2026 MLB Draft Tracker: The first 40 picks
First Day of Draft Action
The 2026 MLB Draft commenced in Philadelphia, with the initial rounds taking place over two days. The first day of the draft, Saturday, featured rounds 1 through 4. The Chicago White Sox made the first overall selection, choosing UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky.
The draft continued with a series of selections across various teams and positions. Following Cholowsky, the Rays picked Grady Emerson, a shortstop from Forth Worth Christian HS in Texas. The Twins then selected catcher Vahn Lackey from Georgia Tech, and the Giants chose right-handed pitcher Jackson Flora from UC Santa Barbara.
Other notable first-round picks included Derek Curiel, an outfielder from LSU, who was selected by the Pirates. The Royals picked outfielder Zion Rose from Louisville, while the Orioles opted for outfielder Eric Booth Jr. from Oak Grove HS in Mississippi. The Athletics also selected an outfielder, Drew Burress from Georgia Tech.
The Braves acquired outfielder AJ Gracia from Virginia, and the Rockies chose shortstop Tyler Bell from Kentucky. The Nationals added second baseman Chris Hacopian from Texas A&M to their roster. The Angels selected Jared Grindlinger, a left-handed pitcher and outfielder from Huntington Beach HS in California.
The Cardinals picked outfielder Trevor Condon from Etowah HS in Georgia, and the Marlins chose shortstop Jacob Lombard from Gulliver Prep HS in Florida. Catcher Ryder Helfrick from Arkansas was selected by the Diamondbacks. The Rangers added left-handed pitcher Gio Rojas from Stoneman Douglas HS in Florida.
The Astros selected outfielder Logan Hughes from Texas Tech, and the Reds picked shortstop Justin Lebron from Alabama. The Guardians chose right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson from Florida, and the Red Sox selected shortstop Jake Schaffner from North Carolina. The Padres picked right-handed pitcher Coleman Borthwick from South Walton HS in Florida.
The Tigers added right-handed pitcher Cameron Flukey from Coastal Carolina, and the Cubs selected right-handed pitcher Cade Townsend from Ole Miss. The Mariners chose third baseman Ace Reese from Mississippi State, and the Brewers picked shortstop Trey Ebel from Corona HS in California.
Additional Rounds and Blue Jays’ Pick
Beyond the initial first round, the draft continued with the Prospect Promotion Incentive Round and Competitive Balance Round A. In the Prospect Promotion Incentive Round, the Braves selected outfielder Carter Beck from Indiana State. The Mets picked right-handed pitcher Carson Wiggins from Arkansas, and the Astros chose right-handed pitcher Jack Radel from Notre Dame.
Competitive Balance Round A saw several teams make selections. The Giants picked left-handed pitcher Carson Boleman from Southside Christian HS in South Carolina. The Royals selected right-handed pitcher Taylor Rabe from Ole Miss. The Diamondbacks chose right-handed pitcher Blake Bryant from Citizens Christian HS in Georgia.
The Cardinals added right-handed pitcher Tegan Kuhns from Tennessee, and the Rays selected shortstop Taj Marchand from James Island HS in South Carolina. The White Sox picked shortstop Landon Thome from Nazareth Academy HS in Illinois. The Yankees chose left-handed pitcher Hunter Dietz from Arkansas.
The Phillies selected shortstop Tyler Spangler from De La Salle HS in California, and the Rockies picked catcher Daniel Jackson from Georgia. These rounds provided opportunities for teams to further build their prospect pools.
The second round of the draft also included significant selections. The Rockies made a pick, choosing right-handed pitcher Logan Reddemann from UCLA. The Toronto Blue Jays made their first selection in the draft at the 39th overall pick, choosing left-handed pitcher Cole Carlon from Arizona State. Their initial pick was delayed due to a penalty for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the competitive balance tax, which caused their spot to drop 10 slots. The Dodgers concluded the first 40 picks by selecting third baseman Bo Lawrence from Christ Church Episcopal HS in South Carolina.
Upcoming Draft Schedule
The draft is scheduled to continue with Day 2, which will feature rounds 5 through 20. These subsequent rounds are set to begin on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT, concluding the draft proceedings in Philadelphia.
Source: sportsnet.ca
