So, now that we know we’re picking #11 (which … we may have already known anyway), lets take a quick peek at some of the names being thrown around at the top of the 2026 draft. December 2025 is a very long way from June 2026, but some of these names will remain at the top of the board.
Here’s a first look at the 2026 draft class. I’ll split the players into college and prep, and delineate between players who have consistently been in the early 1-1 talk versus those who have fallen out of the discussions.
Right now the class is looking very hitter heavy, with most of the names thrown around at the top being position players. Cholowsky is getting some separation for 1-1, but probably changes as we get closer to the draft, since it is the Chicago “Cheapskate” White Sox picking 1-1, and they may very well be looking at spreading out the dollars and fighting with his representative about a ten-figure signing bonus.
More likely, we’ll see someone at #11 who was previously in the top-5 mix but who fell for some reason or another, not unlike how we ended up with Anthony Rendon in 2012 or Brady House in 2021. Rendon is an interesting call back: he was also basically the best hitter in the college game as a sophomore (as was Cholowsky last year), then had an injury plagued junior season that dropped him to us; might happen again.
College Upper 1st round names in the mix for 1-1
- Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA. D1-AA 2025 as Soph. BA’s College POTY in 2025 as a Sophomore, clear 1-1 candidate in early 2026 draft considerations. Only 60-grade guy on the board from ProspectsLive. #1 on MLBpipeline’s first list, called consensus 1-1.
- Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama: .316/.421/.636 line with 18 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 2025. #3 on MLBP’s first board.
- Drew Burress, CF, Georgia Tech. D1-AA 2025 as Soph. #2 on ProspectsLive Sept2025 board, undersized 5’9″ but good EV, lefty, fast. Slight concerns on CF vs Corner. Some disagreement in the industry on rank; some have top 10, others further down.
- AJ Gracia, OF (corner) UVA via duke: big corner-bopper bat profile, transferring to UVA from Duke with their new coach, starting to get top-5 buzz.
College Candidates who have fallen out of 1-1 contention
- Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida; leading college Arm of the class. 6’5″ upper 90s. 2x Team USA pitcher. Up to #4 on BA’s list Oct2025, but #13 on MLBpipeline’s list.
- Derek Curiel, OF, LSU: .345/.470/.519 as starting Freshman/lead off hitter in 2025, draft-eligible as Sophomore in 2026. Playing CF for LSU in 2026, should stay there as long/lanky 6’2 180 guy. power limited, but great hit tool.
- Cameron Flukey, RHP Coastal Carolina. D1 3rd team AA 2025 as Soph, Fri starter for CCU CWS team. 2nd best arm in pitching-weak draft class.
- Chris Hacopian, SS, Texas A&M; 3B in the pros, 6’1″ some defensive questions but big bat.
- Daniel Cuvet, 3B, Miami. D1-AA 2025 as Soph.
- Evan Dempsey, 2-way FGCU: D1-AA 2025 as Soph.
- Lucas Moore, OF, Louisville: D1-2nd team AA 2025 as Soph
High School Upper 1st round names in the mix for 1-1
- Grady Emerson, SS, Argyle HS (TX). Texas commit. BA’s #1 ranked HS 2026 draft prospect in 2025. U18 USA baseball team 2025. Remains top HS prep player in MLBPipeline’s first rankings.
- Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL); UMiami commit, big baseball factory HS. Projected top 10, rising.
High School guys whose stock has fallen:
- Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle HS, Concord (CA): Stanford commit, 6’3″ free swinger, may move to 3B, solid defender. Up to #3 on BA’s oct2025 board
- Kevin Roberts, RHP/OF Jackson Prep (FL): same HS as Konnor Griffen, huge guy 6’5″ Florida commit, primarily hitter but can hit 94-95 on mound as well.
- Rocco Maniscalco SS/2B (Oxford, Ala., HS). Reclassified to 2026, won’t turn 17 until May 2025, super young.
- Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle HS, Concord, Calif.
- Brady Harris, a prep OF from Jacksonville committed to Florida who is a power-hitting plus defender
sources:
- D1Baseball 2025 All Americans June 2025
- CBSsports/RJ Anderson Names to Know at top 2026 draft candidates 7/15/25
- BA’s first 2026 mock draft, July 2025.
- BA’s 2026 Top 100 Draft Board as of July 2025.
- ProspectsLive Sept 2025 Top college guys
- USA Baseball U18 roster for 2025
- ProspectsLive Oct 2025 Top College guys.
- BA’s Oct2025 top 100 Updates
- MLB Pipeline’s Dec 2025 top 100 draft candidates
There is always a lot of movement (draft stock up or down) in the evaluation of college players during the spring season. Sometimes it’s warranted, sometimes it’s an overreaction (see Yesavage’s drop). College hitters in particular seem to get devalued at the drop of a hat.
I’m usually suspicious of spring movement with high school prospects as the quality of competition is suspect. Often movement has more to do with sign-ability/asking price than it does with change in performance. Plus every high school pitcher suddenly is “touching 98” in the spring of his senior year, LOL. But really, what can you tell from those guys striking out 135-pound 10th graders?
KW
13 Dec 25 at 9:24 pm
Sometimes the reverse is true with college pitchers. They’re sort of like quarterbacks who get overdrafted by teams desperately in need of them. The top couple of college pitchers usually are worth the hype, but when four or five creep into top-10 draft conversation, that’s a reach alert.
KW
13 Dec 25 at 9:27 pm
It seems to me that, we’re almost guaranteed to get a 1-1 pick that we have not heard of, based on the history of the draft lately. I’m thinking someone like Skenes, who was on nobody’s radar.
However, i sense at our spot in the draft, we may get a crack at one of these guys who are “famous” now, but who fall for whatever reason.
Of course, I also like seeing how these names ebb and flow over the course of a season.
Todd Boss
14 Dec 25 at 4:01 pm