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2026 MLB Draft Tracker: Analysis on Every First Round Pick The first four rounds of the 2026 MLB draft are set for Saturday.
UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky was the No.
1 pick in the 2026 MLB draft by the White Sox.
| IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The first round of the 2026 MLB draft is in the books.
In some ways, the first round played out just as expected in, and in other ways, there were surprises around the corner.
After much speculation, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky was the first to hear his name called.
Cholowsky's selection kickstarted a position player-heavy top of the first round before a run on pitchers in the back half.
The first day of the draft will cover four rounds and consist of 135 picks.Those include the 120 picks in the first four rounds, and the compensatory, competitive balance and promotion incentive rounds.
The first round will have 25 picks, then there will be three promotion incentive picks, and nine competitive balance picks.2026 MLB draft bonus pools The Pirates have the biggest bonus pool for the 2026 draft at $19,130,000.
That makes sense, since they own four of the first 51 picks.The Rays have the second biggest pool , while the White Sox , Giants and Twins round out the top five.
Cholowsky has been projected as the top pick since he hit .353 with a 1.109 OPS and 23 home runs as a sophomore in 2025.
He did nothing to diminish that status this year, slashing .320/.452/.636 with 21 home runs and 60 RBIs.The 21-year-old is 6'2" and 200 pounds and has outstanding raw power to mix with good swing decisionshe's walked more than he's struck out in college.
He has average speed, but should stick at shortstop thanks to a plus arm, paired with good actions and instincts.
Emerson is a potential five-tool shortstop who could legitimately go No.
1.
The 18-year-old has excellent bat control and makes great decisions at the plate.His left-handed swing generates hard contact to all fields, and more power is likely to come as he matures.
While not a speedster, he has enough quickness to handle shortstop and possesses a plus arm.
He would have been the No.
1 pick in several draft classes over the past decade.
Lackey is 62 and 215 pounds and possesses excellent all-around ability behind the plate.He finished 2026 hitting .397 with a 1.291 OPS, 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases while walking more than he struck out.
Hell need to add lift to his swing to produce more power as he ages, but he should develop faster than most backstops.
Ryan Phillips is a senior writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated.He has worked in digital media since 2009, spending eight years at The Big Lead before joining SI in 2024.
Phillips also co-hosts The Assembly Call Podcast about Indiana Hoosiers basketball and previously worked at Bleacher Report.
He is a proud San Diego native and a graduate of Indiana Universitys journalism program.