved

Braves Tap Big Bonus Pool to Build 21-Player 2026 Draft Class

With the 2026 MLB Draft in the books, Atlanta leveraged a large bonus pool (enhanced by a Prospect Promotion pick) to pursue a deep class led by 9th‑overall AJ Gracia and 26th‑overall Carter Beck, plus seven later-round high-school talents. The Braves expect to sign all 21 selections, using under-slot signings and senior-college targets in rounds 8–10 to spread the money before the July 27 signing deadline. MLB rules cap bonuses against the pool for the first 10 rounds, allow a $150k reporting threshold for later rounds with any overage taxed via future picks, and include a contingency bonus that doesn’t count toward the pool.

via Battery Power|

#atlanta-braves #bonus-pool #high-school-prospects

baseball1 month ago•12 min saved

White Sox sign top pick Roch Cholowsky on a $10.35M signing bonus

The Chicago White Sox signed No. 1 overall pick Roch Cholowsky, a 21-year-old UCLA shortstop, to a $10.35 million signing bonus (roughly $1 million under-slot); he's praised as a polished defender with big power potential and a solid hit tool, likely becoming a cornerstone for Chicago's young core despite limited stolen-base upside.

via NBC Sports|

#baseball #chicago-white-sox #mlb-draft-2026

sports1 month ago•8 min saved

Giants Align Draft Strategy: Best-Player Picks Meet Team Needs in 2026 MLB Draft

San Francisco’s amateur scouting team, led by Michael Holmes, used a best-player-available approach in the 2026 MLB Draft that largely matched the Giants’ needs, loading up on pitchers early (12 of 21 picks) while adding middle-infield and outfield depth. Standout pick Jackson Flora, a 6-foot-5 UCSB right-hander, could move quickly, with other selections including prep lefty Carson Bolemon and right-hander Kaden Waechter, plus bat-first prospects Peyton Bonds, Luke Nixon and Josiah Kemp. The haul strengthens the farm system and provides future pitching options, as the organization signals intent to pursue more pitching via trades while hoping several draftees reach Oracle Park in coming years.

via NBC Sports Bay Area & California|

#baseball-prospects #farm-system #giants

sports1 month ago•8 min saved

Braves Forge a 21-Prospect Farm in 2026 Draft, Led by Gracia and Hirschkorn

The Atlanta Braves closed the 2026 MLB Draft with 21 selections, headlined by AJ Gracia (OF, Virginia) who looks like a middle‑of‑the‑order bat, and Jensen Hirschkorn (RHP, Kingsburg HS) as a major overslot get. The class blends prep arms, college players, and senior signs across multiple positions (outfield, catcher, pitchers, and first base), with a mix of underslot and overslot designations and varying development timelines. Overall, the Braves aim to add upside arms and versatile bats to their farm system, betting on player development to unlock potential across pitching, hitting, and catching.

via Battery Power|

#atlanta-braves #baseball-prospects #mlb-draft-2026

sports1 month ago•7 min saved

Braves' 9th pick AJ Gracia could be a fast-tracked cornerstone

Atlanta selected Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia with the 9th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, a choice Battery Power views as a premium, fast-tracking prospect who could become a cornerstone of Atlanta’s future. Gracia is praised for elite plate discipline, barrel control, and the ability to hit for average while projecting solid power gains; he handles velocity well and has a strong on-base profile, with potential to climb through the system quickly and reach the majors by 2028. Concerns include a swing that’s a bit stiff, limited big-power upside (not likely to be 35+ homers), and gaps against inner-half pitches and some right-handed sliders, but overall the pick is highly celebrated and seen as the best Braves draftee in the Alex Anthopoulos era.

via Battery Power|

#aj-gracia #atlanta-braves #baseball-prospect

sports1 month ago•2 min saved

Cubs Day 1 of 2026 Draft Sparks Trade-Value Talk for Alcantara, Murray

On Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Cubs landed Cade Townsend in the first round and followed with Caden Sorrell and Myles Bailey, a haul that could shift their farm depth and influence future moves. The piece suggests Kevin Alcantara and BJ Murray may become trade chips, noting Alcantara’s lack of major‑league production despite five‑tool upside and Murray’s strong Triple-A numbers that could attract a push to sell high as Bailey emerges as a potential long-term power asset.

via Cubbies Crib|

#baseball-prospects #chicago-cubs #kevin-alcantara

sports1 month ago•2 min saved

Red Sox Add Five Prospects in 2026 Draft Rounds 11–15

Red Sox day two of the 2026 draft netted five new prospects—three college pitchers and two position players—spanning Georgia State, Oak Hills HS (CA), UIC, UNLV and Grand Canyon. Wills Maginnis (SS, Georgia State) is a 21-year-old contact hitter with speed; Jacob Webster (SS, Oak Hills HS) is a 6-foot-4 switch-hitting HS shortstop with athletic upside; Mason Lei (RHP, UIC) is a 6-foot-4 righty with a 4.56 ERA; Jase Evangelista (RHP, UNLV) is a hard-throwing reliever who has topped 97 mph; and Chase Frey (LHP, Grand Canyon) is a tall lefty with a 4.79 ERA and 69 strikeouts. The selections add college-ready depth and upside arms to the Sox pipeline.

via SoxProspects News|

#baseball-prospects #mlb-draft-2026 #red-sox

sports1 month ago•6 min saved

Cardinals' Day 1 haul: seven high-upside picks earn an A-grade draft

Following Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft, the St. Louis Cardinals locked in seven selections and earned an A grade thanks to a mix of high-upside prep stars and promising arms, led by 13th overall Trevor Condon (an elite center fielder with speed and a growing hit tool), 32nd overall Tegan Kuhns (a pitcher with an outlier fastball and four-plus pitches), and 50th overall Rocco Maniscalco (a 17-year-old shortstop with a 70-grade arm). They added Andrew Williamson, Dawson Montesa, Caden Ferraro, and Dee Kennedy, creating a diverse, upside-rich class that scouts praised and that could yield Masyn Winn-like dividends in the Cardinals' system.

via Redbird Rants|

#mlb-draft-2026 #rocco-maniscalco #sports

sports1 month ago•12 min saved

Mariners nab Ace Reese, betting on power and positional flexibility

Seattle drafted Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese 24th overall, a former shortstop who moved to third with notable power (25 homers, .721 slugging) and potential to stick at 3B, though defense may push him toward first base or left field later. Reese grew up a Rangers fan, models his game after Corey Seager, and emphasized personal responsibility in the box after three college coaching eras.

via Seattle Sports|

#ace-reese #mississippi-state #mlb-draft-2026

sports1 month ago•106 min saved

High ceiling takes the stage as Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft unfolds

Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft spanned four rounds and 135 picks, pairing high-ceiling college stars with top high school talents as teams chased upside and versatility. Keith Law’s scouting notes highlighted Roch Cholowsky as the polished No. 1 pick with plus defense and power, Jackson Flora as the top pitching prospect, and Jared Grindlinger as the draft’s standout two-way talent, among other notable selections. The day set a high-upside tone across positions, with several players projected to move quickly through the minors and a mix of safe college bats and riskier high‑school arms shaping the early trajectory of this class.

via The New York Times|

#baseball #day-1 #mlb-draft-2026

sports1 month ago•5 min saved

Mariners start 2026 MLB Draft by prioritizing college depth

The Mariners opened Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft by returning to a college-heavy approach, selecting Ace Reese (3B, Mississippi State) in Round 1, LSU outfielder Jake Brown in Round 2, Cincinnati RHP Nathan Taylor in Round 3, and UNC Wilmington 3B Trevor Lucas in Round 4, aiming to bolster up-the-middle depth and immediate‑impact potential. Reese’s stock drop was tied to lower contact rates amid an injury and coaching change; Brown impressed with speed and power potential; Taylor is a slider‑heavy pitcher the club believes it can develop; Lucas provides versatile infield power potential. They also collected roughly $450K extra bonus pool for Day 2 by signing some picks under slot and plan to re-rack and be creative as they pursue value later in the draft.

via Lookout Landing|

#ace-reese #jake-brown #mariners

sports1 month ago•23 min saved

Cholowsky Leads 2026 MLB Draft as 613 Picks Roll In

CBS Sports’ 2026 MLB Draft tracker follows 613 picks across 20 rounds in Philadelphia, led by White Sox shortstop Roch Cholowsky at No. 1 and Rays shortstop Grady Emerson at No. 2, with Vahn Lackey, Jackson Flora and Derek Curiel rounding out the top five; the piece notes that 26 of the first 40 picks came from college and provides full picks and analysis for the 25 first-round selections.

via CBS Sports|

#baseball #draft-tracker #first-round

sports-baseball1 month ago•18 min saved

Cubs Bet on Power with Myles Bailey at 75th in the 2026 MLB Draft

The Chicago Cubs selected Florida State 1B Myles Bailey with the 75th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, betting on his elite raw power despite injury history and concerns about his hit tool and strikeout rate. Bailey posted eye-popping college power and a strong left-handed swing, but scouts note questions about how well his power and approach will translate to the pro game, where he’s likely headed to first base after showcasing his defensive versatility.

via Bleacher Nation|

#cubs #florida-state #mlb-draft-2026

baseball1 month ago•9 min saved

Reds Select Toolsy Alabama SS Justin Lebron at 18 in 2026 Draft

Cincinnati selected Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron with the 18th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, lured by his plus power, speed and defense but facing questions about his hit tool and a high strikeout-to-walk ratio, making him a high-ceiling development project for a Reds system focused on upside.

via redsminorleagues.com|

#alabama-baseball #baseball #cincinnati-reds