The 2026 MLB Draft begins July 11, 2026, in Philadelphia during All-Star Week. The Chicago White Sox hold the No. 1 overall pick after winning the December 2025 lottery. MLB Pipeline published its first full 2026 mock draft on May 7, 2026. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky leads MLB Pipeline’s projection at the top of the board. The 2025 MLB Draft anchored Washington Nationals shortstop Eli Willits at first overall on July 13, 2025.
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The 2026 MLB Draft will be held July 11 and 12, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. MLB scheduled the first round and Competitive Balance Round A for Saturday, July 11. Rounds 2 through 20 will follow on Sunday, July 12. The Chicago White Sox secured the first overall pick by winning the lottery on December 11, 2025. The first overall pick marks Chicago’s first No. 1 selection since Harold Baines in 1977.
Five clubs lost 10 spots in the 2026 first round under the second-tier CBT surcharge. The penalized teams are the Mets, Phillies, Yankees, Blue Jays, and Dodgers. MLB Pipeline therefore lists 25 standard first-round picks plus five revised slots for those penalty teams. The first round closes at pick No. 30 in MLB.com’s published order.
The mock below mirrors MLB Pipeline’s May 7, 2026, projection by Jim Callis. Each blurb cites the player’s position, school, and current ranking on MLB Pipeline’s Top 150 Draft list. All scouting commentary attributes to MLB Pipeline unless otherwise noted.
Cholowsky entered 2026 as the strongest preseason No. 1 favorite since Adley Rutschmann in 2019. MLB Pipeline puts the White Sox at 55 to 60 percent likelihood on Cholowsky over Grady Emerson. A discount deal for Jacob Lombard remains in play if Chicago wants to redistribute bonus pool savings.
Emerson sits ahead of catcher Vahn Lackey on Tampa Bay’s likely board, per MLB Pipeline. The Rays have searched for a franchise catcher since passing on Buster Posey in 2008. Emerson offers higher long-term upside than Cholowsky according to several scouting departments.
Lackey is hitting .371/.491/.682 with 12 home runs through 47 games, per MLB Pipeline’s May 7 update. Lackey shows more athleticism than Georgia Tech’s previous first-round catchers including Posey, Joey Bart, and Kevin Parada. The Twins would prefer Cholowsky or Emerson if either falls to No. 3.
Posey, now Giants president of baseball operations, would push hardest for Cholowsky, per MLB Pipeline. Other clubs view Lombard as San Francisco’s preferred fallback at the top prep position. Lombard answered showcase-circuit hit-tool concerns during his 2026 spring high school season.
Flora leads NCAA Division I in ERA at 0.73 and opponent OPS at .440 per MLB Pipeline. Flora’s arsenal pairs a mid-90s fastball with a mid-80s slider and an upper-80s kick changeup. The Pirates pick at the mercy of the four teams above them.
Rojas is the best left-handed pitcher available in the 2026 class per MLB Pipeline. Rojas starred for Team USA at the 2025 18U World Cup with a fastball reaching 98 mph. The Royals’ alternative names are Lombard and Eric Booth Jr.
Booth ranks among the fastest players in the 2026 class with 20 to 25 home run potential. The Orioles last drafted a prep position player in the first round with Jackson Holliday in 2022. MLB Pipeline notes that Baltimore is heaviest on prep bats at this slot.
Helfrick is the top defensive catcher in the 2026 class per MLB Pipeline. Helfrick already calls his own pitches at Arkansas and pairs receiving skill with solid raw power. The Athletics need both immediate catching depth and impact bats.
Townsend can hit 98 mph with a fastball, two plus breaking balls, and a plus cutter. MLB Pipeline expects college pitchers to climb 2026 boards as draft day approaches. Townsend slots among the most likely risers in the late first round.
Burress is slashing .367/.481/.643 with 10 home runs through Georgia Tech’s 2026 season. Burress projects as a legitimate center fielder with above-average tools. Colorado holds the No. 10 pick after a 65-win 2025 season.
Grindlinger reclassified from 2027, making him one of the youngest 2026 draftees at 17 years and three months. Grindlinger projects primarily as a sweet-swinging outfielder despite his two-way profile. MLB Pipeline expects Grindlinger inside the top 20 picks.
Flukey opened 2026 as the top-rated college pitcher before a rib stress fracture cost 10 weeks. Flukey allowed six runs in 2.1 innings during his second outing back. The Angels’ selection depends on Flukey’s late-spring rebound.
Strosnider stands 6-foot-2, 200 pounds with double-plus raw power and plus speed per MLB Pipeline. Strosnider has gone 13 for 72 since the start of April with 18 strikeouts. The Cardinals could capitalize if Strosnider’s slide continues into June.
Hacopian carries a .289/.393/.496 line through injuries this spring. Several clubs grade Hacopian as the best college hitter in the 2026 class. The Marlins likely represent Hacopian’s draft floor at pick 14.
Condon offers the best blend of hitting ability and speed in the 2026 prep group. Scouts compare Condon to Lenny Dykstra, Brett Gardner, and a stronger Sal Frelick. The Diamondbacks prefer high-contact athletes in their development pipeline.
Lebron led 1-1 boards 14 months ago before slumping to .266/.389/.505 with 17 errors as a junior. Lebron has 12 home runs and 36 stolen bases in 2026 with four potential plus tools. The Rangers value the upside if Lebron drops this far.
Curiel has hit well in two SEC seasons and proved he can play center field this spring. Curiel projects as a high-floor outfielder despite a softer power ceiling. MLB Pipeline lists Curiel as a possible top-10 fit.
Dietz leads the SEC with 101 strikeouts in 65.2 innings while flashing four plus pitches. Dietz had pitched only 1.2 innings combined during his first two Arkansas seasons. The Reds would lock in a left-handed starter with rapid trajectory.
Gracia combines plus contact, mature swing decisions, and projected center field defense. Gracia could climb if a club fully buys his power. The Guardians prize controllable college bats with up-the-middle defense.
Bell is playing through a non-throwing-shoulder labrum tear that requires postseason surgery. Bell switch-hits with 20 home run power and reliable shortstop defense. Boston’s selection depends on the medical recheck after Kentucky’s season.
Bumila stands 6-foot-9 with a fastball that reaches 100 mph and quality spin metrics. The Padres routinely target high-ceiling prep pitchers in the first round. Bumila fits San Diego’s risk-tolerant draft model.
Ruiz is the best defensive prospect in the 2026 class according to MLB Pipeline. Ruiz pushed Grady Emerson to third base on the 2025 U.S. 18U national team. Ruiz offers switch-hit bat-to-ball skill with limited power.
Peterson can miss bats with four offerings and earns top-10 grades at his best. Peterson holds a career 4.97 ERA at Florida due to inconsistent pitchability. The Cubs are betting on a pro-development jump.
Kuhns spins a plus mid-90s fastball and a plus upper-70s curveball per MLB Pipeline. Kuhns surrendered five runs to Kentucky last weekend after a strong April. Seattle leans on plus-spin profiles in pitcher development.
Prosek owns one of the best swings and bat-to-ball profiles in the prep class. Prosek looked credible behind the plate during his 2026 senior year. Prosek’s uncle Matt Erickson coaches third base for Milwaukee.
The Mets dropped 10 spots from pick 16 under the second-tier CBT surcharge. Robbins fits as a college outfielder with a balanced offensive profile. MLB Pipeline assigned Robbins as the top current Mets target.
Lowrance pairs prep power with third-base defensive utility. The Yankees moved 10 spots after exceeding the CBT second surcharge in 2025. Lowrance offers a high-projection prep bat for New York’s farm system.
Mendes anchors a left-handed college rotation with a deeper arsenal than most peers. The Phillies needed pitching depth after dropping 10 first-round spots. Mendes joins Philadelphia’s pipeline as a polished college arm.
Duncan is the highest-ranked Canadian prep pitcher in the 2026 class. Toronto fell 10 first-round spots after a 2025 luxury-tax overage. Duncan adds a left-handed development arm with a regional storyline.
Brick rounds out the projected first round at the Dodgers’ adjusted slot. Los Angeles dropped 10 spots under the second-tier CBT surcharge. MLB Pipeline tagged Brick as the most likely Dodgers selection.
The 2025 MLB Draft opened on July 13, 2025, in Atlanta during All-Star weekend. The first round contained 27 picks because the Dodgers, Mets, and Yankees forfeited selections under CBT penalties. Eli Willits became the youngest first overall pick since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987.
The Athletics took Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold at pick No. 11 with a $5,985,100 bonus per Baseball America. The Texas Rangers landed prep shortstop Gavin Fien at pick No. 12 for $4,800,000. The San Francisco Giants drafted Tennessee infielder Gavin Kilen at pick No. 13 for $5,247,500.
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Mill Creek HS shortstop Daniel Pierce at pick No. 14. The Boston Red Sox chose Oklahoma right-hander Kyson Witherspoon at pick No. 15 below slot. The Minnesota Twins added Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston at pick No. 16 for $4,497,500.
The Chicago Cubs took Wake Forest outfielder Ethan Conrad at pick No. 17 for $3,563,100. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Lady Bird Johnson HS shortstop Kayson Cunningham at pick No. 18 for $4,581,900. The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Vanderbilt right-hander J.D. Thompson at pick No. 20.
The Atlanta Braves added Florida State shortstop Alex Lodise at pick No. 22. The Philadelphia Phillies selected Iowa left-hander Cade Obermueller at pick No. 26. The Cleveland Guardians closed the round by drafting Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette at pick No. 27 for $4,000,000.
Shortstops dominated the 2025 first round with 14 selections at the position. The Dodgers, Mets, and Yankees lost first-round picks because their 2024 payrolls exceeded the third CBT surcharge tier. The Athletics, picking 11th, signed the highest reported first-round bonus at $5,985,100.
The 2026 MLB Draft begins July 11, 2026, in Philadelphia under a White Sox No. 1 pick. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky leads MLB Pipeline’s May 7 board over Grady Emerson by a 55 to 60 percent margin. The 2025 MLB Draft delivered Eli Willits to Washington as the youngest top pick since 1987. CBT penalties shaped both 2025 and 2026 first-round orders by removing or shifting selections from luxury-tax violators.
The 2026 MLB Draft will be held July 11 and 12, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first round runs July 11 during MLB All-Star Week. Rounds 2 through 20 follow on July 12.
The Chicago White Sox hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Chicago won the December 11, 2025, draft lottery to secure the selection. The pick is Chicago’s first No. 1 since Harold Baines in 1977.
MLB Pipeline projects UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky as the 2026 No. 1 pick on May 7, 2026. Cholowsky has held the top spot since the preseason. Grady Emerson sits as the leading alternative for the White Sox at 40 to 45 percent likelihood.
The Washington Nationals selected prep shortstop Eli Willits at No. 1 on July 13, 2025. Willits attended Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma. Willits became the youngest first-overall pick since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987.
The Dodgers, Mets, and Yankees forfeited their 2025 first-round picks under the third-tier CBT surcharge. The third surcharge applies when a club exceeds the luxury-tax threshold by more than $40 million. The forfeited picks reduced the 2025 first round from 30 to 27 selections.
The Mets, Phillies, Yankees, Blue Jays, and Dodgers each dropped 10 spots in the 2026 first round. The drop applies under the CBT’s second-tier surcharge for repeat overspenders. The penalty pushes those picks below No. 25 in MLB Pipeline’s published May 7 mock.
Lines.com plans live first-round coverage on July 11, 2026, with team-by-team analysis. MLB.com hosts the official 2026 Draft Tracker and player profiles. ESPN, MLB Network, and ABC will broadcast the first round live.
Lines.com publishes draft coverage for informational purposes. Player projections cite MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, ESPN, and team-affiliated sources active on May 7, 2026. Mock-draft order, slot values, and player rankings will shift before draft day on July 11, 2026.
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