Some people say a mock draft the day after the World Series is an exercise in futility... those people are absolutely correct. The staff has come together on this mock attempting to find good player-team fits. A lot will change by July, but this exercise will serve as a good measuring stick as we head into the offseason.
An important note before we begin: the draft lottery has not happened yet. The draft order will change, and we will do another mock after the winter meetings. The order we are using in this exercise is all odds based. The Mets are in a notably strange position, with a 0.67% chance to win the lottery, but if their pick lands outside of the top 6, they will pick at 27 from a CBA penalty. The Mets, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Phillies, and Yankees also stand to have their pick drop 10 spots due to exceeding the second CBA threshold, which will be noted in this mock. We will forget PPI and comp picks for now, so please note that we will be 'skipping' some picks.
The Rockies, Nationals, and Angels are all picking outside of the top 9 due to anti-tanking rules. Their picks can not jump any higher in the lottery.
You can see our top 50 prep and college prospects below, which is also where you can find full scouting reports on all of these players and more!
Prospects Live Staff
Nate Rasmussen
1. Chicago White Sox: SS Roch Cholowsky
In a move that would surprise nobody, the #1 pick as of November 2025 is locked on Roch Cholowsky. Despite drafting Billy Carlson last year, Cholowsky profiles as someone that will debut early in 2027 with franchise shortstop written all over him. The White Sox like college prospects, especially those from high-level programs like UCLA. This pick could change the direction of the White Sox franchise, if the lottery balls go their way in the winter.
2. Minnesota Twins: OF Drew Burress
The Twins landing Roch Cholowsy would make their July fire sale all the more worth it, but a talent like Drew Burress is a good consolation prize. This pick could go multiple ways, with the Twins typically opting for college talent early. If they do go the college route, Burress would be an easy favorite in this spot. However, this year they're entering a rebuild, being 3+ years away from another contending window. This pick probably should be Jacob Lombard or Grady Emerson come July.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates: SS Jacob Lombard
For the third year in a row, the Pirates are able to get the best prep talent on the board. After taking Seth Hernandez last year, the Pirates go back to the well of offensive firepower in Jacob Lombard. There are some similarities that can be drawn between Lombard and 2023 first round pick Konnor Griffin, with ridiculous raw power and athleticism to match. Imagine a middle infield of Konnor Griffin and Jacob Lombard for the next 10+ years...
4. Baltimore Orioles: SS Christopher Hacopian
At Prospects Live we find ourselves higher on Chris Hacopian than almost anyone else. Hacopian has a double plus contact tool and above average power capabilities, with one of the best two strike approaches in the nation. He may start his minor league career up the middle, but likely profiles best as a third baseman longterm. While taking a corner infielder this high is risky, Hacopian is a slam dunk hitting prospect that Baltimore now lacks with Basallo and Mayo in the big leagues. I would love for this pick to be Cameron Flukey or Jackson Flora, but the Orioles are set on drafting college bats for now.
5. Athletics: RHP Cameron Flukey
I think the Athletic's would be absolutely thrilled to see Cameron Flukey make it to 5. The Coastal Carolina ace has true #1 starter upside, and pairing him with the recently drafted Jamie Arnold gives the Athletics plenty of future firepower in their rotation. Flukey has a strong arsenal with the projection to throw as hard as any starter in the league. The A's love college prospects on day one, typically opting for safe options. With Chris Hacopian and Drew Burress off the board, Flukey has one of the highest floors of anyone remaining.
6. Atlanta Braves: LHP Gio Rojas
The Braves had an interesting 2025 draft, taking Tate Southisene underslot early, only to spend big time money on Briggs McKenzie later to match their trend of taking projectable pitching. This pick could realistically be a couple of options, with Kevin Roberts Jr. and Carson Bolemon in contention. The Braves would likely save a bit of money here, while continuing to bring in young arms.
7. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Grady Emerson
The Rays getting Grady Emerson at 7 will give front offices' nightmares for years to come. Arguably a top 3 talent in the class, Emerson doesn't have the same 90th percentile outcome of Lombard, but does have the high prep floor we saw from a lot of early 2025 draft picks. The Rays are almost certain to take a prep player up the middle with their first pick, and Emerson is by far the best available at 7.
8. St. Louis Cardinals: OF AJ Gracia
AJ Gracia walks a bunch and hits for power, sounds like a Cardinals draft day dream to me. Gracia will likely be a left fielder in pro ball, with the upside to be a modern day star and advanced analytics darling. Last year the Cardinals zagged and took Liam Doyle. While there are plenty of good college arms left, I think they go back to their roots with a projectable college bat, hoping to finally hit on an outfielder.
9. Miami Marlins: SS Justin Lebron
After taking Aiva Arquette last year, the Marlins have an opportunity to get another tooled up college bat to pair with him on the left side of the infield. Lebron comes with some risks, like chasing below the zone and identifying breaking balls, but he has the power/speed potential to be a 20/20 guy early in his career. He projects as an advanced defender at shortstop. Year two of Peter Bendix could go a lot of ways, but college bat is the safest.
10. Colorado Rockies: OF Derek Curiel
Derek Curiel has his best baseball still in front of him, which is crazy to say from a guy that has been so productive in college. Colorado is a great profile fit with Curiel, maximizing his good power projection while allowing him to play center field at the start of his career. This is one the hardest picks to project because of the new GM factor. Colorado should take some safe bats and outlier arms in 2026.
11. Washington Nationals: OF Blake Bowen
Blake Bowen is a great athlete that should be able to patrol center field for a long, long time. Pair that with 60 grade power and Bowen finds himself with Brady Harris and Kevin Roberts Jr. as the best prep outfielders in this class by a wide margin. After a draft last year that saw the Nationals take a lot of swings in the prep ranks, they'll likely do the same in 2026, this time starting in the outfield.
12. Los Angeles Angels: RHP Liam Peterson
The Angels are going to take a college prospect and fast track them to the major leagues. They almost always go underslot and take someone down the board, which would be Liam Peterson as of right now. I prefer Flora to Peterson, but Peterson profiles as a pitcher that could be on their MLB roster in 2027 with good present velo and stuff. If Peterson has a big year and is gone by 12, we could see this pick being a DeCaro, Kuhns, or Volchko. Since I'm throwing out names, Blake Morningstar of Wake Forest could rise into lottery range, too.
13. Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Jackson Flora
Jackson Flora simply feels like a Diamondbacks prospect. Flora is dripping with potential, with a fastball-breaking ball combo as good as anyone in this class. We saw teams value Tyler Bremner highly last year despite playing at UCSB. Flora, by all regards, should be a round one pick in 2026. This pick slightly breaks Arizona's past draft trends, but they are in need of pitching with proximity to the big leagues.
14. Texas Rangers: SS Maddox Molony
Maddox Molony's tucked away in Oregon, but is one of the most complete players in the 2026 class. He's a future gold glover at the 6, and would be the perfect guy to succeed Corey Seager in Texas. A future leftside of Gavin Fien and Maddox Molony is a great way to pass the torch to the next generation for the Rangers.
Drew Wheeler
15. San Francisco Giants: SS Tyler Bell
Tyler Bell to San Francisco is the pick that makes the most sense in this whole exercise. The only thing that could prevent this, is if Tyler Bell gets drafted before this pick. Bell is a draft eligible sophomore, that needs some time to develop. The Giants have Adames at shortstop for now, with the switch hitting Bell likely being a more complete player for the Giants in a few years. If the Giants want to get really weird, I could see them going with Kevin Roberts Jr., and allowing him to try playing both sides of the ball in the pros.
16. Kansas City Royals: SS Tyler Spangler
Tyler Spangler has slid a bit in this exercise, largely because of how much college talent there is. Spangler projects to explode in a couple of years as he learns to lift and pull the ball at a high level, currently being a hit first guy despite his frame. Spangler might end up at third base, which dampens his value and removes him from the upper tier of prep talent in this class. Kansas City appears to be going heavier into the prep ranks, with Spangler rounding out a strong infield group with Josh Hammond and Yandel Ricardo, allowing Sean Gamble to move to the outfield full time.
17. Houston Astros: OF Brady Harris
Brady Harris has the makings of a five tool player. He has the defensive capabilities to remain in center field, which makes him a good fit for the Astros who prefer prep players with a solid floor on one side of the ball. Houston's farm is very thin right now, allowing Brady Harris to immediately be a top player in their system. Harris would be a steal for Houston at 17, giving them a 1-2 punch in the lower minors with Xavier Neyens.
18. Cincinnati Reds: LHP Carson Bolemon
The Reds have proven they can draft and develop lefties, and Carson Bolemon might be the best one in the class. He has a strong, vertical fastball that will carry him early in his career. There is more velocity coming for Bolemon, who would give the Reds some youthful depth in their pitching farm that they need.
19. Boston Red Sox: RHP Gabe Gaeckle
In classic Red Sox fashion, a really good player slid down the board and landed in their lap. The question with Gabe Gaeckle is how much more can you get out of him, and there is no better team to tinker with Gaeckle than the Red Sox. Maximizing his stature and deep mix in Boston makes this pick a match made in heaven.
20. San Diego Padres: TWP Kevin Roberts Jr.
Kevin Roberts might be the biggest faller in this exercise, with him ranked as our #4 prep prospect. Roberts projects as more of an outfielder than a pitcher, but a savvy organization could use Roberts on both sides of the ball for a year or two. The Padres have historically taken prep pitchers, but at some point they need to take another upside swing on offense, with Roberts Jr. being the best on the board.
21. Cleveland Guardians: 3B Ace Reese
Ace Reese is one of the premier corner infielders in this class, showing the present power that Cleveland often covets on day one. This is simply a model pick, with Cleveland not really needing any more corner infielders, yet consistently taking these types of bats. Maybe Reese becomes JRam's replacement in 5 years?
22. Detroit Tigers: SS Aiden Ruiz
Detroit wants to take prep position players early, but more importantly they want guys that can project as tooled up all stars. While Aiden Ruiz is our 13th ranked prep prospect, with a strong spring he could be a no doubt first rounder. Ruiz is small, but plays the game hard with a knack for finding barrel. He could be an above average shortstop that steals a bunch of bases, making him a great up the middle option with guys like Max Clark, Michael Oliveto, Kevin McGonigle, and Jordan Yost.
23. Chicago Cubs: SS Eric Becker
The Cubs want to take solidified college players, with Eric Becker being the best one left on the board. Becker may be a long term second baseman, but has one of the most well rounded profiles of any player in this class, projecting to be an average big leaguer for a long time.
24. Seattle Mariners: LHP Logan Schmidt
The Mariners have been going all in on arms early as of late. Logan Schmidt provides them with some talent from the leftside that their farm lacks (outside of Jurrangelo Cijntje's other hand). Schmidt won't be cheap, having a deep arsenal with present velo and a likelihood to move fast through the minors.
25. Milwaukee Brewers: C Vahn Lackey
The Brewers do it again, taking a draft community favorite in the 20's. Lackey is going to hit a lot in the pros, with some room to add power with more size. This is the exact profile that the Brewers can develop better than anyone else, while likely saving money at this spot for madness down the board.
*27. New York Mets: OF Sawyer Strosnider
Sawyer Strosnider has the blend of floor and projection that the Mets seem to attack early in drafts. The Mets want to take college position players early, and Strosnider is a power/speed threat that could hit in a big way down the road.
*35: New York Yankees: RHP Jason DeCaro
The Yankees love to take big-framed, established college arms. The Yankees also won't have much money, leading me to think they'll try and underslot a college arm with their first pick. Last year they took Dax Kilby, dipping into the prep ranks early. I would be surprised if they did that again, unless they think they have enough future arms already (which could be true). DeCaro has SP3 written all over him, with a good arsenal and great overall feel for pitching.
*36: Philadelphia Phillies: SS Rocco Maniscalco
Rocco Maniscalco is quickly becoming one of my favorite players in this class, in large part due to his elite defensive actions. Rocco is one of the youngest players in this class, and a team like the Phillies could take their time developing him into a Trea Turner replacement. If the power and approach continues developing, Maniscalco will end up as a steal at 36.
*39 Toronto Blue Jays: 2B Chris Rembert
Rembert has some utility man vibes that make a lot of sense on the Blue Jays. After hitting on some big swings in the past few drafts, Rembert matches the vibe of low risk, high reward players that the Jays target. At his best, Rembert is one of the most well rounded players in the class that loses some overall value on the defensive side.
*40: Los Angeles Dogers: C Sean Dunlap
Sean Dunlap is a guy that Prospects Live is backing as one of our favorite players in this class. Dunlap is a ridiculous athlete that could stick behind the plate, or play almost anywhere else on the field. He's extremely physical in the box, runs incredibly well, and has consistently hit while getting to good power. The Dodgers always end up snagging tooled up players at the end of the first round, Dunlap fits that profile to a tee.
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