Close
- ESPN 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 'Future Value'

In earlier MLB mock drafts, the focus has been on players teams are most likely to select at each spot by blending industry information with lessons from past draft choices and preferences. This version takes a fresh approach by examining who each club should pick on July 11.

The selections reflect personal rankings of this year's prospects. When several comparable players create close decisions, the choice favors the types of athletes each organization has drafted before, those they have shown success developing or those who align with current team needs such as record and payroll.

For instance, when a lower-payroll contender faces a choice between a raw high school prospect and a polished college player of similar value, the preference goes to the college option who can reach the majors faster.

Rankings are being refreshed, so this serves as an early look at notable shifts. Here are the players each team should target near the top of the draft.

1. Chicago White Sox

Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA

The decision is not straightforward despite a clear top group that includes Cholowsky, Grady Emerson and Vahn Lackey. Because the White Sox are competing now with a modest payroll, college players receive priority, narrowing the options to Cholowsky and Lackey. None of these prospects would require a major financial adjustment at this slot, and the best available player should be taken. Cholowsky earns the nod due to his timeline, high floor, premium position and proven track record.

2. Tampa Bay Rays

Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)

This selection is intriguing because the Rays also operate as a competitive, low-payroll club where college options appear logical. Lackey would slide to third if not taken here, removing any financial motivation. With a strong major league roster, deep farm system and effective development, the Rays favor higher upside. Emerson aligns best in another tight call.

3. Minnesota Twins

Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech

This stands as the simplest choice in the draft. Select the remaining top-tier player and pay near slot value. The Twins also fit the profile of a lower-payroll club expecting to contend soon, making the arrival timeline of a premium college player a good match for Lackey.

4. San Francisco Giants

Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

Choices grow more complex. Options include higher-upside but riskier position players such as Jacob Lombard, Justin Lebron or Eric Booth Jr., safer selections like Drew Burress or the rising name Tyler Bell. Keeping it straightforward points to the consensus fourth prospect in Flora. He may not arrive as quickly or with the same floor as Cholowsky or Lackey, yet he carries front-line potential. This marks the final strong college arm with meaningful ceiling under this approach.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates

Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL)

The Pirates are a lower-payroll club with playoff hopes, but available college players lack the talent to shift focus from the top prospect. Lombard fits teams experienced with developing players needing contact adjustments or swing changes, similar to recent example Konnor Griffin. His profile mirrors 2025 fourth overall pick Ethan Holliday at the same stage but with added athleticism and upside.

6. Kansas City Royals

Eric Booth Jr., CF, Oak Grove HS (MS)

The Royals can pursue upside given their major league roster, payroll and historical draft patterns. With all options available and one consensus top-six talent remaining, Booth represents the strongest fit. Decisions among similar players grow tougher after this selection.

7. Baltimore Orioles

Drew Burress, CF, Georgia Tech

The Orioles select position players at high picks, leaving four collegiate hitters as viable options: Tyler Bell, Justin Lebron, Burress and Ryder Helfrick. Burress combines production, raw power, speed and defensive value in a way that matches both the desired profile and Orioles tendencies.

8. Athletics

Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky

A pitcher does not fit yet, and the remaining college position players are expected to be selected soon. Bell is a switch-hitting shortstop who posted strong numbers after returning from a shoulder injury, including a nearly 1.100 OPS since mid-April along with average raw power and strong in-game impact.

9. Atlanta Braves

Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas

Atlanta would prefer Drew Burress or Tyler Bell, suggesting the top talents now extend closer to eight players when combining personal views and industry consensus. If earlier picks follow expectations, a pitcher on a deal or Helfrick becomes possible. Helfrick, an elite defender with plus raw power who hit 18 homers and drew 55 walks, is the choice here.

10. Colorado Rockies

Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama

Lebron divides opinions across draft boards. The Rockies require standout talent and can wait for development. Scouts have grown frustrated with limited progress this year and may overstate contact concerns; a slightly flatter swing could balance contact and power. The draft now enters a stretch where the next group of players holds similar value.

11. Washington Nationals

Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida

The board opens up with several college pitchers available. The Nationals have stayed competitive and the new front office, with Boston roots, excels at optimizing pitchers. Peterson offers size, arm speed and spin rates that match those preferences, with further fastball command potentially unlocking higher performance.

12. Los Angeles Angels

Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina

The Angels avoid high school players early and favor quick-moving college options. Flukey provides the most upside among those available, with starter traits, a strong fastball-changeup combination and breaking stuff that plays well in college. Parallels exist in style to 2025 first-round pick Tyler Bremner.

13. St. Louis Cardinals

Jared Grindlinger, RF/LHP, Huntington Beach HS (CA)

Recent player development success has prompted the Cardinals to adjust the types of prospects they target. Grindlinger brings premium traits as both pitcher and hitter, including command of a three-pitch mix from the left side and strong bat-to-ball skills with power and speed as a position player. Selecting this two-way prospect allows parallel development tracks.

14. Miami Marlins

Trevor Condon, CF, Etowah HS (GA)

The Marlins target position players with above-average power and defensive or athletic value, similar to Orioles preferences. No perfect fit exists here, yet Condon stands out as too talented to bypass despite the usual lean toward college pitching. He is a plus hitter and runner who has produced in major events.

15. Arizona Diamondbacks

Derek Curiel, CF, LSU

The D-backs favor position players, especially lefty-hitting, hit-first types at up-the-middle spots. Curiel fits that mold with the ability to hit, play multiple outfield positions and show enough power, though he could improve on pulling and lifting the ball. He offers a high floor with medium upside.

16. Texas Rangers

Logan Reddemann, RHP, UCLA

Industry interest has grown around Reddemann after he missed time with arm fatigue, and he now projects inside the top 20 or 25 picks. He possesses traits to develop into a solid No. 3 starter and could advance quickly for clubs without a clear position-player fit.

17. Houston Astros

Daniel Jackson, C, Georgia

Jackson has risen sharply and appears the Golden Spikes favorite after winning the SEC triple crown as a catcher. He runs above average and has tools to remain behind the plate, with polish and contact rates as the main questions. His mix of raw power, athleticism and defense aligns with Astros patterns.

18. Cincinnati Reds

Cade Townsend, RHP, Mississippi

The Reds prefer power pitchers with strong breaking stuff. Townsend has the traits to become a No. 2 or No. 3 starter with continued improvement. He lacks size and a long SEC track record yet offers solid value at this spot.

19. Cleveland Guardians

Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M

Hacopian may be drafted higher, with some interest in the top 10, but this projection takes the under. At nearly 22 years old with below-average speed and medium physical tools plus a flat swing, he projects as a big league infielder thanks to bat-to-ball skills and broad abilities, though some see him trending downward.

20. Boston Red Sox

Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State

Carlon or certain prep position players could fit here. He overcame recent arm soreness and shows real upside as a 6-foot-5 lefty who has reached 101 mph with a nearly 60 percent miss rate on breaking pitches. He projects as at least a late-inning arm and possibly a front-line starter if development aligns.

21. San Diego Padres

Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)

The Padres often receive prep lefties in these exercises. Rojas is the top prep arm with late top-10 interest, yet college arms in this class offer comparable upside, stronger track records and only two additional years of age. His ceiling fits at this stage.

22. Detroit Tigers

Tyler Spangler, SS, De La Salle HS (CA)

The Tigers favor lefty-hitting high school infielders. If Spangler's shoulder checks out, he represents solid value. He carried top-10 momentum before limited spring play and possesses traits teams seek, potentially reaching the middle of the first round in some scenarios.

23. Chicago Cubs

Mason Edwards, LHP, USC

The Cubs could use quicker-moving talent without a compelling high-upside option. Scouts view Edwards as perhaps the best quick-moving arm who can fill multiple roles early before settling in as a long-term starter.

24. Seattle Mariners

Bo Lowrance, 3B, Christ Church Episcopal HS (SC)

Lowrance draws comparisons to Freddie Freeman, a view shared by other evaluators regarding the lanky, lefty-hitting 6-foot-5 prep prospect.