​With the 2026 MLB Draft just hours away, I figured now would be a good time to publish a full first-round mock draft. This mock is driven more by what I expect to happen than by what I’d personally like to see, and it should be especially intriguing for Braves fans given Atlanta’s two first-round picks and three Top 50 selections this year.
1. Chicago White Sox – Grady Emerson, SS, Texas HS
I’m feeling confident about this pick and suspect the Sox actually prefer Emerson to Roch, not just for financial reasons.
2. Tampa Bay – Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech
Tampa wants Emerson, but he’s unavailable. I believe they favor Lackey over Roch here.
3. Minnesota – Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
This is a tougher call because I think the Giants would love to buy Roch down if he slides past the first two picks, but his talent is too compelling to pass up.
4. San Francisco – Eric Booth Jr., OF, Mississippi HS
I know the Giants want Roch, and with him off the board I expect a Booth–Flora decision to emerge for them.
5. Pittsburgh – Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
Pittsburgh is craving a reliable bat, but I’ve heard they’re especially fond of Flora and view him as their top target after the top three names come off the board.
6. Kansas City – Jacob Lombard, SS, Florida HS
KC loves toolsy players with big upside, and Lombard fits that profile.
7. Baltimore – Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
This feels like a read I’m buying into, aligning with some predraft chatter about Burress.
8. Oakland – Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas
This pick aligns with the sense that Bell and Hacopian’s medicals have unsettled some teams, making Helfrick a practical choice here.
9. Atlanta Braves – Derek Curiel, OF, LSU
I’m comfortable with the Braves choosing a college bat here. For much of the past day, Curiel has edged out Tyler Bell as the preferred option. Had Burress or Helfrick still been available, they would have been strong considerations as well.
10. Colorado – Cam Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina
If Curiel isn’t available, Flukey is the name drawing the most attention for Colorado.
11. Washington – Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M
This pick feels like a college bat situation. I toyed with Justin Lebron here, but Hacopian aligns better with the team’s obvious approach.
12. Los Angeles Angels – Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
A challenging choice given the recent front-office shakeups, but Lebron appears as the preferred pick over Liam Peterson.
13. St. Louis – Trevor Condon, OF, Georgia HS
This one pits prep versus college in Condon against AJ Gracia, with Condon earning the nod here.
14. Miami – Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
Bell’s placement hinges on medicals, and I’ve pegged him to slip a bit as a result.
15. Arizona – Jared Grindlinger, LHP/OF, California HS
Arizona has had Grindlinger on the radar for a while, so this pairing makes sense.
16. Texas – Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
This choice fuels a classic college-versus-prep debate, pitting Peterson against Gio Rojas. I’d argue it’s a decision with broader implications and plenty of buzz around it.