2026 MLB mock draft: Our expert makes every first-round pick - ESPN

In our previous MLB mock drafts, we've focused on who teams are most likely to take with each pick — mixing industry intel with what their draft history tells about preferences — but now it's time for something a little different: a mock looking at who each team should take come July 11.

The idea here is to pick who I would pick if I were in charge based on how I rank this year's prospects, though because so many of these situations are coin flips between a small group of similar players, the tiebreaker goes to the kinds of players this team has taken in the past, who they've been able to develop/improve or who fits their current competitive situation (record, payroll, etc.).

For example, if a decision came down to a raw high school player or polished college player of similar value for a lower-payroll team that's a current contender, the team is going with the college player who likely arrives in the majors sooner.

I also am in the process of updating my rankings, so call this a soft launch of some bigger moves in those rankings. Here is who your team should be targeting at the top of this year's draft.

Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA

This isn't as easy a call as you might think with a pretty clear top tier of Cholowsky, Grady Emerson and Vahn Lackey in this class.

With the White Sox contending right now and running a lower payroll, the lean is toward college players, so that gets us to Cholowsky and Lackey.

I don't think any of these players would cut a huge deal at this pick, and in general you should just pick the best player at the top pick. I'll go with Cholowsky because his combination of timetable, high floor, premium position and track record is just too much to pass up.

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