The anticipation for the 2026 MLB Draft intensifies as college baseball kicks off across the nation this Friday. Bleacher Report has released an updated version of their 2026 MLB Draft mock, highlighting the first 40 selections and illustrating a strong preference for college players early in the draft. The Chicago White Sox secured the first overall pick after winning the draft lottery, setting the stage for a college-dominant draft class.
This early projection underscores a clear trend: of the top 40 picks, 26 are college players, including eight pitchers and eighteen hitters, while the six pitchers and eight position players from high school make up the remainder. The draft event is scheduled for July 12-13 in Philadelphia, promising further shifts as the season unfolds.
Top Pick Locked in: UCLA Shortstop Roch Cholowsky
Roch Cholowsky of UCLA stands out as the top prospect expected to be selected first overall by the Chicago White Sox. After a breakout sophomore year, Cholowsky is considered a frontrunner for the Golden Spikes Award. His .353 batting average, 23 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a 1.190 OPS in 2025 showcased his hitting prowess. Cholowsky’s disciplined approach at the plate, drawing 45 walks against only 30 strikeouts, marks him as the most reliable hitting prospect in this class.
Promising Prep Talent: Grady Emerson of Fort Worth Christian
Following Cholowsky, Tampa Bay Rays are projected to select shortstop Grady Emerson, a highly regarded five-tool player from Fort Worth Christian School in Texas, who has committed to Texas. Though still developing, Emerson ranks among the best prep shortstops in the draft and boasts significant growth potential despite Cholowsky’s firm grip on the top overall spot.
Alabama Shortstop Justin Lebron Nears the Top of Draft Boards
The Minnesota Twins are expected to take Alabama’s Justin Lebron third overall. Lebron has been part of the draft conversation for some time, demonstrated by his solid freshman statistics of a .338 average and 12 home runs in 2024. In 2025, his performance remained strong with a .316 average, 18 homers, 72 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases, despite a higher strikeout rate. His raw potential remains a significant factor in his high draft placement.
Georgia Tech’s Drew Burress: Outfield Power and Consistency
San Francisco Giants are targeted to select outfielder Drew Burress next. Burress exploded onto the college scene as a freshman in 2024 by hitting nine home runs in his first eight games and finishing the year with a .381 average and 25 homers. His sophomore year was equally impressive, batting .333 with 19 homers and 62 RBIs, displaying strong plate discipline with 111 walks compared to 79 strikeouts. Another strong season in 2026 could firmly establish him among the draft’s top contenders.
LSU’s Derek Curiel Fits Pittsburgh’s Outfield Needs
Pittsburgh Pirates have their eyes on sophomore outfielder Derek Curiel from LSU. Playing primarily left field in 2025, Curiel posted a .345 batting average with seven home runs and 55 RBIs, contributing to LSU’s national championship run. Though his power numbers are still developing, his all-around skill set offers the potential to become an elite player in the professional ranks.
Kansas City Royals Eye Prep Shortstop Jacob Lombard
The Royals are projected to pick Jacob Lombard, a shortstop from Gulliver Prep High School in Florida, who has committed to Miami. Lombard ranks just behind Grady Emerson among prep shortstops and benefits from strong baseball lineage as the younger brother of Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr. His power and athleticism highlight his upside as a top high school selection.
Baltimore Orioles Target Coastal Carolina RHP Cameron Flukey
Coastal Carolina right-hander Cameron Flukey impressed as a key contributor during their run to runner-up in the College World Series in 2025. With a 3.19 ERA, 1.003 WHIP, and 118 strikeouts in over 100 innings, Flukey emerged as the first college pitcher projected off the board. Despite a less dominant freshman season, his fastball and secondary pitches position him as a high-ceiling right-handed pitcher for the 2026 draft.
Jackson Flora Continues UC Santa Barbara Pitching Legacy
Oakland Athletics are poised to select right-hander Jackson Flora from UC Santa Barbara. Following a strong 2025 campaign with a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 86 strikeouts in 75 innings, Flora shows promise to follow in the footsteps of his teammate Tyler Bremner, who went second overall in last year’s draft. Flora’s ability to touch triple digits on the fastball keeps him in contention as a top pitching prospect.
Top High School Pitching Hope: Carson Bolemon
Atlanta Braves could choose left-handed pitcher Carson Bolemon from Southside Christian High School in South Carolina. During his junior year, Bolemon struck out 135 batters while allowing only eight walks and did not surrender any earned runs in 55.1 innings. Seen as the premier high school arm of his class, Bolemon’s four-pitch mix and commitment to Wake Forest reinforce his strong draft stock.
Georgia Tech Catcher Vahn Lackey Gains Attention
The Colorado Rockies are likely to pick catcher Vahn Lackey, regarded as the top catching prospect in this draft. After struggling as a freshman with a .214 average, Lackey rebounded spectacularly in 2025, hitting .347 and demonstrating both offensive growth and strong defensive potential behind the plate.
Mid-to-Late First Round Candidates and Notable Picks
The rest of the first 40 picks show a mix of promising college players and high school talents. Highlights include:
- Washington Nationals selecting Florida right-hander Liam Peterson
- Los Angeles Angels taking Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia
- St. Louis Cardinals picking TCU outfielder Sawyer Strosnider
- Miami Marlins choosing Texas A&M shortstop Chris Hacopian
- Arizona Diamondbacks selecting California high school shortstop Tyler Spangler, a Stanford commit
- Texas Rangers taking Florida prep left-hander Gio Rojas, committed to Miami
- Houston Astros selecting Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese
- Cincinnati Reds picking Virginia shortstop Eric Becker
- Cleveland Guardians selecting Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell
- Boston Red Sox taking Auburn second baseman Chris Rembert
- San Diego Padres selecting California prep left-hander Logan Schmidt, an LSU commit
- Detroit Tigers picking Texas A&M outfielder Caden Sorrell
- Chicago Cubs choosing Arkansas right-hander Gabe Gaeckle
- Seattle Mariners selecting Tennessee right-hander Tegan Kuhns
- Milwaukee Brewers taking Mississippi prep outfielder Eric Booth Jr., Vanderbilt commit
- Atlanta Braves picking Georgia right-hander Joey Volchko
- New York Mets choosing Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick
- Houston Astros selecting California high school outfielder Blake Bowen, Oregon State commit
- Cleveland Guardians taking Texas A&M third baseman Gavin Grahovac
- Kansas City Royals selecting Texas outfielder Aiden Robbins
- Arizona Diamondbacks picking Oregon shortstop Maddox Molony
- St. Louis Cardinals choosing Mississippi prep outfielder Kevin Roberts Jr., Florida commit
- Tampa Bay Rays selecting TCU right-hander Tommy LaPour
- Pittsburgh Pirates choosing Florida high school right-hander Coleman Borthwick, Auburn commit
- New York Yankees picking New York prep shortstop Aiden Ruiz, Vanderbilt commit
- Philadelphia Phillies selecting California high school right-hander Jensen Hirschkorn, LSU commit
- Colorado Rockies taking Louisville outfielder Zion Rose
- Colorado Rockies selecting North Carolina right-hander Ryan Lynch
- Toronto Blue Jays picking Georgia prep outfielder Trevor Condon, Tennessee commit
- Los Angeles Dodgers choosing Georgia prep right-hander Joseph Contreras, Vanderbilt commit
Implications and Outlook for the 2026 MLB Draft
The 2026 MLB Draft mock reflects how college baseball talent continues to dominate early selections, driven by proven performance and maturity at the collegiate level. With the draft set in Philadelphia this July, teams will likely watch the unfolding college and high school seasons closely to refine their choices. Players like Roch Cholowsky, Cameron Flukey, and Drew Burress have set early benchmarks that may shift depending on midseason developments, while promising high school talents like Grady Emerson and Jacob Lombard could rise with further progress.
This draft class’s heavy college presence also signals organizations’ increasing preference for players whose skills and mental readiness have been tested against higher competition. As the 2026 season progresses, prospects will continue to contend with the pressure of draft expectations, shaping the outlook for teams’ future rosters and the overall landscape of professional baseball talent acquisition.
