The 2026 MLB Draft commenced in Philadelphia, with the first round and subsequent rounds through the fourth taking place on Saturday. The draft is scheduled to span two days in total.
The Chicago White Sox made the first overall selection, choosing UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky. Following the initial rounds, the draft will continue with rounds five through 20 on Sunday, starting at 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT.
The Toronto Blue Jays did not make a selection until the 39th pick. Their initial draft position was impacted by a 10-slot drop, which occurred because the team exceeded the second surcharge threshold of the competitive balance tax.
First 40 Selections Overview
The first round saw a variety of positions and collegiate/high school players selected. After Cholowsky’s first overall pick, the Rays selected Grady Emerson, a shortstop from Forth Worth Christian HS. The Twins then picked catcher Vahn Lackey from Georgia Tech.
Other notable selections in the first round included Jackson Flora, a right-handed pitcher from UC Santa Barbara, chosen by the Giants, and Derek Curiel, an outfielder from LSU, who went to the Pirates. The Royals drafted outfielder Zion Rose from Louisville, while the Orioles selected outfielder Eric Booth Jr. from Oak Grove HS.
The Athletics picked outfielder Drew Burress from Georgia Tech, and the Braves chose outfielder AJ Gracia from Virginia. The Rockies selected shortstop Tyler Bell from Kentucky, and the Nationals drafted second baseman Chris Hacopian from Texas A&M.
Further into the first round, the Angels selected left-handed pitcher/outfielder Jared Grindlinger from Huntington Beach HS. The Cardinals picked outfielder Trevor Condon from Etowah HS, and the Marlins chose shortstop Jacob Lombard from Gulliver Prep HS. Catcher Ryder Helfrick from Arkansas was drafted by the Diamondbacks, and left-handed pitcher Gio Rojas from Stoneman Douglas HS went to the Rangers.
The Astros selected outfielder Logan Hughes from Texas Tech, followed by the Reds picking shortstop Justin Lebron from Alabama. The Guardians drafted right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson from Florida, and the Red Sox chose shortstop Jake Schaffner from North Carolina.
Rounding out the first round, the Padres selected right-handed pitcher Coleman Borthwick from South Walton HS. The Tigers picked right-handed pitcher Cameron Flukey from Coastal Carolina, the Cubs drafted right-handed pitcher Cade Townsend from Ole Miss, and the Mariners chose third baseman Ace Reese from Mississippi State. The Brewers selected shortstop Trey Ebel from Corona HS.
Subsequent Rounds and Blue Jays’ Pick
The Prospect Promotion Incentive Round included the Braves selecting outfielder Carter Beck from Indiana State, the Mets picking right-handed pitcher Carson Wiggins from Arkansas, and the Astros choosing right-handed pitcher Jack Radel from Notre Dame.
In Competitive Balance Round A, the Giants drafted left-handed pitcher Carson Boleman from Southside Christian HS, and the Royals selected right-handed pitcher Taylor Rabe from Ole Miss. The Diamondbacks picked right-handed pitcher Blake Bryant from Citizens Christian HS, and the Cardinals chose right-handed pitcher Tegan Kuhns from Tennessee. The Rays selected shortstop Taj Marchand from James Island HS, and the White Sox drafted shortstop Landon Thome from Nazareth Academy HS. The Yankees picked left-handed pitcher Hunter Dietz from Arkansas, the Phillies chose shortstop Tyler Spangler from De La Salle HS, and the Rockies selected catcher Daniel Jackson from Georgia.
The second round commenced with the Rockies selecting right-handed pitcher Logan Reddemann from UCLA. The Toronto Blue Jays then made their first selection at pick 39, choosing left-handed pitcher Cole Carlon from Arizona State. The Dodgers concluded the first 40 picks by drafting third baseman Bo Lawrence from Christ Church Episcopal HS.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
Ethan Brule is a Senior Hockey Writer at CasinoNews. He covered the NHL for a national Canadian outlet. He focuses on the NHL, the Maple Leafs and Team Canada and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Media from Toronto Metropolitan University. Now based in Toronto, he plays beer-league hockey and follows the junior ranks. “Hockey in Canada is never only about the score.”
