2026 MLB Draft Day 1: Picks, Surprises and Early Outlook

The first four rounds of the 2026 MLB draft concluded on Saturday in Philadelphia. Commentators note that the Chicago White Sox selected right-handed pitcher Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 overall pick, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays (high-school shortstop Grady Emerson), Minnesota Twins (Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey) and San Francisco Giants (UC Santa Barbara ace Jackson Flora). Analysts frame the day as a mix of expected selections and “head-scratching” moves that will shape each club’s talent pipeline for the next five years.

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The White Sox’s choice of Cholowsky sparked debate over upside versus floor, while the Atlanta Braves reportedly pursued underslot options at ninth (outfielder AJ Gracia) and 26th (outfielder Carter Beck). The Los Angeles Angels, under interim GM John Mozeliak, reached for a 17-year-old left-handed pitcher who can also play the outfield, a rarity since Jordyn Adams. The Miami Marlins took high-school shortstop Jacob Lombard (14th overall), a classic high-risk, high-reward profile.

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Analysts highlighted several mid-round players as possible steals: second-round right-hander Kaiden McCarthy (52nd), “unsignable” prep right-hander Jensen Hirschkorn (58th), and high-school outfielder Trevor Condon, praised for floor and defensive value. The draft’s depth appeared thinner after the top six prospects, prompting teams to pass on full-slot bonuses for many players in the 20s and 30s. A preview of Day 2 prospects lists high-school talents such as SS Archer Horn (40th) and CF Blake Bowen (72nd).

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Commentators warn that high-school selections carry elevated bust risk, citing strikeout rates and in-zone miss percentages. Medical concerns remain opaque for several players, and the price tag on “unsignable” arms like Hirschkorn—rumored at $3 million—adds financial uncertainty.

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• “The challenge here for the White Sox is if this will look like the right pick in one year, then in three or five years.” — ESPN analyst

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• “You could argue Cholowsky has the lowest upside of the group and the highest floor, but that would be splitting hairs, because all three of the top prospects are a coin flip on overall talent, with slight variations in risk, floor and upside.” — ESPN analyst

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• “12): The buzz coming into the draft was that the Angels' scouting staff was going to have the keys to the car under interim GM John Mozeliak.” — ESPN analyst

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• “I don't know what the Angels' plan is, but the majority of the league was planning to let him play the outfield and pitch (he's a lefty who throws up to 97 mph, and is 17 years old), at least to some degree.” — ESPN analyst

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• “At press time, I really liked their second-rounder, prep RHP Kaiden McCarthy (52nd on my board), and they took what many considered to be an unsignable prep RHP Jensen Hirschkorn (58th on my board) with their third-round pick.” — ESPN analyst

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