​The 2026 MLB Draft kicks off today with a full slate of coverage across NBC, Peacock, MLB Network, MLB.com, and MLB.tv. The day begins with a half-hour preview show at noon, followed by the first selection at 12:30 Central Time. For the opening hour, roughly the first ten picks, NBC or Peacock will carry the action before switching to MLB Network, MLB.com, or MLB.tv from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. CT to cover picks 11 through 40, ensuring every team has made at least one selection. The remainder of the day will focus on rounds 2 through 4, which are scheduled for Saturday on MLB.com or MLB.tv, with rounds 5 through 20 set to begin Sunday at 10:30 a.m. CT. Those later rounds will be conducted via conference call, but listeners can still tune in through MLB.com or MLB.tv.
The White Sox hold the first overall pick, and as this is written, there’s no consensus on which player they will select. The frontrunners are UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Fort Worth Christian HS shortstop Grady Emerson, and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. Experts expect the White Sox to choose first, with the Rays and Twins then selecting the players who remain. In a preview published Friday, I suggested potential directions for the Cubs with the 23rd pick in the first round. That pick has a history of producing standout talents—names like Christian Yelich, Jacoby Ellsbury, Phil Hughes, Gavin Williams, and Jeff Francoeur have gone 23rd in recent decades. Yet the reality of the 23rd pick is variable; many players drafted at that spot either never reach the majors or go on to brief big-league careers. So while the Cubs could land an exceptional talent at 23, the draft remains unpredictable and offers high upside alongside considerable risk.
We’ll be updating this article throughout the event with every Cubs selection, and we’ll publish separate pieces highlighting the Cubs’ first five picks with essential information about each player. Here is the schedule for the Cubs’ picks, with the numbers in parentheses indicating the overall pick number. Following the seventh round, the Cubs will have every 30th pick, and note that the second-round compensatory pick accounts for losing Kyle Tucker.
Round 1 (23): Cade Townsend, RHP, Mississippi
Round 2 (62): Caden Sorrell, OF, Texas A&M
Round 2 Comp (75): Myles Bailey, 1B, Florida State
Round 3 (98): Carson Jasa, RHP, Nebraska
Round 4 (126): Dylan Marrioneaux, RHP, Northwestern State (LA)
Round 5 (159): [TBD]
Round 6 (188): [TBD]
Round 7 (217): [TBD]
Rounds 8 through 20: [TBD for Cubs’ remaining selections]
Throughout the draft, I’ll keep updating the Cubs’ progress and provide separate articles welcoming the Cubs’ first five picks, along with essential background information about each new addition. This year’s draft promises both excitement and uncertainty, with the potential for breakout stars and the occasional surprise pick that reshapes team depth and future planning. As the Cubs navigate the first round and beyond, fans can expect ongoing coverage, in-depth scouting notes, and analysis of how each selection might impact the franchise’s long-term trajectory.