MLB mock draft 2026: Final predictions for first two rounds

Key Points:

• The 2026 MLB draft begins Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, with the top three picks expected to be UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Texas prep shortstop Grady Emerson, and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey, though the order is still undecided.
• The Chicago White Sox hold the No. 1 pick and are torn between Cholowsky and Emerson, with Lackey slightly trailing due to positional challenges and experience; bonus negotiations remain unresolved as of Thursday.
• After the top three, the draft is highly unpredictable, with teams like the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Kansas City Royals considering a mix of high school hitters, college players, and pitchers based on upside, bonus demands, and team needs.
• Several notable prospects projected in the first two rounds include Eric Booth Jr., Drew Burress, Jackson Flora, and Jared Grindlinger, with teams balancing talent, signability, and draft pool savings in their decisions.
• Numerous high school prospects with signability concerns, such as Coleman Borthwick and Sean Dunlap, may opt for college instead of entering the draft, potentially impacting the later rounds and team strategies.