The 2026 NCAA Baseball Tournament’s super regionals are set to begin this weekend. As we inch closer to the College World Series, there will be more buzz around the 2026 MLB Draft.
This year’s draft is set to take place from July 11-13 in Philadelphia. The Boston Red Sox will be on the clock with the 20th overall pick.
In the 2025 draft, Boston used its first two selections (Nos. 15 and 33) to bolster its pitching pipeline with Oklahoma’s Kyson Witherspoon and Tennessee’s Marcus Phillips. Drafting pitchers has been a priority for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, who also picked No. 1 Red Sox prospect Payton Tolle out of TCU in 2024.
Will Breslow & Co. select a pitcher in Round 1 again next month? Here’s an early roundup of mock drafts from draft experts:
Kiley McDaniel, ESPN: Bo Lowrance, 3B, Christ Church Episcopal HS (SC)
McDaniel: “This is Lowrance’s most rumored and most likely landing spot. In the same way that Condon reminds his most ardent supporters of Kevin McGonigle, more than a few scouts have whispered the name Freddie Freeman when discussing Lowrance.”
Mike Axisa, CBS Sports: Bo Lowrance, 3B, Christ Church Episcopal HS (SC)
Axisa: “Lowrance is one of the biggest risers in the draft class and we could be talking about him as a potential top 10-15 pick as we get closer to draft day. He’s a big kid (listed at 6-foot-5 and 200 lbs.) with a pretty left-handed swing and power potential, and a track record of performing well against top competition in showcase events.
“Whichever team drafts him (this is especially true if he goes closer to the No. 10 pick than the No. 20 pick) will do so believing Lowrance can stick at the hot corner at the next level. There is a chance his future lies at first base, putting adding pressure on the bat.”
Mayo: “Leaning into the ‘don’t miss the guy in your own backyard’ idea here. Bumila has been racing up boards thanks to high-octane and unhittable heat from a 6-foot-9 frame. He’s been very fastball-heavy, but did show off more changeups and sliders in his most recent start.”
Reuter: “Clark plays for a St. John Bosco squad that many outlets have ranked as the No. 1 high school team in the nation this spring, and he has a clear up arrow next to his name after a strong summer showcase performance. He has a polished hit tool, plus speed and a high baseball IQ that helps him maximize his tools, and he could continue to climb draft boards as the spring unfolds.”
Mark Powell, FanSided: Jared Grindlinger, LHP/OF, Huntington Beach HS (CA)
Powell: “Jared Grindlinger has risk written all over him. He’s only 17 years old, making him one of the youngest players in the class. He’s also attempting to be a two-way player, something nobody other than Shohei Ohtani has successfully pulled off. With that being said, with the 20th overall pick, the Boston Red Sox should be all over this. Grindlinger probably won’t stick as a two-way player, but there’s too much to dream on, both hitting- and pitching-wise, not to take him.”
