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MLB draft begins Saturday with White Sox holding top pick
The 2026 MLB draft opens Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The Chicago White Sox are choosing among three top prospects for the first overall selection.
Jul 10, 2:52 PM·1m read2 sources
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The 2026 MLB draft opens Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The Chicago White Sox hold the first overall pick and are deciding among three players viewed as a clear tier above the rest of the class.
Top prospects UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Texas prep shortstop Grady Emerson and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey are the three players most likely to be taken with the first three selections. The White Sox have not finalized their choice among the three.
The Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins hold the next two picks. The Rays are reported to prefer Emerson but have also shown interest in Lackey. The Twins are expected to select whichever of the three remains available.
Later first-round outlook San Francisco holds the fifth pick.
The team has discussed high school center fielder Eric Booth Jr. along with two other names if the top three players are taken earlier. Projections for the remainder of the first round remain fluid. Updated rankings and draft-day adjustments are scheduled for release on Saturday.
