​The 2026 MLB Draft is underway for the Detroit Tigers. The event begins at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock, though following it can be tricky with 20 rounds spread across two days. To help, we’ve prepared a Day 1 pick tracker as Detroit, fresh off a second consecutive playoff appearance in 2025, heads into the draft with four Day 1 selections: a first-round pick at No. 22, a second-round pick at No. 61, a competitive balance pick at No. 69, and their four-round pick at No. 125. Detroit does not have a third-round selection after signing pitcher Framber Valdez to a contract prior to the 2026 season, which resulted in forfeiting the No. 98 overall pick when Valdez declined a qualifying offer from the Houston Astros before joining the Tigers.
Watching the 2026 MLB Draft on Peacock is a must. This draft matters a great deal for Detroit as the organization aims to re-stock its farm system, following the emergence of recent top prospects such as pitcher Jackson Jobe and shortstop Kevin McGonigle. MLB Pipeline’s rankings show a setback for Detroit, dropping from the top farm system in baseball entering the 2025 season to the No. 5 system heading into 2026.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 MLB Draft, including a tracker for the Tigers’ Day 1 picks. Detroit enters Day 1 with four selections, anchored by their first-round pick at No. 22 overall. The Tigers’ first five rounds in the 2026 MLB Draft look like this: Round 1 at No. 22 overall; Round 2 at No. 61 and No. 69 (competitive balance Round B pick); Round 3: no selection (forfeited after the Valdez deal); Round 4 at No. 125; Round 5 at No. 158. Rounds 6 through 20 will follow the standard format with 23 of 30 teams per round still to pick.
Draft dates are July 11–12, with Day 1 at 1 p.m. ET and Day 2 at 11:30 a.m. ET. The location is the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. NBC will televise both days, and Peacock will offer streaming coverage for both sessions.
In addition to Detroit, several other teams are in the news for various draft-related notes. The Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, Cleveland Guardians, Atlanta Braves (for prospect promotion incentive), New York Mets (subject to a 10-pick penalty), and several others are part of the broader draft landscape. The Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Phillies, and Blue Jays each received a 10-pick penalty for exceeding the second competitive balance threshold, affecting their overall selections.
As we approach Day 1, Detroit’s four Day 1 picks give the organization multiple avenues to add impact talent and hasten the rebuilding of its farm system. The plan is to identify promising arms and position players who can accelerate through the minors and contribute to the major league roster in the coming years. With Valdez’s departure signaling a shift in transactional strategy and the organization’s focus on long-term development, choosing the right players on Day 1 will be critical for the Tigers’ 2026-2027 outlook. Keep an eye on how Detroit leverages its four Day 1 picks across the Round 1 through Round 4 slots, working to maximize upside while balancing immediate organizational needs.