​With the MLB Draft just one day away, here’s a fresh look at the most up-to-date mock drafts and where notable outlets think the Cincinnati Reds will land with the No. 18 overall pick. Over the last three drafts, Cincinnati has drafted a familiar trio of players: Steele Hall, already a top-100 MLB prospect; Chase Burns, who earned a spot on the 2026 All-Star Game roster; and Rhett Lowder, who has shown clear potential to become a core impact pitcher in the Reds’ rotation. As the 2026 draft approaches, scouts and analysts are weighing a variety of traits, tools, and projections to determine the best fit for a club intent on adding immediate impact and long-term upside.
ESPN’s pick centers on Gio Rojas, a left-handed pitcher from Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing about 195 pounds, Rojas carries a 60-grade fastball and a 60-grade slider. His performance for Team USA culminated in a gold medal at the WBSC U-18 World Cup, with MLB.com noting his fastball touching 98 mph and showing strong movement, paired with a wipeout slider in the low 80s. Although he is currently committed to the University of Miami, Florida, his ceiling as a rise-and-fire three-pitch lefty remains appealing for a franchise looking to infuse starting depth and upside into its system.
CBS Sports projects Huntington Beach High School outfielder/left-handed pitcher Jared Grindlinger as the Reds’ pick. Grindlinger is a standout two-way talent who is perhaps best known for his offensive ability, despite possessing a 60-grade fastball that has reached 96 mph. At the plate, he is a contact-oriented hitter with the potential to drive more power as his development progresses after reclassifying from the 2027 class to join the present draft class. He has committed to play college baseball at Tennessee, which adds a tangible layer of confidence in his athletic pedigree and versatility as a potential two-way contributor.
FanGraphs adds another Illinois-to-California crossover, highlighting right-hander Liam Peterson from Florida as the pick. Peterson, at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, has a sizable frame and a 60-grade fastball paired with a 65-grade slider, giving him three potential above-average offerings. A three-year starter in Florida’s rotation, he regularly works in the mid-90s with his fastball, peaking at 98-99 mph. MLB.com notes that his slider and a 12-to-6 curveball both project as quality secondary offerings, underscoring his potential to anchor a major league rotation with more experience and refinement.
Bleacher Report’s projection features outfielder Aiden Robbins from Texas as the pick. Robbins had a standout 2025 season at Seton Hall, hitting .422 before batting .307 in the Cape Cod League. He showed notable power growth during his lone season at Texas, delivering 24 home runs, though his increasing strikeout rate has presented a trade-off as his power has surged. His combination of raw power, approach at the plate, and athleticism provides the Reds with a potential middle-of-the-order bat who can grow into a cornerstone in the lineup.
The Athletic’s mock points to catcher Ryder Helfrick from Arkansas as the choice. Helfrick produced a powerful collegiate resume with 33 home runs across his sophomore and junior seasons at Arkansas. His defensive acumen is elite, and his bat carries a 45-grade with a 55-grade power projection, indicating a potential two-way contribution behind the plate with room to grow offensively as he advances through professional development.
MLB.com’s selection places outfielder Trevor Condon from Etowah High School in Georgia in the No. 18 hole. Condon earns a 60-grade hit tool and a 70-grade speed tool, with MLB.com drawing a comparison to Pete Crow-Armstrong, a left-handed-hitting center fielder known for his swing awareness and defensive instincts. If drafted, Condon would project as a center fielder with natural baserunning acumen and the ability to contribute on both sides of the ball. He has committed to playing at Tennessee.
My take and prediction: The Reds appear to have a preference for a ready-made impact bat with a clear path to the majors at No. 18. Among the options in the current mock landscape, Aiden Robbins from Texas stands out as the most MLB-ready power hitter at this slot. Robbins has demonstrated elite power development and the ability to carry that impact into higher levels, a profile that could accelerate Cincinnati’s lineup overhaul by introducing a formidable right-handed power presence. Given Cincinnati’s recent track record of selecting players who balance immediate impact with long-term upside, Robbins could offer both a tangible contribution in the near term and a ceiling that aligns with a contending team’s strategic goals.
Bottom line: with the draft imminent, Cincinnati’s No. 18 pick is a crossroads between premium power projection and high-ceiling pitching. The current consensus among top outlets leans toward a power bat with multi-positional potential or a premium pitching prospect who could grow into a frontline starter. If I had to crown a pick that best fits the Reds’ current development trajectory and immediate needs, Aiden Robbins stands out as the most MLB-ready power contributor at that pick, offering the kind of impactful bat that can jumpstart the lineup and provide a concrete path to contributing in the big leagues sooner rather than later. This aligns with a strategy of maximizing impact at the major league level while maintaining upside in the organization’s pipeline.