The 2026 college baseball season has fans right where it wants them. From high stakes action, plus the prospect of a trip to the College Baseball World Series just weeks away, the postseason gives baseball fans a purpose.
- Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects 2026: Here Are The Best Players
- Here Is Who Has Won Every NCAA Men's College World Series
- SEC College Baseball Preview 2026: Here's What To Know
Conference tournaments set the scene for this coming weekend of action and for most of these universities, their best players are putting everything on the line not only for the team, but for their own draft stake.
With an entire regular season under the belt, the MLB draft timeline only gets tighter. The Chicago White Sox still have the number one pick, but the conversation has shifted.
Will UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky still get taken off the board at No. 1, or has someone else been making moves in the shadows?
Here is the FloBaseball MLB Mock Draft before the start of conference tournaments.
1.) Chicago White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
We never meant to scare anyone, but it is almost certain that the White Sox will pluck Cholowsky off the board as the number one pick.
The UCLA shortstop has almost solidified himself in the top draft position. Cholowsky's only real competition is Grady Emerson.
While Emerson would be the smarter decision for the organization financially, the value of Cholowsky in the middle infield and in the batting order is not one to take for granted. The UCLA Bruin is having a stellar 2026 campaign currently hitting at a .330 average with a .684 slugging and a .465 on base percentage.
The recently announced Big10 player of the year has 21 homers and 59 RBIs in the 2026 season alone.
If it's not Roch at one it will be Emerson, but we think the UCLA fans and the Cholowsky supporters alone, have nothing to fear as the post season continues for the Bruins.
2.) Tampa Bay Rays: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian School (TX)
If it's Cholowsky at pick one, Emerson will be quick to follow at No. 2.
The soon to be UT Longhorn has one of the greatest values of any of the high-school contenders in this 2026 draft class.
Emerson is going to be a postcard for a Major League short stop if you look at hime on paper. The prep school short-stop comes in at 180 and 6'2 height wise. This kid has room to grow, but also will fill out into pure muscle no natter which direction his career goes.
The Rays are having a top-notch season so far, sitting 1st among the standings in the AL-East.
Under the veteran leadership of Taylor Walls/ Carson Williams who has also gotten key reps due to the Walls injury, Emerson would have no problems adapting in to the Rays organization and play style.
3.) Minnesota Twins: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech
Oh how the turns have tabled and Vahn Lackey had rose to a top-three draft prospect over the course of the 2026 season.
Not only is Georgia Tech having a great year, but Lackey himself is having a phenomenal 2026 campaign. The junior catcher is hitting a .402 average with a .747 slugging and a .518 on base percentage. On the base path, the catcher is 14-15 on stolen base attempts. Lackey also has some pop in his bat as he has 15 home runs on the season and 19 extra base hits.
Recently named to the ACC All-Conference first team, Lackey and Georgia Tech will prepare to step in to the ACC tournament as the one-seed.
As far as Lackey's prospect is concerned in the Twins organization, this team is in dire need of some catching depth. The primary catcher Ryan Jeffers is out for 6-8 weeks with a hand injury and while the backups are strong behind the dish, Lackey offers a more consistent approach at the plate that could be beneficial to the Twins organization in the coming seasons.
4.) San Francisco Giants: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbra
A pitcher at pick No. 4 seems a little far fetched we're sure, but hear us out. Jackson Flora could be a potential solution to the some of the right-handed pitching depth that the Giants could always need more of.
Flora has had a stellar year with the Gauchos at UCSB. The right-hander has tossed in a total of 14 games this season. From the bump, Flora has achieved a 1.03 ERA and carries a 10-0 win/loss record. The Gaucho ace has a 115 strikeouts over his 87.1 innings of work.
In regards to how Flora can play a role in the Giants franchise, the newly named Big West Pitcher of the Year can be a crucial asset to the pitching-depth as most of the Giants right-handed pitching is a little banged up as of late.
5.) Pittsburgh Pirates: Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove HS
Another high school prospect is off the board and the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to be itching to add to their outfield depth.
In a Pirates crew that is struggling with injuries and a lack of production in the outfield and at the plate, Booth Jr is a fan-favorite pick for this Pittsburgh team. The Vanderbilt commit has that youth and a powerful bat in his prep career.
While the starters in the field are struggling with injury, the bench bats have been a little slow to get going. Booth Jr. could prove to be a valuable asset with his strength and power whether that's playing the field or standing in the batter's box.
This would be a big swing in the upside for the Pirates organization, but it's a risk this team could take for a long term outfielder.
6.) Kansas City Royals: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep
The Kansas City Royals are a team that could benefit from a large upside player and the answer may be found in the third high-school prospect off the board.
Jacob Lombard is a name that has been circulating around multiple mock drafts for quite some time now. The soon to be Miami Hurricane is set to be a huge asset to any team he is drafted to. Following in his older brother, George Lombard Jr. and father George Lombard's footsteps, the eyes have always been on the big leagues for Jacob.
Standing in at 6'3, Lombard will be able to play shortstop for years to come considering his build and size. The young shortstop also was noted to have plenty of pop in the bat, even with the occasional swing and miss.
While the shortstop will have to take some time in the minors, the Royals would be in a great position to continue to add to their already successful young farm of talent with this pick.
7.) Baltimore Orioles: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas
The Orioles slot in at pick No. 7 in this 2026 mock draft and the option that the Orioles will more than likely go with may not be the obvious choice, but one that could help in the long run.
Yes the name you think of is Adley Rutschman, and yes he holds it down behind the plate most of the season for the Baltimore squad. However depth can't hurt anyone especially when that depth could also wiggle in to the lineup as a DH.
Enter in Ryder Helfrick, the Arkansas Razorback who has pieced together a successful 2026 campaign. In the Razorback uniform, Helfrick is batting a .289 average on the season with a .562 slugging and a .438 on-base percentage.
With 15 home runs and 48 RBIs, the Razorback is a veteran leader that most would love to have on their roster or in their organizations. Helfrick has caught nine runners on the base path from behind the dish and is a semi-finalist for the Golden Spikes Award.
Helfrick has also shown to be level-headed in the batter's box as he leads the Razorbacks in walks at 55 in the 2025 campaign.
8.) Oakland Athletics: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
The Athletics still are holding up that No. 8 spot in the 2026 MLB Draft and they are always in need of consistent pitching depth.
In an already extremely young rotation, the A's haven't found their go to guy yet whether it's on the bump as a seasoned starter or that first call out of the pen player.
Liam Peterson could be a very good response to the problem at hand for the A's. The Florida Gator is seasoned on the bump and has had a fairly decent 2026 campaign.
The junior at UF holds a 4.00 ERA through the 2026 season thus far and has struck out 99 batters while only walking 35.
While the pitcher only has 14 appearances in the season so far, when he is on the mound he is efficient and gets the job done.
Peterson would not be the ace for the A's right off the bat, but he could be what the team is searching for when looking for a consistent arm out of the pen.
9.) Atlanta Braves: Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M
The Atlanta Braves find themselves in a peak drafting position once again in the 2026 draft. Back in the top-ten there are plenty of arms that the Braves could factor in too, but their safest bet will be an infielder from Aggie Land.
That right, Chris Hacopian should wind up in the Braves organization in the ninth pick. The Texas A&M second-baseman has had a stellar 2026 season and that has set him up well for a successful draft.
While Hacopian won't get the starting job as that one is locked up by All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies, the Braves could always use some depth in the middle infield, especially with Albies' contract expiring in 2027.
During his time in the Aggie uniform, Hacopian is hitting a .375 average with a .55 slugging and a .407 on base percentage.
The junior has nine home runs and 33 RBIs. Hacopian also carries a .999 fielding percentage.
10.) Colorado Rockies: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina
The final pick in the top-ten will see the Colorado Rockies look to beef up their pitching depth with their selection.
The Rockies are in dire need for a strong starting rotation as of late as the team carries a 5.00 ERA on the 2026 season with is 27th in the league.
In order to combat this, a top candidate for the Rockies, assuming he is still around is Cameron Flukey. Flukey has been a force for Coastal Carolina and he could be on pace to be a true asset in the Majors.
In the 2025 season, Flukey was the stud for Coastal as he ended the season with a 3.19 ERA with 118 strikeouts. Looking at his 2026 numbers from the stretch, there is a little bit of struggle, but nothing to be concerened with if you are an organization looking to draft a righty.
The 2026 campaign see Flukey carrying a 4.86 ERA with 22 strikeouts through 16 innings of work so far. However, with Flukey still being on the mend with injuries, his numbers still prove to be effective in the minimal apperances on the mound.
Flukey could enter into the minors under the Rockies and work his way up well assuming her is able to stay healthy and productive. The junior has a very special throwing arsenal with a extremely locked in fastball and curveball combo. The pitcher also has a slider and has proven good pitch control from the bump.
The Remaining Picks: 11-20
- 11.) Washinton Nationals: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
- 12.) Los Angeles Angels: AJ Garcia, OF, Virginia
- 13.) St. Louis Cardinals: Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee
- 14.) Miami Marlins: Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle
- 15.) Arizona Diamondbacks: Eric Becker, SS, Virginia
- 16.) Texas Rangers: Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU
- 17.) Houston Astros: Zion Rose, OF, Louisville
- 18.) Cincinatti Reds: Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah
- 19.) Cleveland Guardians: Mason Edwards, LHP, USC
- 20.) Boston Red Sox: Gavin Grahovac, 3B, Texas A&M
The Final Picks: 21-25
- 21.) San Diego Padres: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas
- 22.) Detroit Tigers: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
- 23.) Chicago Cubs: Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, Arkansas
- 24.) Seattle Mariners: Aiden Robbins, OF, Texas
- 25.) Milwaukee Brewers: Ace Reese, 3b Mississippi State
When Does The 2026 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship Start?
The first/regional round of the 2026 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship will be May 29-31, with times and locations TBD.
The NCAA Super Regional action will be held June 5-7, again, with times and locations TBD.
The last eight teams standing will head to the 2026 Men's College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, from June 12-22 to battle through a combination of double-elimination and best-of-three competition until a champion emerges.
How To Watch More Of The 2026 College Baseball Season On FloCollege
College baseball in 2026 will be streamed on FloCollege and the FloSports app for select Division I preseason tournaments and for much of the Division II and Division III seasons.
Recent NCAA Division I Baseball National Champions
- 2025 – LSU
- 2024 – Tennessee
- 2023 – LSU
- 2022 – Ole Miss
- 2021 – Mississippi State
- 2020 – No Tournament
- 2019 – Vanderbilt
When Is The 2026 MLB Draft?
The MLB Draft begins the Sunday of MLB All-Star Week, which is being held in Philadelphia from July 11-14.
FloBaseball Archived Footage
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