2026 MLB draft guide: One big question and latest ...

2026 MLB draft guide: One big question and latest intel for all 30 teamsArizona Diamondbacks38mKiley McDanielDodgers' Alfonzo 'emotional' in debut amid tragedyLos Angeles Dodgers13hAlden GonzalezSuarez exits Red Sox win with adductor tightnessBoston Red Sox6hMarlins pull Pérez after 7 perfect innings vs. A'sMiami Marlins11hCautious Buxton leaves Twins' victory due to hipMinnesota Twins17hChisholm (toe) exits Yankees' loss in 5th inningMinnesota Twins15hJorge CastilloWhite Sox's Murakami set to begin rehab stintChicago White Sox12hBraves LHP Perez hit by Soto liner, likely to ILAtlanta Braves13hMLB Power Rankings: Rays, Marlins bring Florida heat to start JulyArizona Diamondbacks4dESPN2026 MLB All-Star Game rosters: Snubs, other takeawaysBoston Red Sox1dDavid SchoenfieldMidseason rankings for MLB's biggest awards: Can PCA catch Ohtani for NL MVP? How does Judge's injury rock AL race?

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Redrafting the 2023-25 MLB drafts in one 60-pick mega-draftArizona Diamondbacks3dKiley McDaniel, +2 MoreFantasy baseball: Chisholm may miss time for Yankees and other news for Monday39mESPN FantasyWhere will Vahn Lackey and other top draft prospects land? One big question and all the latest info for every MLB team. David J.

Griffin/Icon SportswireKiley McDanielJul 6, 2026, 07:00 AM ETCloseESPN MLB Insider Kiley McDaniel covers MLB prospects, the MLB Draft and more, including trades and free agency. Has worked for three MLB teams. Co-author of Author of 'Future Value' Follow on XMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHappy MLB draft week!

This year's draft will take place Saturday and Sunday in Philadelphia as part of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game festivities hosted by the Philadelphia Phillies.As we approach the start of Round 1, here is one big question facing each of the 30 MLB teams.Teams are listed in draft order.

More draft coverage: Mock draft | Comparing recent top prospectsChicago White Sox First pick: No. 1 Bonus pool: $17,592,100One big question: What's the strategy at the top pick?What looked like a pretty clear call entering the spring -- take college shortstop Roch Cholowsky over high school shortstop Grady Emerson -- has now become much more complicated.

As Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey's profile continued to rise, I felt that he was becoming a viable option at the top pick, just as the Cholowsky vs. Emerson discussion was blooming in the public and, if you believe the chatter, behind the scenes with the White Sox.I did a quick text poll of scouts to see if they were seeing this as a virtual three-way coin flip and basically all of them said yes.

I asked scouts only from teams outside of the top 10 so I could get some honest takes, and none of the scouts had their personal board lined up the same way. Some had college pitcher Jackson Flora or high school shortstop Jacob Lombard in their top three, as well. Frankly, this situation is a bit of a mess now for the White Sox: There's probably not going to be a clear, correct answer to who the best player is among their options and nobody in the industry can agree on who it is yet.

White Sox fans probably will be debating this decision for years.Tampa Bay Rays First pick: No. 2 Bonus pool: $19,009,300One big question: Do the Rays lean more toward upside, price or proximity at the second pick?

I don't think this question is an actual conversation happening in the Rays' room, but I more so mean the appearance of their strategy emphasizing one of these based on their decision. College stars Vahn Lackey and Roch Cholowsky both project to be in the big leagues quickly, and high schooler Grady Emerson will take longer, and some scouts think Emerson has a clearly higher ceiling but others don't see as much daylight. I don't think the cost to sign these three players will vary dramatically for the second pick, as any of them who aren't picked would expect to then go third.

The Rays don't shy away from taking the best player, regardless of age/proximity or position, but when the impact could be as big and as soon as Cholowsky and Lackey offer, either would be a logical choice if Tampa Bay is on the lower end in terms of projecting Emerson's upside.Minnesota TwinsFirst pick: No. 3 Bonus pool: $16,929,600One big question: Does this year's No.

3 pick have a lot in common with the Twins' No. 5 pick in 2023?The Twins had the fifth pick in a very clear five-player draft in 2023.

Rumors swirled about how this would play out: If the Twins were lower on the player that got to them (Walker Jenkins, in the real-life scenario), would they take a clearly lesser talent for much less money to be creative later? They played hardball with Jenkins' agent (Scott Boras) and to