7. Orioles: Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove HS, Hattiesburg, Miss. (No. 6)
It’s been all bats mentioned here, but until recently it was college hitters in the conversation, it seemed. With things shaking up ahead of them, the O’s were able to consider two of the top prep position players available in Booth and Jacob Lombard. They opted for Booth, the center fielder from Mississippi, who has an excellent feel to hit, even with an unusual setup at the plate. He can really run and will stay up the middle for a long time. The biggest question now is where Lombard, who we ranked No. 5, will land.
2026 MLB Draft
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
Prep Shortstop Jacob Lombard is getting passed over. According to the livestream guys, this is likely because of the money he's demanding, and apparently Miami has a big NIL bag with his name on it. This sounds to me like he'll go undrafted but who knows.
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
8. Athletics: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech (No. 7)
The A’s were shopping for college hitters, as they often do – three of the last four years, they’ve gone that route with their first pick. Don’t be concerned about Burress’ stature at 5-foot-9; the guy just rakes. His compact right-handed swing, with an advanced approach, gives him the chance to hit, and with power. He has the chance to stick in center, and also has the offensive potential and plus arm to profile in right field. In typical A’s fashion, it shouldn’t take him long to impact the big league lineup.
9. Braves: AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia (No. 19)
The A’s were shopping for college hitters, as they often do – three of the last four years, they’ve gone that route with their first pick. Don’t be concerned about Burress’ stature at 5-foot-9; the guy just rakes. His compact right-handed swing, with an advanced approach, gives him the chance to hit, and with power. He has the chance to stick in center, and also has the offensive potential and plus arm to profile in right field. In typical A’s fashion, it shouldn’t take him long to impact the big league lineup.
9. Braves: AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia (No. 19)
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
9. Braves: AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia (No. 19)
There was some talk about Gio Rojas going here for a while, but the other options did seem to be college hitters, and the Braves opted for Gracia over someone like catcher Ryder Helfrick. Gracia has one of the best approaches in the Draft class, with outstanding swing decisions, and he makes a ton of contact. He hit 43 homers over three years of college – two seasons at Duke and this last one at Virginia – and his approach should help him get to his power as a pro. The last time the Braves took a college hitter in the first round, they also picked No. 9 overall, taking Shea Langeliers back in 2019.
10. Rockies: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky (No. 10)
11. Nationals: Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A & M (No. 14)
There was some talk about Gio Rojas going here for a while, but the other options did seem to be college hitters, and the Braves opted for Gracia over someone like catcher Ryder Helfrick. Gracia has one of the best approaches in the Draft class, with outstanding swing decisions, and he makes a ton of contact. He hit 43 homers over three years of college – two seasons at Duke and this last one at Virginia – and his approach should help him get to his power as a pro. The last time the Braves took a college hitter in the first round, they also picked No. 9 overall, taking Shea Langeliers back in 2019.
10. Rockies: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky (No. 10)
11. Nationals: Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A & M (No. 14)
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
Joe Doyle is tweeting that Jacob Lombard is going to Miami at #14. I must have misunderstood the livestreamers earlier. I thought when they said Miami for Lombard they were talking about an NIL deal for the University of Miami but I guess they were talking about the Marlins.
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
10. Rockies: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky (No. 10)
This was another likely landing spot for a college hitter and the Rockies went to the SEC to get one. The sophomore-eligible Bell is a switch-hitter who came on strong thanks to excellent play in the best conference in the country. He did so while playing through a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, so there could be even more in the tank. It’ll take some time for him to recover from the injury, but he has the chance to be a very solid all-around shortstop once he’s healthy.
11. Nationals: Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M (No. 14)
12. Angels: Jared Grindlinger, OF, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS (No. 16)
Joe Doyle is tweeting that Trevor Condon goes to St. Louis at #13 and as I said above that Jacob Lombard is going to Miami at #14.
This was another likely landing spot for a college hitter and the Rockies went to the SEC to get one. The sophomore-eligible Bell is a switch-hitter who came on strong thanks to excellent play in the best conference in the country. He did so while playing through a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, so there could be even more in the tank. It’ll take some time for him to recover from the injury, but he has the chance to be a very solid all-around shortstop once he’s healthy.
11. Nationals: Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M (No. 14)
12. Angels: Jared Grindlinger, OF, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS (No. 16)
Joe Doyle is tweeting that Trevor Condon goes to St. Louis at #13 and as I said above that Jacob Lombard is going to Miami at #14.
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
11. Nationals: Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M (No. 14)
That’s four straight college bats to come off the board. Hacopian finished the season with an OPS of .983 with more walks than strikeouts while dealing with a lower back issue. A lot of scouts felt he was one of the best pure college hitters in the class, with a knack for finding the barrel and a lot of under-the-hood metrics the analytics department in Washington is sure to like. I’d give him the chance to stick on the dirt, at second base, but he could end up in left field.
12. Angels: Jared Grindlinger, OF, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS (No. 16)
Grindlinger was one of the most intriguing, and hard to place, prospects in the class. He reclassified late, and was one of the youngest players available at 17 years old. He’s also a legitimate two-way player, with different teams liking him as a hitter or pitcher. The Angels announced him as an outfielder, and he’s a projectable left-handed hitter with plenty of potential juice to grow into. The Angels hadn’t taken a high school player in the first round since they went back-to-back with Jo Adell and Jordyn Adams in 2017 and ‘18.
13. Cardinals: Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga. (No. 13)
14. Marlins: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep, Miami (No. 5)
That’s four straight college bats to come off the board. Hacopian finished the season with an OPS of .983 with more walks than strikeouts while dealing with a lower back issue. A lot of scouts felt he was one of the best pure college hitters in the class, with a knack for finding the barrel and a lot of under-the-hood metrics the analytics department in Washington is sure to like. I’d give him the chance to stick on the dirt, at second base, but he could end up in left field.
12. Angels: Jared Grindlinger, OF, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS (No. 16)
Grindlinger was one of the most intriguing, and hard to place, prospects in the class. He reclassified late, and was one of the youngest players available at 17 years old. He’s also a legitimate two-way player, with different teams liking him as a hitter or pitcher. The Angels announced him as an outfielder, and he’s a projectable left-handed hitter with plenty of potential juice to grow into. The Angels hadn’t taken a high school player in the first round since they went back-to-back with Jo Adell and Jordyn Adams in 2017 and ‘18.
13. Cardinals: Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga. (No. 13)
14. Marlins: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep, Miami (No. 5)
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
13. Cardinals: Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah HS, Woodstock, Ga. (No. 13)
Condon’s combination of pure hit tool and 70-grade speed made him one of the more interesting prep hitters in the class. The left-handed hitter had been committed to Tennessee, but he’s not making it to campus. He’s a left-handed hitter who has gotten some Pete Crow-Armstrong comps, and like with PCA, there’s raw power for him to get to as he matures while being a plus defender in center field.
14. Marlins: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep, Miami (No. 5)
Lombard has found his home, literally. Hailing from South Florida, he’ll be able to stay in his backyard when he gets to the big leagues. Lombard is the son of Tigers bench coach George, and brother of Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. He offers premium athleticism with raw pop from the right side of the plate, and he can play shortstop for a long time. There were some questions about swing-and-miss in his game over the summer, which he mostly answered this season, but that might have been part of the reason he lasted to this stage of the Draft. The Marlins likely didn’t enter the day thinking the talented infielder would be here for them.
15. D-backs: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas (No. 11)
Condon’s combination of pure hit tool and 70-grade speed made him one of the more interesting prep hitters in the class. The left-handed hitter had been committed to Tennessee, but he’s not making it to campus. He’s a left-handed hitter who has gotten some Pete Crow-Armstrong comps, and like with PCA, there’s raw power for him to get to as he matures while being a plus defender in center field.
14. Marlins: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep, Miami (No. 5)
Lombard has found his home, literally. Hailing from South Florida, he’ll be able to stay in his backyard when he gets to the big leagues. Lombard is the son of Tigers bench coach George, and brother of Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. He offers premium athleticism with raw pop from the right side of the plate, and he can play shortstop for a long time. There were some questions about swing-and-miss in his game over the summer, which he mostly answered this season, but that might have been part of the reason he lasted to this stage of the Draft. The Marlins likely didn’t enter the day thinking the talented infielder would be here for them.
15. D-backs: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas (No. 11)
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
15. D-backs: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas (No. 11)
Among college catchers, of which there aren’t many to consider early, Helfrick is by far the best defender. He already can call a very good game and works well with pitchers who have premium stuff. He frames, receives and blocks well, with an arm that should be plus at the next level. How good he is will depend on how his bat develops. He has plus strength and bat speed to give him a ton of raw power, and he will get to it more if he can learn to recognize spin better.
16. Rangers: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS, Parkland, Fla. (No. 8)
Among college catchers, of which there aren’t many to consider early, Helfrick is by far the best defender. He already can call a very good game and works well with pitchers who have premium stuff. He frames, receives and blocks well, with an arm that should be plus at the next level. How good he is will depend on how his bat develops. He has plus strength and bat speed to give him a ton of raw power, and he will get to it more if he can learn to recognize spin better.
16. Rangers: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS, Parkland, Fla. (No. 8)
Re: 2026 MLB Draft
SS Justin Lebron from Alabama is falling. MLB Pipeline ranked as #9 in the draft.