The 2026 MLB Draft opens Saturday at 1 p.m. ET in Philadelphia, and the first round arrives with a real three-man race at the top.
For much of the year, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky looked like the clear favorite to go first. But as the draft got closer, prep shortstop Grady Emerson and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey closed the gap enough to make the White Sox’ decision at No. 1 a tough one. Chicago sits on the clock first, with the Rays next and the Twins right behind them, and the expectation is that those three names will come off the board in some order.
Nothing is ever locked in with the MLB Draft, though, and that uncertainty is part of the draw. The first day covers four rounds and 135 picks overall, including the 120 selections in the first four rounds plus the compensatory, competitive balance and promotion incentive rounds. Before the second round begins, there are 37 picks to track: 25 in the first round, three promotion incentive picks and nine competitive balance picks.
The bonus-pool picture also adds another layer to the opening night. Pittsburgh owns the largest pool in the class at $19,130,000, which fits considering the Pirates hold four of the first 51 picks.
Tampa Bay is right behind at $19,009,300. The White Sox, Giants and Twins round out the top five with pools of $17,592,100, $17,592,100 and $16,929,600.
Cholowsky’s case is built on production and polish. The 21-year-old was already on the radar after hitting .353 with a 1.109 OPS and 23 home runs as a sophomore in 2025, and he backed that up this season by slashing .320/.452/.636 with 21 homers and 60 RBIs.
At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, he brings real raw power, strong strike-zone judgment and a track record of walking more than striking out in college. He doesn’t have plus speed, but he should remain at shortstop thanks to a plus arm, solid actions and good instincts.
Emerson offers a different kind of upside, but the appeal is just as obvious. At 18, he profiles as a potential five-tool shortstop with excellent bat control and advanced feel for the zone.
His left-handed swing produces hard contact to every part of the field, and there’s still more power to come as he fills out. He isn’t a burner, but he has enough quickness to handle shortstop and a plus arm to go with it.
In plenty of recent draft classes, he would have been the first name called.
Lackey brings the kind of all-around profile teams love to dream on behind the plate. The Georgia Tech catcher is 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, and he finished 2026 hitting .397 with a 1.291 OPS, 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases while walking more than he struck out. His swing will need more lift to unlock even more power as he gets older, but he should move faster than most catchers.
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