Months of scouting and mock drafts have led to this moment -- the 2026 MLB Draft is underway.
Follow along here all day Saturday for a rundown of the top 40 picks with analysis.
2026 MLB DRAFT PRESENTED BY NIPPON EXPRESS
Day 1: Saturday, July 11 (Rounds 1-4)
• 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET - Preview show + Picks 1-10 (NBC/Peacock)
• 2:30-4:30 p.m. ET - Picks 11-40 (MLB Network, Peacock, MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+)
• 4:30-7:45 p.m. ET - Picks 41-135 (Peacock, MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+)
Day 2: Sunday, July 12 (Rounds 5-20)
• 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. ET (MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+)
Coverage
Round 1
1. White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA (Ranked No. 2 by MLB Pipeline)
Considered the best college shortstop to enter pro ball since Troy Tulowitzki in 2005, Cholowsky was at, or near, the very top of Draft boards from wire-to-wire. He hit 44 homers over the last two seasons for the Bruins and was a Golden Spikes Award finalist this year. It came down to a decision between Cholowsky and Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson here, and the White Sox took it down to the wire before opting for the college guy who has the chance to make it to Chicago in a hurry, and who will play shortstop for a very long time.
2. Rays: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth (Texas) Christian HS (No. 1)
As the clock was ticking down to the start of the Draft, it seemed likely that if Cholowsky went in the top spot, this is the direction the Rays would go (Had Emerson gone in the top spot, it sounded like Cholowsky would have gotten to No. 3.). In Emerson, the Rays get who we thought was the best overall player in the class, one who has at least five above-average tools. The Gatorade National Player of the Year is a left-handed bat who can hit, with more power to come, and he’s a no-doubt shortstop.
3. Twins: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech (No. 3)
4. Giants
5. Pirates
6. Royals
7. Orioles
8. Athletics
9. Braves
10. Rockies
11. Nationals
12. Angels
13. Cardinals
14. Marlins
15. D-backs
16. Rangers
17. Astros
18. Reds
19. Guardians
20. Red Sox
21. Padres
22. Tigers
23. Cubs
24. Mariners
25. Brewers
The Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies and Yankees received 10-pick penalties on their first picks for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the Competitive Balance Tax. Their first picks will be as follows:
27. Mets
35. Yankees
36. Phillies
39. Blue Jays
40. Dodgers