MLB Draft Starts Saturday With White Sox Holding First Pick

The 2026 MLB draft begins at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Chicago White Sox hold the first overall pick. The White Sox are expected to select between UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Texas prep shortstop Grady Emerson, or Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey.

penalties The Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates follow Chicago in the top five. The Mets, Blue Jays, Yankees, Phillies and Dodgers each received a 10-pick penalty on their first pick for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the competitive balance tax.

Balance picks Atlanta received a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick at 26 for Drake Baldwin's NL Rookie of the Year win. Houston received a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick at 28 for Hunter Brown's top-three Cy Young finish. San Francisco acquired Competitive Balance Round A pick 29 from Cleveland.

Tampa Bay acquired Competitive Balance Round A pick 30 from Baltimore. Chicago acquired Competitive Balance Round A pick 34 from Pittsburgh. Colorado received Competitive Balance Round A pick 37.

compensation Toronto received a 10-pick penalty in the second round at 38. The Dodgers received a 10-pick penalty in the second round at 40. Milwaukee holds a second-round pick at 41. Minnesota holds Competitive Balance Round B pick 67. The Cubs hold compensation pick 75 for Kyle Tucker.

Toronto holds a third-round pick at 76. The Dodgers hold a fourth-round pick at 104. Additional compensation picks begin at 133.