As the 2026 MLB Draft approaches in just four weeks, teams are strategizing their selections under the new lottery system. The two-day draft kicks off on July 11, and this year promises excitement with teams jockeying for the top picks.

The Chicago White Sox, despite finishing with a 60-102 record last season, won the lottery and secured the No. 1 pick. They are projected to select Roch Cholowsky, a standout shortstop from UCLA, while the Tampa Bay Rays are expected to grab Grady Emerson, another elite shortstop, at No. 2.

Key highlights from the mock draft include:

• Twins at No. 3 set to take Vahn Lackey, a promising catcher from Georgia Tech.
• San Francisco Giants leap to No. 4, likely choosing Jacob Lombard from Gulliver Prep.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates, holding the No. 5 pick, aim to draft Jackson Flora, a right-handed pitcher from UC Santa Barbara. His impressive skills, including an upper-90s fastball, align perfectly with the Pirates' strengths in pitcher development.

Other notable selections include:

• Royals taking Gio Rojas at No. 6.
• Orioles eyeing Eric Booth Jr. at No. 7.
• Braves considering Tyler Bell at No. 9 despite injury concerns.

With teams like the Dodgers, Mets, and Yankees facing penalties that push their first-round picks back, the draft landscape is shifting. The excitement builds as teams prepare to make their mark on the future of baseball.