Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday generated plenty of headlines when the first 135 players were selected in Rounds 1-4, but Day 2 dawned with tons of game-changing talent still on the board.
Day 2 began with the opening of Round 5 and will run through the conclusion of Round 20. The entire process is being broadcast and streamed on MLB.com and MLB.TV, with Jacob Wilkins, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo on the call from Philly.
2026 MLB DRAFT PRESENTED BY NIPPON EXPRESS
Day 2: LIVE (Rounds 5-20)
• Round-by-round analysis
Coverage
Follow along below for a breakdown of some of the most notable picks from Day 2, along with their rank on the MLB Pipeline Top 250 Draft rankings where applicable:
Round 5
Pick 1 (136 overall), Rockies: Tyler Putnam, RHP, Battle (MO) HS (No. 139)
The Rockies took five college players to start off their 2026 Draft class and spent their first Day 2 pick on a prep pitcher. Putnam also starred on the basketball court in high school, and he uses his 6-foot-5 size and athleticism well on the mound. Gatorade's 2026 Missouri high school player of the year is up to 97 mph with his fastball, with room to fill out his frame and add more velocity, and he also has a promising upper-70s slider and mid-80s changeup.
Pick 3 (138 overall), Nationals: Daniel Cuvet, 3B, Miami (No. 120)
The right-handed slugger has perhaps as much raw power as anyone in this class. The big question will be if he can fix the holes in his swing that could prevent him from reaching that massive ceiling. The Florida native is a decent athlete and may have to move to first base or an outfield corner, where his power will play.
Pick 6 (141 overall), Angels: Jaxon Willits, SS, Oklahoma (No. 117)
The older brother of Eli Willits, the first overall Draft pick by the Nationals in 2025, and son of former big leaguer Reggie Willits, Jaxon is also a switch-hitter with a well-rounded profile. While he doesn’t have one standout tool, his high baseball IQ gives him a high floor and has helped him become a big-time performer with the Sooners, as he was named Men’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player. The 21-year-old is a disciplined hitter and is currently better from the left side of the plate.
Pick 19 (154 overall), Reds: Dylan Bowen, SS, Hanover Central (IN) HS (No. 105)
After taking a pair of college shortstops on Day 1 of the Draft, the Reds grabbed a prep shortstop to begin Day 2. The Oklahoma State commit stands out for his plus speed and athleticism, which show up on the bases and with his promising range. Bowen's age as a high school selection -- he's 19 years and five months old -- was a concern to some teams, but he has the bat speed to succeed against older competition.
Pick 26 (161 overall), Phillies: Will Gasparino, OF, UCLA (No. 72)
A notable prep prospect in 2023 who opted to go to college, Gasparino started at Texas before transferring to UCLA, where he reunited with childhood friend -- and fellow son of a scout -- Roch Cholowsky. The California native has a massive offensive ceiling with plenty of right-handed pop in his 6-foot-6 frame. He looks more athletic in the box this year and has cut his strikeout rate, which had been a concern. Gasparino’s above-average speed has shown up more with promising center-field defense than on the bases.