2026 MLB Draft Thread...Sox likely a Top 3 pick here

[peanut33tillman]

Cholowsky looks absolutely insane. Such an awesome year to potentially have the top pick much less a top 5 pick. Just a stacked class at the top with a good mix of prep and college bats

[Chisoxfn]

After getting screwed with ten cause of stupid competitive balance rules that screw the Sox - I really hope something works in our favor vs ending up with the worse two year record in franchise history and getting a #10 and #7 pick or whatever it is. Terrible rules - penalize teams in that regard because they are over payroll thresholds or something else - as a Sox fan we get none of the luxuries of a big market team and none of the benefits of a small market team. Hope Ishibia changes that. 

[bmags]

15 hours ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

A new record would still be significantly under slot. #1 slot will be like $11.5 million next year. Biggest bonus ever is $9.2 million. They could give him $10 million, demolish the record and save $1.5 

Yeah I guess I was thinking more how Skenes signed for 500k less than the slot value, but if we could get the savings you mean that would be significant. Would still like them entertaining a return of a comp back instead of prospect, as a next years draft with a budget to take comfortable swings up and down the draft would be a first for the sox. 

[Chick Mercedes]

12 hours ago, peanut33tillman said:

Cholowsky looks absolutely insane. Such an awesome year to potentially have the top pick much less a top 5 pick. Just a stacked class at the top with a good mix of prep and college bats

So he is so good that Carleson already being here makes no difference. Positional value and BPA still

[southsider2k5]

3 hours ago, bmags said:

Yeah I guess I was thinking more how Skenes signed for 500k less than the slot value, but if we could get the savings you mean that would be significant. Would still like them entertaining a return of a comp back instead of prospect, as a next years draft with a budget to take comfortable swings up and down the draft would be a first for the sox. 

If you save $1.5m, that is a pretty darned good extra HS player, at least.  Especially if they also tried to get some comp balance picks too, they could push a $20 million draft budget.

[Sleepy Harold]

2 hours ago, Chick Mercedes said:

So he is so good that Carleson already being here makes no difference. Positional value and BPA still

The great thing about shortstops is that they can move anywhere on the diamond. 

[Sleepy Harold]

 

[caulfield12]

https://www.usabaseball.com/news/the-two-sport-blueprint-how-jacob-lombard-is-building-his-own-legacy

Like the Hollidays, getting another famous brother combo in Lombard with the father passing on athletic genes (UGA RB and mlb outfielder/coach)...as well as the mom.

 

Unlike most baseball prospects who specialize early and train year-round, Lombard is choosing a route few dare to travel: playing both baseball and soccer.

“Soccer was my mom’s first sport, and my dad played a little when he was younger. It was my first sport too, so I’ve always had a love for soccer since the beginning. Then, once I saw my brother getting recruited for baseball and doing things like that, it pushed me to lean more toward baseball,” Lombard explained. “But I always loved soccer even more than baseball from the start. As I transitioned to baseball, with a little influence from my brother and dad, it helped me become a better athlete because I was already a good soccer player. That made the transition easier since I was already athletic.”

Lombard also did gymnastics for two years when he was younger, following his mother’s influence. He played a variety of sports, including football, and all of that helped him become a better athlete, making the switch to baseball much easier."

Edited August 28 by caulfield12

[Timmy U]

This is going to be a great draft at the top, especially the first three picks. I would be thrilled with Lombard, Emerson, or Cholowsky. Not interested in another pitcher with a top 5 pick. McDougal and Oppor were both taken in the 5th round. Arms are available later. Premium position players, not so much.

[Boopa1219]

 

[Timmy U]

Here’s a prediction: Sox go HS again next year. I’ll say Tyler Spangler and Sox Area Code guy Ethan Bass from Northbrook.

[DirtySox]

Please baseball gods. Please Mr. Pope. Bless us with #1 and that juicy bonus pool.

 

[Quin]

4 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

Please baseball gods. Please Mr. Pope. Bless us with #1 and that juicy bonus pool.

 

The Bears and Blackhawks making strong cases for Da Pope energy.

Then there's the Bulls.