Get Ready for the 2026 MLB Draft
The highly anticipated 2026 MLB Draft is just around the corner, and baseball fans are eager to find out who will be the next big stars in the league. The draft will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Grand Hall in Philadelphia, and it promises to be an exciting event for fans and players alike.
Why the First Round Has Only 25 Picks
One of the interesting facts about the 2026 MLB Draft is that the first round has only 25 picks. This is due to the tax penalties imposed on teams that exceeded the $281 million third competitive balance tax threshold in 2025. The Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, and Yankees all exceeded this threshold, and as a result, their first pick in the 2026 draft will be moved back 10 spots.
2026 MLB Draft Order
The full draft order for the 2026 MLB Draft is as follows:
- First Round (1-25)
- Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick (26)
- CBT Penalty (27)
- Competitive Balance Round A (28-34)
- Second Round (35-40)
- Supplemental Second Round (41-50)
- Competitive Balance Round B (51-56)
- Compensation Picks (57-60)
- Third Round (61-100)
- Fourth Round (101-132)
- Fifth Round (133-135)
- Sixth Round (136-193)
Here’s a breakdown of the full draft order:
First Round
- 1. Chicago White Sox
- 2. Tampa Bay Rays
- 3. Minnesota Twins
- 4. San Francisco Giants
- 5. Pittsburgh Pirates
- 6. Kansas City Royals
- 7. Baltimore Orioles
- 8. Athletics
- 9. Atlanta Braves
- 10. Colorado Rockies
- 11. Washington Nationals
- 12. Los Angeles Angels
- 13. St. Louis Cardinals
- 14. Miami Marlins
- 15. Arizona Diamondbacks
- 16. Texas Rangers
- 17. Houston Astros
- 18. Cincinnati Reds
- 19. Cleveland Guardians
- 20. Boston Red Sox
- 21. San Diego Padres
- 22. Detroit Tigers
- 23. Chicago Cubs
- 24. Seattle Mariners
- 25. Milwaukee Brewers
Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick
26. Atlanta Braves (Drake Baldwin, Rookie of the Year)
CBT Penalty
27. New York Mets (10-pick penalty)
Competitive Balance Round A
28. Houston Astros (Hunter Brown, top-three finalist Cy Young)
Second Round
35. Toronto Blue Jays (10-pick penalty)
Supplemental Second Round
41. Pittsburgh Pirates (compensation for unsigned 2025 No. 50 draft pick Angel Cervantes)
Competitive Balance Round B
51. Boston Red Sox (acquired from the Brewers in the trade for Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler)
Compensation Picks
57. Chicago Cubs (compensation for Kyle Tucker signing with the Dodgers)
Third Round
61. Colorado Rockies
Fourth Round
101. Colorado Rockies
Fifth Round
133. Houston Astros (compensation for Framber Valdez signing with the Tigers)
Sixth Round
136. Colorado Rockies
Where to Watch the 2026 MLB Draft
The 2026 MLB Draft will be broadcast on TV and live streamed online. Here’s how you can watch:
- Day 1: Saturday, July 11 (Rounds 1-4)
- 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET – Picks 1-10 | TV: NBC | Stream: fubo (Try for free)
- 2:30-4:30 p.m. ET – Picks 11-40 | TV: MLB Network | Stream: fubo (Try for free)
- 4:30-7:45 p.m. ET – Picks 41-135 | Stream: MLB.com, MLB TV, MLB+
Conclusion
The 2026 MLB Draft promises to be an exciting event for baseball fans and players alike. With the first round having only 25 picks due to tax penalties, the draft order is filled with interesting storylines and surprises. Make sure to tune in to watch the draft live on TV or online.
