The 2026 MLB Draft is in the books, and the National League Central teams have made their picks. The Chicago Cubs focused on pitching, selecting Mississippi right-hander Cade Townsend, who showed top-10-pick caliber stuff earlier in the spring. The Texas A&M outfielder Caden Sorrell has big power and big whiff, with easy 30-homer upside if he can hit enough to get to the power in games. The Florida State first baseman Myles Bailey hit .363/.582/.913 in 26 games before a bad ankle injury ended his season.
The Cincinnati Reds led off their draft with one of the highest-risk, highest-reward prospects in the class, Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron, who had the best pure tools in the college class. The Milwaukee Brewers returned to the Ebel family with their first-round pick, Corona High School shortstop Trey Ebel, whose older brother Brady was their second pick in 2025. The Pittsburgh Pirates targeted strong college bats early, selecting LSU outfielder Derek Curiel, who had one of the best pure hit tools in the country.
The St. Louis Cardinals had a deep, balanced class, with extra picks yielding one of the strongest and deepest draft classes. Georgia high school outfielder Trevor Condon is a potential leadoff type with strong contact skills and excellent bat speed. Tennessee right-hander Tegan Kuhns dominated the SEC this year, with a plus fastball up to 98 mph with huge induced vertical break and a plus curveball.
Overall, the draft saw a mix of high-risk, high-reward prospects and more certain picks that offer relative major-league value. Teams focused on pitching, power, and contact skills, with a few surprises and potential stars on the horizon.
