The MLB draft for 2026 features multiple talented position players at the top of the draft board. The debate over who would be drafted first centered around the philosophy of the two teams drafting in the first two slots.
Roch Cholowsky, shortstop out of UCLA, and Grady Emerson, prep shortstop from Fort Worth, were both graded as superior athletes with high upside. The discussion concerned which would edge out the other. Emerson is the scouts’ pick, assessed as having better tools than Cholowsky.
The college bat is more advanced, so the choice was considered to be upside versus distance from the major league roster.
Roch Cholowsky was the No. 1 pick by the Chicago White Sox, with Emerson going second to the Tampa Bay Rays. Both infielders are felt to be able to stick in their positions.
The third pick, to the Minnesota Twins, was Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. The San Francisco Giants drafted fourth and picked UC Santa Barbara RHP Jackson Flora, considered the best pitcher in the college class. Flora has the honor of being the first pitcher selected in 2026.
The first surprise of the draft was the selection of Zion Rose, outfielder from Louisville, by the Kansas City Royals at No. 6. Rose was projected to be picked in the late teens or early twenties, with MLB Pipeline having him at No. 22 in their last mock draft.
The first 10 picks of the draft featured three shortstops, one catcher, one pitcher, and five outfielders. There were only two high school players selected in the top 10, despite the evaluators believing at least two more prep athletes could be picked.
Padres first-round pick
With the 21st pick in the first round of the MLB draft, the San Diego Padres selected prep pitcher Coleman Borthwick, a graduate of South Walton High School in Florida. Borthwick has a power arm with a mid-90’s fastball that can touch 100 mph. He also has a plus slider and flashes a changeup. He has good command of his pitches.
At 6-ft-6 and 245 pounds, Borthwick, a right-handed pitcher, also excelled as a third baseman in high school. Although a power hitter, the 18-year-old will be developed as a pitcher for the Padres. He is the 43rd rated prospect on MLB.com
In his senior year, Borthwick posted a 0.21 ERA and a 10-0 record over 65.2 innings, striking out 121 batters to seven walks. His fastball and slider both grade out to 60 (20-80 scale). His developing changeup has a 45 rating, and his command is graded at 60.
With the multiple scouting sites assessing Borthwick as the top prep righty in the draft, the pitcher won the Gatorade High School Pitcher of the Year in Florida in 2026.
Borthwick joins LHP Kruz Schoolcraft (2025), LHP Kash Mayfield (2024), RHP Dylan Lesko (2022), LHP Ryan Weathers (2018), and LHP MacKenzie Gore (2017) as prep pitchers drafted in the first round by the Padres.
Padres second-round pick
In the second round of the 2026 MLB draft, the Padres had the 60th pick. They selected prep shortstop Elliot Lascelles out of Upper Canada College HS (Ontario). A bat-first player who has questions regarding his defensive ability at shortstop, Lascelles impressed during the spring when he went against professional pitchers in Arizona and Florida. In 54 at-bats against minor league pitchers, Lascelles hit .389 with four extra-base hits. His arm and power are question marks but his contact ability stands out as does his penchant for middle-of -the-field drives.
The 6-ft-1, 181-pound lefty-hitting infielder also ran track in high school and is considered a plus base runner. If he doesn’t stick at shortstop, then second base could be where he profiles in the future. Listed by MLB as the 158th prospect, Lascelles must be lured away from his Yale commitment.
Padres third-round pick
In the third round of the draft, the Padres had the 97th pick. In that spot, the organization chose RHP Ryan Lynch out of North Carolina. The 6-ft-4, 216-pound starter features a 94-96 mph sinker (tops out at 99) that rates as a 60 grade on MLB.com. He also throws a changeup and a slider. He has average control and has good deception in his delivery. There are questions among scouts about whether he can stick as a starter, but he has a projectable frame for the role.
If he is unable to develop a starter repertoire, closing in the bullpen is an option with his pitch mix. He is rated as the 98th best player in the MLB.com rankings.
He left his start in the College World Series game with an oblique injury.
Padres fourth-round pick
In the fourth round of the draft, the Padres picked 124th. They chose George Washington University catcher Robbie Lavey, the No. 188 ranked prospect on MLB.com.
The lefty-hitting backstop has a plus arm and could be a plus defender with some pro instruction. He has a solid bat with more walks than strikeouts and has good whiff and chase rates. His plus arm delivers a below two second pop time. His bat delivers good exit velocity and at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, he has the potential to develop more power. With work at the pro level, he could develop into a better-than-average catcher.
Padres Compensatory pick
In exchange for the loss of free agent pitcher Dylan Cease, the Padres had the 134th pick in the compensatory round after rounds 1-4 were completed. With that pick the Padres chose Oklahoma State outfielder Alex Conover, a lefty with a 50 grade on his tools across the board who projects as a corner outfielder.
He is known for his plus makeup and has also showcased his ability to catch as well as playing left field. His whiff rate and chase rate are low, but his power could be improved with an adjustment to his swing that could also decrease his groundball rate.
Although not a speedy runner, Conover has good baserunning skills and is able to take extra bags on the basepaths.
Rounds 5-20 will take place Sunday beginning at 8:30 a.m. PST. It can be streamed on MLB.com, MLBTV, MLB+, and on the MLB app.
