​The 2026 MLB Draft is set to begin on Saturday afternoon at 12:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. Round 1 through Round 4 will be held on Saturday, July 11, with Rounds 5 through 20 following on Sunday, July 12. Spanning two days, this 20-round draft will feature 615 prospects being selected.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 MLB Draft as it relates to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs will hold 21 picks in this draft. They will receive one selection in every round, plus a compensation pick after losing Kyle Tucker to the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency. That compensation pick arrives before the third round, at No. 75 overall.
Here is every Cubs pick in the 2026 MLB Draft:
– Round 1 (Pick 23)
– Round 2 (Pick 62)
– Free-Agent Compensation Round (Pick 75)
– Round 3 (Pick 98)
– Round 4 (Pick 126)
– Round 5 (Pick 159)
– Round 6 (Pick 188)
– Round 7 (Pick 217)
– Round 8 (Pick 247)
– Round 9 (Pick 277)
– Round 10 (Pick 307)
– Round 11 (Pick 337)
– Round 12 (Pick 367)
– Round 13 (Pick 397)
– Round 14 (Pick 427)
– Round 15 (Pick 457)
– Round 16 (Pick 487)
– Round 17 (Pick 517)
– Round 18 (Pick 547)
– Round 19 (Pick 577)
– Round 20 (Pick 607)
Each team receives a designated bonus pool to spend on draft picks, with the pool amount tied to the team’s draft slot. A higher pick equals a larger pool, while teams may spend more or less than the slot value, provided they stay within their overall bonus pool for the first 10 rounds.
For example, the slot value for the No. 1 overall pick is $11,350,600 for the White Sox, while the No. 25 pick slot value for the Brewers is $3,696,000. The Cubs’ slot values for the first 10 rounds are as follows:
– Round 1 (Pick 23): $3,947,600
– Round 2 (Pick 62): $1,487,200
– Free-Agent Compensation Round (Pick 75): $1,120,900
– Round 3 (Pick 98): $800,000
– Round 4 (Pick 126): $609,200
– Round 5 (Pick 159): $441,300
– Round 6 (Pick 188): $344,400
– Round 7 (Pick 217): $272,000
– Round 8 (Pick 247): $224,100
– Round 9 (Pick 277): $204,100
– Round 10 (Pick 307): $193,300
Total potential value for the Cubs’ first 10 rounds: $9,644,100.
Past drafts show the Cubs’ selection patterns: 2025 featured Wake Forest outfielder Ethan Conrad (17th overall); 2024 featured Florida State third baseman Cam Smith (14th overall); 2023 featured Maryland shortstop Matt Shaw (13th overall); 2022 featured Oklahoma right-handed pitcher Cade Horton (7th overall); and 2021 featured Kansas State right-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks (21st overall).
When and where to watch: The draft runs on July 11 and July 12 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The schedule is as follows:
– July 11: 12:00 p.m. CST start
– July 12: 10:30 a.m. CST start
Television and streaming coverage: The first 10 picks will be shown on NBC and Peacock, picks 11 through 40 will air on MLB Network, and the entire draft will be available via MLB.com/MLB.TV for streaming.
In short, the Cubs carry 21 selections in the 2026 MLB Draft, including a compensatory pick at No. 75, and they will navigate a tightly structured bonus pool across the first 10 rounds, with room to adjust spending while staying within their total allotment. The event unfolds over Friday afternoon and Saturday in Philadelphia, with comprehensive coverage across NBC, Peacock, MLB Network, and MLB’s digital platforms.