2026 MLB Draft begins Saturday in Philadelphia with first four rounds

The 2026 MLB Draft begins at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 11, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Rounds 1 through 4 will be held that day, followed by rounds 5 through 20 starting at 11:30 a.m.

ET on Sunday, July 12. USA Today reported the schedule. The draft opens with rounds 1-4 on Saturday and rounds 5-20 on Sunday; the Chicago White Sox hold the No. 1 overall pick. Its slot value is $11,350,600, an increase of $274,700 from the 2025 value of $11,075,900. The Washington Nationals selected Eli Willits with the top pick in 2025 and signed him for $8.2 million.

The draft is a slot draft in which every selection through the first 10 rounds carries a predetermined value set by Major League Baseball. Teams negotiate signings and may use remaining pool money from one pick to exceed the slot on another. USA Today reported the following bonus pools for all 30 teams: Pittsburgh Pirates $19,130,700; Tampa Bay Rays $19,009,300; Chicago White Sox $17,592,100; San Francisco Giants $17,350,600; Minnesota Twins $16,929,600; St.

Louis Cardinals $16,612,300; Kansas City Royals $15,954,000; Atlanta Braves $15,870,800; Colorado Rockies $15,557,600; Athletics $13,840,300; Houston Astros $13,712,700; Arizona Diamondbacks $13,603,100; Baltimore Orioles $13,114,000; Washington Nationals $12,278,300; Miami Marlins $11,960,100; Los Angeles Angels $11,755,400; Cincinnati Reds $10,758,500; Texas Rangers $10,219,200; Chicago Cubs $9,644,100; San Diego Padres $9,479,000; Cleveland Guardians $9,303,700; Detroit Tigers $9,165,100; Boston Red Sox $8,219,200; Seattle Mariners $8,218,200; Milwaukee Brewers $8,042,900; Philadelphia Phillies $7,773,000; New York Yankees $7,342,800; New York Mets $6,730,900; Toronto Blue Jays $5,543,100; Los Angeles Dodgers $3,951,900.

Slot values for the first 10 picks are White Sox $11,350,600; Rays $10,507,000; Twins $9,740,100; Giants $8,988,400; Pirates $8,336,500; Royals $7,746,100; Orioles $7,327,200; Athletics $6,982,600; Braves $6,675,300; Rockies $6,393,100. Additional first-round and Competitive Balance Round A values include Nationals $6,133,500; Angels $5,889,300; Cardinals $5,661,300; Marlins $5,444,900; Diamondbacks $5,241,000; Rangers $5,051,900; Astros $4,868,600; Reds $4,695,500; Guardians $4,530,500; Red Sox $4,373,900; Padres $4,224,700; Tigers $4,082,700; Cubs $3,947,600; Mariners $3,818,700; Brewers $3,696,000; Braves $3,578,800 (prospect promotion incentive); Mets $3,466,500 (competitive-balance tax adjustment); Astros $3,363,600 (prospect promotion incentive); Giants $3,270,200 (Patrick Bailey trade); Royals $3,190,500; Diamondbacks $3,118,300; Cardinals $3,044,600; Rays $2,970,200 (Shane Baz trade); Pirates $2,897,400; Yankees $2,826,700 (competitive-balance tax adjustment); Phillies $2,758,800 (competitive-balance tax adjustment); Rockies $2,696,700; Rockies $2,633,100; Blue Jays $2,571,700 (competitive-balance tax adjustment); Dodgers $2,504,200 (competitive-balance tax adjustment); White Sox $2,446,100; Nationals $2,388,800; Twins $2,333,200; Pirates $2,278,700.