⚾ MLB draft: Top 85 prospects and 13-pick mock

17.04.2026, 19:11 espn.com

Midway through college and high school baseball seasons, the 2026 MLB draft picture is starting to come into focus.

We're getting to the part of the spring when players are falling into consensus tiers for evaluators, and when I see MLB crosscheckers and scouting directors, they ask me when my first mock is coming out. This year's class has a clear No. 1 player followed by a pretty clear next-best prospect and then the potential shuffling picks up at No. 3, with several college players and a few standout prep prospects all in the mix to go in the top 10 picks.

The players below were ranked using the FV (future value) system that I applied for pro prospects. Here are my preseason MLB prospect rankings to see where these players would rank if they turned pro now, though the grades will change (and generally improve as we gain more information and certainty) throughout the spring.

We've all waited long enough, so it's time for a fresh rankings update and a mini-mock draft of the first 13 picks.

Jump to: Mini-mock | Draft rankings

1. Chicago White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA

This already seems to be down to Cholowsky and Grady Emerson. I think Cholowsky has a notable lead, but it isn't a slam dunk just yet.

Since almost everyone in baseball has the same report and outlook for Cholowsky, this pick then comes down to exactly what you think Emerson's potential is and if he's a quick mover. Some evaluators think Emerson has higher upside and if you think he'll also move quickly (Konnor Griffin debuted as a 19-year-old, Jackson Holliday at age 20, Kevin McGonigle at 21) then he could also look like a superior prospect in the minors within a year or so.

If he's both things and he comes at some bonus savings vs. Cholowsky, you can logically justify picking Emerson. Some teams I've spoken with see this decision as close enough to really dig in and the White Sox might be one of those teams.

We'll learn a lot more in the coming weeks; I heard a big White Sox scouting contingent, including GM Chris Getz, was in to see Emerson this week.

2. Tampa Bay Rays: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (Texas)

This is a pretty common connection, especially in light of the Rays pick history and the industry's read of the first pick. Some rival clubs picking in this area think the Rays will seriously consider Vahn Lackey and Jackson Flora if they get a sizable bonus savings, with those two prospects seen as the other players within the top group before things really open up.

Given the variability in evaluating high school players and how the Rays covet MLB-ready prospects, I buy the Flora/Lackey buzz, both as earnest interest and possible negotiating leverage with Emerson. I can't imagine Cholowsky gets past this pick if he doesn't go No. 1.

3. Minnesota Twins: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech

There's still a bit of an empirical bias against pitchers at the top of the draft if talent seems to be similar between two players. Lackey seems to have a slight edge over Flora for most evaluators, due in large part to this, but both are common third- and fourth-ranked players on boards.

I think the Twins would take Emerson if he's available here, I think Flora would also get a long look, and there's some buzz Chris Hacopian would be an option here on a deal.

4. San Francisco Giants: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

The Giants would really like to get a shot at Emerson and I think they'd be happy to get Lackey or Flora, but they're also taking a very long look at Jacob Lombard, younger brother of Yankees' top prospect George Lombard Jr.

Lombard is polarizing in a very similar way to Ethan Holliday last year -- both have notable pro fathers and brothers, big power and struggled during the summer showcase circuit -- and accordingly, some teams have Lombard in the back half of the first round while others think he's a clear fit in the top 10 or even top five. It's safe to project that the Giants take the last of the top tier of four here, but there's a real chance for something more intriguing.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (Florida)

This is perceived to be one of those landing spots for Lombard, along with the first spot for another toolsy prep hitter in Eric Booth Jr.

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I don't know if it's perception or reality but after Konnor Griffin's swing adjustment went so well so quickly, teams think the Pirates will take another prep hitter with big upside and a swing/contact question. I think this is the floor for Lackey or Flora if there's a deal cut in the top four.

6. Kansas City Royals: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida

Things start to open up here, as the top tier of four is almost certainly selected by now and the Royals have an extra pick at No. 30, so they could opt for an underslot deal here to spend more later. The Royals are always trying to compete and it wouldn't surprise me if they went with a potential quick-mover on a deal at this pick to then set up more typical high school picks down the board.

Peterson has been rising of late, but his sweet spot might be a few picks after this. I think this is also the first pick in which you could see a high school pitcher (Gio Rojas or Logan Schmidt) and that would also be on a cut-rate deal.

7. Baltimore Orioles: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama

Lebron had stealth 1-1 buzz entering the spring because of his big tools, but it was stealth because of contact questions; he's hitting .230 in SEC play and .270 on the season.

He fits Baltimore's style (multiple sources said he was a "great fit" at this pick as their first response to this mock) and probably shouldn't last much beyond here or the next couple of picks. Booth also fits Baltimore's style if Lebron goes earlier.

8. Athletics: Eric Booth Jr., CF, Oak Grove HS (Mississippi)

Booth has had a ton of heat all spring as he has added significant strength (one scouting director compared his physique to that of an SEC running back) with plus bat speed and raw power along with plus-plus foot speed.

I see Booth's floor is No. 14 to Miami, but I think he'll go a good bit earlier than that. This is about the juncture of the draft where the next cut of college hitters start to fit: Hacopian, Ryder Helfrick, A.J. Gracia and Drew Burress.

9. Atlanta Braves: Chris Hacopian, SS, Texas A&M

Hacopian has one of the best hit/power/position combinations in the draft class, though he's probably a third baseman. He probably lands somewhere in the top 10 with Booth and Burress (Atlanta tried to sign him out of high school) both fitting here, too, and I think there's a shot that a prep pitcher (again, Rojas and Schmidt) also could be a cut-rate option.

10. Colorado Rockies: Drew Burress, CF, Georgia Tech

Burress should land somewhere around picks eight to 13. Some teams have soured a bit this spring as a harsher scouting report would have Burress moving to right field with 20-homer upside at 5-foot-9 while the rosier view would point out that he has hit 51 career home runs for the Yellow Jackets and never batted below .333 in any of his three seasons. The new Rockies regime is a little hard to read, but the belief is the team will go with an accomplished college player so Peterson also makes sense.

11. Washington Nationals Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas

Helfrick has dramatically improved his contact rates, sliding in just behind Lackey as the second catcher expected to go in the top half of the first round.

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The Nats also have a new regime entering its first draft, but the decision-makers largely came from Boston, so rival teams are expecting Washington to follow what has worked for the Red Sox in recent drafts. The bat speed of Booth and intriguing two-way potential of Jared Grindlinger could also fit that approach.

12. Los Angeles Angels: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina

It's hard to not just give the Angels a quick-moving college player given their run of pushing players quickly to the majors. Depending on how he looks in a return from a February ribcage injury, Flukey could go in the middle of the top 10 or a bit lower than this, but he is a polished potential midrotation arm regardless. Gracia, Eric Becker, Chris Rembert and rising RHP Logan Reddemann could also fit.

13. St. Louis Cardinals: Jared Grindlinger, RF/LHP, Huntington Beach HS (California)

I'll cut things off at this pick as the group of names in contention is ballooning. Grindlinger just turned 17 and is within a few weeks of being the youngest early-round prospect in the draft (just behind Rocco Maniscalco). He's a real first-round caliber outfielder with plus bat-to-ball ability and above-average power/speed potential, along with a pitching evaluation somewhere in the top two rounds. There is still some disagreement on this report and where he goes as Grindlinger was only seriously scouted starting this spring after he reclassified late in the process.

By drafting him, a team would basically get two elite prospects in one and probably would let him do both (with a lean toward hitting) for a couple of seasons to see how things break. That appealing risk profile means I don't think he gets much past this pick even with the abbreviated eval period. The Cards are also tied to prep OF Trevor Condon, who is also rising up boards as he had been red-hot the last few weeks.

1. Roch Cholowsky (21.3), SS, UCLA

Cholowsky is still the top prospect in the draft for the vast majority of teams. He's an above-average hitter for average and power with a good approach and an above-average glove at shortstop who has been productive for three college seasons (1.081 OPS and 44 homers in 154 career games) after getting multimillion dollar interest out of high school in the loaded 2023