2026 MLB Mock Draft 4.0: First-Round Picks For Every Team With A Month To Go

1. White Sox — Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA

• Bonus Pool: $17,592,100
• Slot Value: $11,350,600

Cholowsky finished his career as a .329/.448/.624 hitter with 52 home runs and 41 doubles. In the last three college seasons, he’s one of just 30 players to hit at least 45 home runs. His 11.7% strikeout rate over that same time is the best mark of any hitter on that list. It’s that hit/power combination while boasting a slam-dunk shortstop profile that separates Cholowsky from most college prospects, and it’s why he remains the favorite to be the first player off the board—even if both Emerson and Lackey have compelling cases of their own.

2. Rays — Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS, North Richland Hills, Texas

• Bonus Pool: $19,009,300
• Slot Value: $10,507,000

If the White Sox take someone other than Cholowsky first overall, he would make sense as the favorite here. In the scenario where he’s gone, I think the Rays could lean towards Emerson’s elite lefthanded hitting chops and shortstop profile over Vahn Lackey. I also know there are teams who still believe Cholowsky and Emerson have a bit of separation above Lackey, though that doesn’t matter if the Rays view it differently. 

3. Twins — Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech

• Bonus Pool: $16,929,600
• Slot Value: $9,740,100

Lackey had a tremendous finish to the season. He ended the year with a .397/.519/.772 slash line, 20 home runs and more walks than strikeouts. The Twins should be in a great position to simply take whichever top-three player in the class falls to them. There have been, and will likely continue to be, underslot rumors mentioned with all of the top teams.

No one believes any of the top three teams want to hand out a deal near slot value. Each of the first three picks come with slot values well over the current signing bonus record of $9.25 million. But given the perceived talent gap that Cholowsky, Emerson and Lackey have on the rest of the class, it still feels more likely that these three players make up the first three picks in some order. 

4. Giants — Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS, Miami

• Bonus Pool: $17,350,600
• Slot Value: $8,988,400

One interesting scenario floated to me about the Giants was about the possibility of them trying to overpay whichever player made it to No. 3 right in front of them. I don’t think it’s likely they can slide the top player in the class three spots if Cholowsky is simply the favorite for all three teams picking in front of them—but what if Lackey is on the board at No. 3 and the Giants are happy to put out a big deal? The Twins are one of the two teams who have never spent over their bonus pool. Then again, just three years ago, they picked fifth in a draft with five clear top players, and signed Walker Jenkins to an overslot deal.

I’ve continued to hear Lombard’s name associated with the Giants more than Jackson Flora or Eric Booth Jr., so he remains the pick. 

5. Pirates — Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

• Bonus Pool: $19,130,700
• Slot Value: $8,336,500

This feels like the most likely spot to see the first pitcher come off the board. But given how the Pirates have drafted in recent years, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them interested in either of the top high school hitters who could be available—Eric Booth Jr. and Jacob Lombard. Pittsburgh could also be a possible landing spot for Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron, who has had a few big games in the regionals and super regionals and would fit in with their high-risk, high-reward track record in recent years. 

6. Royals — Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS, Parkland, Fla.

• Bonus Pool: $15,954,000
• Slot Value: $7,746,100

I get the feeling Kansas City would prefer Jacob Lombard to Eric Booth Jr. if they had their pick of the two. Whether they would take the top high school pitcher in Rojas over Booth with both on the board is something I’m less confident about. There’s no doubt Kansas City has had a lot of boots on the ground to scout Rojas all spring, though. Florida righthander Liam Peterson has some decent buzz, and Kansas City might be one of the teams intrigued by his pure stuff, but I still think that might be too high for him. He’s more likely to be drafted in between their first and second picks. 

7. Orioles — Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove HS, Hattiesburg, Miss.

• Bonus Pool: $13,114,000
• Slot Value: $7,327,200

If the board plays out this way, I’m guessing Baltimore is picking between Eric Booth Jr. and Drew Burress. It does seem hard to envision a scenario in which both Jacob Lombard and Booth get much further than this pick. If neither of those high school hitters make it here, I’m hearing a ton of college bats, including Tyler Bell, AJ Gracia, Chris Hacopian and Ryder Helfrick. Both Justin Lebron and Derek Curiel sound like more realistic options than I might have thought a few weeks ago, too. 

8. Athletics — Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech

• Bonus Pool: $13,840,300
• Slot Value: $6,982,600

Once the top six players are off the board, there’s a group of college hitters getting a lot of chatter with the next few picks. Burress might be the frontrunner of that group as a center field defender with three excellent seasons and real tools. His profile has fewer flaws than most of the other college hitters that could be in consideration here, which includes Tyler Bell, Justin Lebron, AJ Gracia, Chris Hacopian and Ryder Helfrick. If Flora isn’t the pick at No. 5, I could see a path to him getting to the A’s at No. 8, and he would make plenty of sense if he was available.

9. Braves — Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky

• Bonus Pool: $15,870,800
• Slot Value: $6,675,300

All of the college hitters mentioned with the A’s could make sense for the Braves. Bell seems to be increasingly viewed as a slam-dunk option in the first half of the first round. He’s been connected to most of the teams in the 8-16 range and could have the edge on many of the other college hitters in this tier because he can stick on the dirt. Having a tremendous spring season doesn’t hurt, either. 

10. Rockies — Derek Curiel, OF, LSU

• Bonus Pool: $15,557,600
• Slot Value: $6,393,100

If the Royals don’t take Gio Rojas, the Rockies feel like another strong potential spot for the first high school pitcher in the class. If the board unfolds like how we are projecting it here, I would be torn between Curiel and Helfrick as the top college hitting options for the Rockies. 

While a college hitter does seem most likely for Colorado, it’s interesting how often they’ve been linked to high school pitchers like Rojas, Logan Schmidt, Brody Bumila and Carson Bolemon. Perhaps that’s a function of having multiple comp picks in the 30s.

11. Nationals — Jared Grindlinger, LHP/OF, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS

• Bonus Pool: $12,278,300
• Slot Value: $6,133,500

The Nationals and Red Sox feel like two of the most likely landing spots for Grindlinger. Analytically-inclined teams might prefer him as a hitter, but he has real upside as a pitcher and could start his pro career doing both. If not Grindlinger, all the college hitters in this range are options, with Burress, Hacopian and Gracia all names that could make a lot of sense. 

12. Angels — Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama

• Bonus Pool: $11,755,400
• Slot Value: $5,889,300

The Angels could be one of the teams willing to take a shot on Lebron’s upside. It sounds like they’ve had a lot of scouting heat on him down the stretch. If they want a college arm, perhaps Liam Peterson or Hunter Dietz. While the Angels have drafted seven straight collegians in the first round, I’ve heard high school players—both pitchers and hitters—mentioned for them with their first pick more often than I have in the last four or five years. Don’t be surprised if they go with a high schooler this year. 

13. Cardinals — Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas

• Bonus Pool: $16,612,300
• Slot Value: $5,661,300

All the college hitters in front—though I’ve heard mixed feedback Justin Lebron here—could fit for the Cardinals if they make it here. Of the group that’s available in this scenario, Ryder Helfrick and AJ Gracia are the names I think fit best. Despite hitting under .300, Helfrick made solid strides with his contact skills this spring and boasts great power to go with his standout defensive toolset. On the high school side, Jared Grindlinger has been mentioned to me more than Trevor Condon, but both preps would make sense based on talent and org fit. Some teams seem to think Helfrick has separated himself and is now more inside the top group of this second tier of college hitters.

14. Marlins — Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State

• Bonus Pool: $11,960,100
• Slot Value: $5,444,900

I don’t have a ton of confidence in which direction the Marlins go. I’ve heard them connected with all four demographics. They could be one of the many potential landing spots for Jared Grindlinger on the high school side. All of the college hitters in the middle of the first round could make sense as well. In this scenario, Reese or Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia might make the most sense. I’m conflicted on whether or not they would be into the top tool-oriented college bats in Justin Lebron and Sawyer Strosnider. I have also heard Hunter Dietz mentioned here. 

15. Diamondbacks — Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M

• Bonus Pool: $13,603,100
• Slot Value: $5,241,000

I’ve heard bats and college arms associated most with Arizona, but we’re in the range where the list of realistic candidates is pretty long. There’s a chance Hacopian doesn’t get close to this pick, but if he slides because of questions about his defensive profile, his hit/power combo could be a great value here. This feels like one of the earliest likely landing spots for Trevor Condon, another potential landing spot for Jared Grindlinger and maybe a fit for college arms like Liam Peterson, Cameron Flukey, Tegan Kuhns or Hunter Dietz. Arizona has scouted lefthander Logan Schmidt pretty well, but that might be more for their second pick. 

16. Rangers — Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida

• Bonus Pool: $10,219,200
• Slot Value: $5,051,900

The college pitching demographic after Jackson Flora still seems reasonably unsettled, but in the last few days, I’ve heard more and more about Peterson going in a pretty good spot. This might be closer to his floor than his ceiling. He got hit around in his final game of the season against Troy in the regionals, but he was trending up before that and has some of the best pure stuff in the class. Tyler Bell is off the board in this scenario, but if he’s not, it would be surprising to see him get much further than this. It sounds like Texas has done a lot of work on high-upside lefties Brody Bumila and Hunter Dietz, as well. 

17. Astros — AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia

• Bonus Pool: $13,712,700
• Slot Value: $4,868,600

Gracia is difficult to project with confidence because he’s tied to a huge swath of teams. He has realistic landing spots from around No. 7 to the Orioles to as late as the back of the first round. His exit velocities in 2026 were a bit underwhelming, but he’s also a career .317/.459/.583 hitter who has hit 14 or more home runs in three seasons and has a strong 18.2% career walk rate. If Justin Lebron makes it here, this could be a potential landing spot. 

18. Reds — Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga.

• Bonus Pool: $10,758,500
• Slot Value: $4,695,500

The Reds could be a solid landing spot for a number of premium profile college position players like Justin Lebron, Tyler Bell or Ryder Helfrick. They’re all off the board in this scenario, but this might be close to the floor for the trio—though Lebron has more volatility. They’re also connected to high school arms like Gio Rojas, Brody Bumila and Coleman Borthwick, but Condon fits in this range on talent and is also linked to the Reds. I’m not sure how they might line up the college arms, but it’s hard to discount a group that could include Liam Peterson, Cameron Flukey, Tegan Kuhns, Hunter Dietz, Cole Carlon and Mason Edwards.

19. Guardians — Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU

• Bonus Pool: $9,303,700
• Slot Value: $4,530,500

Many of the model darling collegians and preps could easily be off the board before Cleveland makes a pick. This could be around the range where Logan Schmidt picks up some steam. The Guardians have been willing to take high-profile prospects who have slid in recent years—either because of injury questions or performance—so players like Strosnider or Cameron Flukey or Carson Bolemon might fit. If Gio Rojas or Jared Grindlinger make it here, they could make sense as well.

20. Red Sox — Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas

• Bonus Pool: $8,219,200
• Slot Value: $4,373,900

The top high school player linked to the Red Sox—Jared Grindlinger—and most of the top college bats in the class are off the board in this mock. That would leave the Red Sox picking from a number of power-armed collegians who fit in this range, including Dietz, Cameron Flukey, Tegan Kuhns and Cole Carlon. If they don’t want a college arm, high school hitters like Bo Lowrance, Trevor Condon and Taj Marchand also get connected with Boston. Derek Curiel could be a fit if he slides here. 

21. Padres — Coleman Borthwick, RHP, South Walton HS, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.

• Bonus Pool: $9,479,000
• Slot Value: $4,224,700

All of the top high school pitchers could make a lot of sense for the Padres, including Rojas if he makes it here or Brody Bumila, who was not as electric in his final start. If Trevor Condon makes it here, I’d expect the Padres to be pretty interested, and that could also be the case for Justin Lebron. This might be at the extreme high range for a player like Borthwick, but I do think the Padres like him a decent bit. The same could be true for the other top righthander in the class, Jensen Hirschkorn, but Borthwick had a louder spring season. 

22. Tigers — Aiden Ruiz, SS, The Stony Brook (N.Y.) HS

• Bonus Pool: $9,165,100
• Slot Value: $4,082,700

I’m still hearing the same cluster of high school hitting profiles most heavily tied to the Tigers. This seems like the earliest realistic landing spot for Ruiz, who is the best high school defender in the class, and lefthanded hitters like Connor Comeau, Landon Thome and Cole Prosek. Tyler Spangler seems to fit their preferred archetype, as well, but he’s one of this draft’s biggest wildcards and also has a Stanford commitment. 

23. Cubs — Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina

• Bonus Pool: $9,644,100
• Slot Value: $3,947,600

If the draft unfolds like how I’ve laid it out here, the 20s could see a decent run of college pitchers. Flukey is one of the best arms available, and the Cubs may not have expected to have a chance at signing him before the season started. His range is volatile because he didn’t pitch much this spring due to injury, but most teams I’ve talked to expect him to go somewhere in this range. Other names I’d wonder about with Chicago include Logan Schmidt, Trevor Condon and Mason Edwards. 

24. Mariners — Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee

• Bonus Pool: $8,218,200
• Slot Value: $3,818,700

It sounds like this could be a floor for Trevor Condon if he makes it here. Other bats I’ve heard linked to Seattle include Bo Lowrance and Taj Marchand on the high school side and Zion Rose on the college side. It’s hard to discount any college arm who makes it here for the Mariners, including Kuhns, Cameron Flukey, Hunter Dietz, Logan Reddemann, Cade Townsend, Taylor Rabe or Mason Edwards. 

25. Brewers — Cole Prosek, SS/C, Magnolia Heights HS, Senatobia, Miss.

• Bonus Pool: $8,042,900
• Slot Value: $3,696,000

The Brewers tend to pick hitters early in the draft, and it feels like they could be something of a floor for any of the college hitters mentioned in the middle of the first round who happen to slide. Names like Justin Lebron, Derek Curiel, AJ Gracia or Sawyer Strosnider might get scooped up here if they make it. In this scenario they don’t. Prosek has one of the best hit/power combos in the high school class, and I’ve recently heard the Brewers connected with him more than any other team. 

26. Braves — Logan Schmidt, LHP, Ganesha HS, Pomona, Calif.

• Bonus Pool: $15,870,800
• Slot Value: $3,578,800

I feel like there’s more of a chance that one of AJ Gracia or Sawyer Strosnider slides to Atlanta’s second pick—not something I would have expected a few weeks ago. I wonder if they’d be in on one or both if that did happen. It’s more likely that a high-upside high school arm like Schmidt is available. He’s a better prospect than Briggs McKenzie was on draft day, and some scouts think the same is also true of him vs. Cam Caminiti at the same stage. Caden Sorrell would be another interesting college outfielder who could fit here. 

27. Mets — Bo Lowrance, 3B, Christ Church Episcopal HS, Greenville, S.C.

• Bonus Pool: $6,730,900
• Slot Value: $3,466,500

This is the middle of the range where it sounds Lowrance is going to come off the board. While he’s something of a split-camp player and might be a tough sign, I hear his name mentioned too frequently in the first round to not expect him to get selected now. The Mets are one of the teams most heavily associated with him. Most of the teams linked to Lowrance are also linked to Taj Marchand, and that seems to be the case here, as well. 

28. Astros — Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State

• Bonus Pool: $13,712,700
• Slot Value: $3,363,600

This could be on the lower range for Carlon, who boasts one of the best breaking balls in the class and just completed a strong season as a full-time starter. That said, questions about his reliever risk might give him a lower floor than other arms in the class. 

29. Giants — Mason Edwards, LHP, Southern California

• Bonus Pool: $17,350,600
• Slot Value: $3,270,200

Edwards had his shortest outing of the season in the super regionals against North Carolina—he was pulled after three innings—but he was still one of the most dominant starters in college baseball this season and led the nation with 169 strikeouts.

30. Royals — Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian HS, Simpsonville, S.C.

• Bonus Pool: $15,954,000
• Slot Value: $3,190,500

I’d expect the Royals to chase athletes and tools or perhaps any of the top-ranked high school arms in the class at this pick. Would they double down on high school lefthanders if the draft unfolded how I have it laid out? Maybe. Texas A&M outfielder Caden Sorrell might be a fit if they wanted to add more profile variety. 

31. Diamondbacks — Jarren Advincula, 2B, Georgia Tech

• Bonus Pool: $13,603,100
• Slot Value: $3,118,300

Even with some questions about his power and arm strength, Advincula might have the pure hitting ability to find his way into the first round. His .434 batting average was one of the best marks in the country, and his hit tool is one of the best in the class. 

32. Cardinals — Zion Rose, OF, Louisville

• Bonus Pool: $16,612,300
• Slot Value: $3,044,600

I could see Rose going anywhere from the middle of the first round through the comp picks. His spring performance and physical toolset are points in his favor, but being a righthanded hitter and playing left field might be enough for other bats to go in front of him. 

33. Rays — Taj Marchand, SS, James Island HS, Charleston, S.C.

• Bonus Pool: $19,009,300
• Slot Value: $2,970,200

I’ve heard no team more highly connected to Marchand recently than the Rays. It sounds like they have done as much due diligence on the South Carolina infielder as any organization and really love him, to the point where, if he’s available here and not the pick, I’d be surprised. 

34. Pirates — Aiden Robbins, OF, Texas

• Bonus Pool: $19,130,700
• Slot Value: $2,897,400

The Pirates have the pool space to go in any direction they want with this pick, but if they do take Flora early, would there be any pressure at all to add a bat here? The position player quality is going to start falling off quickly if they don’t. Cole Prosek could be a fit on the high school side if he’s available here. 

35. Yankees — Brody Bumila, LHP, Bishop Feehan HS, Attleboro, Mass.

• Bonus Pool: $7,342,800
• Slot Value: $2,826,700

If Bumila’s more lackluster outing at the end of the season is enough for teams like the Rangers, Reds and Padres to pass in the first round, this feels like as likely a spot as any. The Yankees have apparently been all over the Massachusetts product. New York hasn’t drafted a high school pitcher with their first pick since Ian Clarkin in 2013, but it sounds like Bumila’s freakish size and upside could be enough for them to snap that streak. Bo Lowrance is mentioned here, as well. 

36. Phillies — Caden Sorrell, OF, Texas A&M

• Bonus Pool: $7,773,000
• Slot Value: $2,758,800

Sorrell and Rocco Maniscalco are two of the players I’ve heard linked to the Phillies recently. Sorrell fits in this range more based on both talent and spring performance, while Maniscalco might be a fit for Philadelphia in the second round. 

37. Rockies — Daniel Jackson, C, Georgia

• Bonus Pool: $15,557,600
• Slot Value: $2,696,700

Jackson—and every other Georgia hitter—put on an offensive showcase last weekend during the super regionals, and he will continue to get a chance to showcase his unique toolset in the College World Series. If he continues to perform, this might start feeling too low. 

38. Rockies — Cade Townsend, RHP, Ole Miss

• Bonus Pool: $15,557,600
• Slot Value: $2,633,100

Townsend isn’t finishing the season like he might have wanted, as he allowed 14 earned runs in his final three starts. But he also has one of the better combinations of arsenal depth and strikes in the class, and Ole Miss is heading to the College World Series. 

39. Blue Jays — Taylor Rabe, RHP, Ole Miss

• Bonus Pool: $5,543,100
• Slot Value: $2,571,700

It sounds like scouts in the Deep South are now wondering whether they prefer Cade Townsend or his rotation mate, Rabe. Rabe certainly has been the better pitcher down the stretch, with a 30:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his last three starts and 19 innings. 

40. Dodgers — Eric Becker, SS, Virginia

• Bonus Pool: $3,951,900
• Slot Value: $2,504,200

If Aiden Ruiz doesn’t go to Detroit in the back of the first round, this could be another landing spot for the slick-fielding New York shortstop. Other players I’ve heard linked to the Dodgers include Becker, Cole Prosek, Bo Lowrance and Caden Sorrell.