https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/draft/jacob-lombard-813075

Lombard really is the best play if you want the highest ceiling.

The problem is that Mune Colson Braden and Bonemer are all high K rate guys.

Miguel Vargas, same story ... hot and cold.

You need at least one solid Bregman / Swanson type to balance that all out.

Not unrealistically expecting Y.Alvarez/Manny Ramirez/Miguel Cabrera ofc, but the closest type of higher contact, consistent run producing hitter you can possibly find.

But if you think you can now develop Billy Carlson/Lombard/Emerson types....go for it.

Cholowsky is certainly the safest and likeliest pick.

Lombard the highest ceiling and lowest floor.

Emerson resides somewhere in the middle.

3 hours ago, DirtySox said:

Man what a bomb. Good to see him heading up.

BA's mock draft 3.0 is up. Will share the top 10 picks. They touch on the Emerson/Lombard buzz. I knew Wasserman represented both Roch and Grady, but didn't know Lombard as well. Tough to create leverage when your top 3 targets are all under the same agency.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-mlb-mock-draft-3-0-first-round-picks-for-every-team-with-2-months-to-go/

1. White Sox — Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA

Bonus Pool: $17,592,100

Slot Value: $11,350,600

There’s been a lot of buzz in recent weeks about the White Sox potentially taking someone not named Roch Cholowsky. The No. 2 player in the class, Texas prep shortstop Grady Emerson, is the most popular alternative, though the White Sox have seemingly been scouting Florida prep shortstop Jacob Lombard heavily, as well. Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey could round out the group as the last serious name in play for the first pick.

When talking with sources throughout the industry, the Emerson rumors have been viewed in myriad ways, including: 1.) pure smoke, 2.) the White Sox doing their due diligence at the top and 3.) actually pretty likely.

I’m inclined to believe the second explanation at this stage.

Cholowsky still feels like the favorite—he just hit home runs No. 19, 20 and 21 this weekend and is replicating his 2025 Player of the Year campaign—even if Emerson is also being seriously considered. It could also be tricky for the White Sox to try and create huge savings with any player at this pick since each of Cholowsky, Emerson and Lombard are represented by the same agency.

2. Rays — Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS, North Richland Hills, Texas

Bonus Pool: $19,009,300

Slot Value: $10,507,000

The Rays are connected to all of the names mentioned above with the White Sox. Many sources continue to believe they’ll take whoever Chicago doesn’t take of Cholowsky or Emerson. I get mixed feedback on whether or not they’d be into Lackey here, but it’s hard to discount him given his excellent season and defensive value. They’ve scouted Lombard as well, but he feels less likely for this spot.

3. Twins — Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech

Bonus Pool: $16,929,600

Slot Value: $9,740,100

If the top two players come off the board in the expected order, Lackey feels like the favorite for the Twins. They’ve had a lot of high-level decision makers scouting him throughout the spring, and his defensive upside at catcher could give him one of the highest floors in the class. This is the first spot in which UC Santa Barbara righthander Jackson Flora gets some play.

4. Giants — Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS, Miami

Bonus Pool: $17,350,600

Slot Value: $8,988,400

The Giants created some noise over the weekend when they traded Patrick Bailey to the Guardians for lefthander Matt Wilkinson and the 29th pick in the draft—plus the $3,270,200 in pool money that comes with the pick. Speculation ensued immediately about the team trying to float Roch Cholowsky to this pick.

I mentioned that scenario to a decision-maker with another team. The response?

“Yeah, that is not happening.”

The Giants could very well want to keep the California-native in his home state, but that would require the three teams picking in front of them to play ball and pass on the best player in the class—which seems exceedingly unlikely. The White Sox, Rays and Twins could all offer slot-value deals that would still shatter the current draft bonus record of $9.25 million.

A much more likely scenario is that the Giants can now grab an overslot player with their pick at 29. Someone they like, but who might have been a risk to go in between their original picks at No. 4 here and No. 55 in the second round.

For this first-round pick, I’ve heard the Giants connected to bats. If Lackey falls, he could be the pick. If not, Lombard and fellow high school toolshed Eric Booth Jr. feel like the favorites, probably in that order.

5. Pirates — Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

Bonus Pool: $19,130,700

Slot Value: $8,336,500

In contrast with the Giants, I’ve heard college pitching with the Pirates at five. The most obvious name if that’s true is Flora, who feels like he’s in a tier of his own as the top overall college pitcher in the class. Flora’s peripherals are slightly underwhelming for a pitcher in this spot—his 23.7 K-BB% is a bit lighter than is typical for the first college arm drafted—but he’s also allowed just 10 earned runs all season and has an electric pitch mix.

6. Royals — Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS, Parkland, Fla.

Bonus Pool: $15,954,000

Slot Value: $7,746,100

A high school player feels most likely for the Royals. They have been all over Rojas this spring, and he’s pitched excellently. He has terrific arm speed, a big fastball and a chance for a wipeout breaking ball. If Lombard isn’t taken by now, he probably doesn’t last much longer than this, and it’s also hard to rule out Booth and his top-of-the-scale speed.

7. Orioles — Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove HS, Hattiesburg, Miss.

Bonus Pool: $13,114,000

Slot Value: $7,327,200

Booth represents the final player in a top six group of names who are favorites to make up the top of the draft. It’s difficult to envision him or any of the players mentioned above falling much further—though Rojas as a prep pitcher carries more volatility if Kansas City doesn’t select him. It sounds like Baltimore could like Booth, but if he goes in front, they’re also connected to many of the college hitters who could go in the next few spots, including AJ Gracia and Drew Burress.

8. Athletics — AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia

Bonus Pool: $13,840,300

Slot Value: $6,982,600

At this pick and beyond is where things get dicey and full of speculation. If the Athletics want college pitching, this could be Jackson Flora’s floor. I wouldn’t be surprised if they took a shot on another college pitcher who finishes strong and moves up boards, but there’s not an obvious name for that currently. They could be one of the diminishing realistic landing spots for Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron inside the top 10, or they could grab one of the model-favorites like Drew Burress or AJ Gracia—who has an extremely wide range of potential outcomes.

9. Braves — Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M

Bonus Pool: $15,870,800

Slot Value: $6,675,300

Like Gracia, there’s an extremely wide range of opinions on Chris Hacopian, who model teams love and who more traditional teams are more skeptical of. He has excellent ingredients to hit and hit for power, though he comes with some defensive questions that could push him from the infield to the outfield.

10. Rockies — Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas

Bonus Pool: $15,557,600

Slot Value: $6,393,100

This could be one of the earliest spots for Helfrick, who is the consensus No. 2 catcher in the class behind Vahn Lackey. He has excellent raw power and the tools to be a high-level defender, but there are some swing-and-miss questions—which is true of most of the college hitters in this class. I could also see the Rockies going with a high school lefthander like Gio Rojas, Brody Bumila or Logan Schmidt.

There's another reason for Roch.

3B is becoming a dead zone for big league power hitting.

Colson Roch Vargas Bonemer gives you a crazy/insane amount of options over there...

Just like Teel/Quero was supposed to provide a "niche advantage" to the Sox.

Or LHP pitching development, etc.

Ooooh. Yes please. Though I don't have any idea who they would trade for this?

8 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

Ooooh. Yes please. Though I don't have any idea who they would trade for this?

What teams have picks to trade?

Giants, Rays, Diamondbacks, Cards, Orioles, Rockies, Royals, Pirates?

Weird how it's always Landon but usually not Contreras' son...guess that's because late first round/early second looks like his current landing spot.

11 minutes ago, Lukakke Appling said:

What teams have picks to trade?

Giants, Rays, Diamondbacks, Cards, Orioles, Rockies, Royals, Pirates?

The Rays are in first place, Cards are 2.5 out of first place with a nice record, and Pirates have surprised the plus side. As of now, no one else is close enough to consider trading a pick for something. The Cardinals might be the best chance there, as they do get active at the deadline. I would be pretty surprised if Pitt and AZ are around the race in two months.

1 hour ago, DirtySox said:

Ooooh. Yes please. Though I don't have any idea who they would trade for this?

Jacob Gonzalez? I could see a team viewing him as a capable utility player at the MLB level and value the short-term boost to the MLB team over the long-term timeline of developing a prep player.

2 hours ago, DirtySox said:

Ooooh. Yes please. Though I don't have any idea who they would trade for this?

I know James said no, but Quero is my guess. Timing makes sense.

1 minute ago, fathom said:

I know James said no, but Quero is my guess. Timing makes sense.

Who is giving up a pick for Quero? My guess is that it ends up being one of the relievers.

3 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Who is giving up a pick for Quero? My guess is that it ends up being one of the relievers.

I absolutely think a team would give up a comp pick for a young catcher with years of control

Just now, fathom said:

I absolutely think a team would give up a comp pick for a young catcher with years of control

He's closer to DFA than a draft pick trade.

Just now, southsider2k5 said:

He's closer to DFA than a draft pick trade.

I’m harder on him than anyone, but he’s still so young

1 minute ago, fathom said:

I’m harder on him than anyone, but he’s still so young

The market rate for back up catchers who don't play great defense is dfa.

7 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Who is giving up a pick for Quero? My guess is that it ends up being one of the relievers.

I would if I were another team. Quero is a highly rated catcher and catcher(s) are notorious for being slow adjusters at MLB level because everything thrown out at them. I actually don't think getting a comp pick for Quero would be good value from the Sox perspective. I think he is worth more than that and I'm not down on him because of his tough start of the season. He does need a reset and some mechanical adjustments but I believe he is a plus catcher who is cost controlled for a long time...that is worth more than a comp pick.

My guess was potentially one of our relievers.

2 minutes ago, Chisoxfn said:

I would if I were another team. Quero is a highly rated catcher and catcher(s) are notorious for being slow adjusters at MLB level because everything thrown out at them. I actually don't think getting a comp pick for Quero would be good value from the Sox perspective. I think he is worth more than that and I'm not down on him because of his tough start of the season. He does need a reset and some mechanical adjustments but I believe he is a plus catcher who is cost controlled for a long time...that is worth more than a comp pick.

My guess was potentially one of our relievers.

I would hope the Sox would get more than just a comp pick to be honest

5 minutes ago, fathom said:

I would hope the Sox would get more than just a comp pick to be honest

Yeah - Quero has to be worth more than that - but I think we'd be selling low on him right now which doesn't make sense to me. I do love fact Sox might try and grab a comp pick though...would just prefer it not to be giving up a longer term piece - as I think quero is going to have a long career as an above average catcher.

26 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

He's closer to DFA than a draft pick trade.

Come on.

1 hour ago, southsider2k5 said:

He's closer to DFA than a draft pick trade.

It would be insanity if they DFA'd him instead of using his options.