2026 Boston Red Sox MLB Draft Day 1 Thread

[Jack Lindsay]

The 2026 MLB Draft will feature 20 round draft and like last season, festivities will take place over the course of two days. Rounds 1-4 will take place from 1:00 PM - 7:45 PM E.T. on Saturday , and then rounds 5-20 will be all day Sunday from 11:30 AM - 7:30 E.T. 

Day one is split into three sections with picks 1-10 being broadcast on NBC/Peacock only. Picks 11-40 will be on MLB Network and the remainder of the draft will be on MLB.TV. The entirety of the draft Sunday will be on MLB TV, MLB.com, or MLB+. 

The Boston Red Sox will make three selections on day one of the draft.

20th Overall (Round 1)

67th Overall (Competitive Balance Round B)

[Acquired in trade: Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler for Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, and David Hamilton with Milwaukee Brewers]

96th Overall (Round 3)

The Red Sox forfeited their second and fifth-highest selections, as well as $1 million in draft pool money, in this years' draft after they signed Ranger Suarez to a five-year, $130 million contract. This is due to Suárez being offered the qualifying offer by the Philadelphia Phillies. Per the MLB rules, the Red Sox had to forfeit those picks because they eclipsed the $241 million Competitive Balance Tax Threshold.

Baseball is incredibly unique in the ways that address draft picks. Each team has its bonus pool which is assigned by MLB in the spring based off of league-wide revenue the previous season. Along with that, each draft pick is assigned its own slot value, which is essentially the expected cost to sign a player at that spot. Teams don't have to follow that number exactly, which is why you see teams sign players or over or under slot values. 

For example, in last years draft, the Los Angeles Angles had the 2nd overall selection which was valued at $10,252,700 but ultimately ended up signing their selection Tyler Bremner for only $7,689,525, nearly $3 million below the projected value of the selection. Teams can then use the money they save at the top half of the draft to lure better players with more bonus money later on in the draft.

The Red Sox have $8,219,200 to play with in this year's draft, the eighth-lowest pool, with the slot value of their 20th overall pick coming in at $4,373,900. 

Another note regarding slot money from Baseball America: "In the MLB draft, each pick inside the first 10 rounds comes with assigned slot values. The sum of those slot values creates each team’s bonus pool. From rounds 11-20, players can sign for up to $150,000 without counting towards the bonus pool. Anything beyond that value does count towards the pool. Teams are free to sign players for more than an assigned slot value or less than an assigned slot value, though going over a bonus pool comes with penalties."

It's also worth noting that with the CBA expiring this offseason and the MLB's proposal to change the draft format, this likely the last time we see the draft in the format we see it in today. 

We here at Talk Sox will continue to feature the Red Sox Draft Tracker, which will be kept up-to-date, not just as the draft happens, but also as we learn about the signing bonuses for each draft pick throughout the signing period. Thanks for joining us during one of the most exciting times of the season and keep coming back for updates!

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[moonslav59]

The added Comp pick also adds bonus money, so even if we swing and miss with that pick, we might still use the bonus money to draft a kid "overslot." We've had great success with Comp Picks, though. 

I'm curious to see if we focus more on bats than arms, but I think they will take the best player, regardless.

What else is weird about the MLB draft is the no trading picks part, although Comp Picks can be dealt.

[Jack Lindsay]

9 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

The added Comp pick also adds bonus money, so even if we swing and miss with that pick, we might still use the bonus money to draft a kid "overslot." We've had great success with Comp Picks, though. 

I'm curious to see if we focus more on bats than arms, but I think they will take the best player, regardless.

What else is weird about the MLB draft is the no trading picks part, although Comp Picks can be dealt.

They seem to have a particular affinity for SEC arms in the past few drafts. Personally hoping we branch out a bit more and get a Bo Lowrance or Ace Reese-type if he falls in the draft.

[moonslav59]

We've drafted pretty well for a few years, so I think these guys know what they're doing, but I'm hoping the guys they pick are big bat types.

If they don't I won't be bummed. Good pitchers fetch good bats in trade, or guys like Gray and Bennett.

[moonslav59]

The draft has begun (NBC for the first few picks.)

1. Roch Cholowsky SS UCLA (CWS) Ranked 2nd on MLB list

2. Grady Emerson SS HS (TBR) Ranked 1st

3. Vahn Lackey C GA Tech (MIN) 3rd

4. Jackson Flora SP UC-SB (SFG) 4th

5. Derek Curiel OF LSU (PIT) 12th

6. Zion Rose OF Louisville (KCR) 30th

7. Eric Booth OF HS (BAL) 6th

8. Drew Burress GA Tech (OAK) 7th

9. AJ Gracia OF VA (ATL) 19th

10. Tyler Bell SS KY (COL) 10th

11. Chris Hacopian 2B TX A&M (WSH) 14th

12. Jared Grindlinger OF HS (LAA) 16th

13. Trevor Condon OF HS (STL)  13th

14. Jacob Lombard SS HS (MIA) 5th

15. Ryder Helfrick C ARK (AZ) 11th

16. Gio Rojas LHP HS (TEX) 8th

17. Logan Hughes OF TX Tech (HOU) 42nd

18. Justin Lebron SS ALA (CIN)

19. Liam Peterson P FLA (CLE)

20. Jake Schaffner SS NC BOS LHB #75

Maybe we took an under slot player with the idea of taking an overslot player, later.

Top ranked remaining prospects we might have taken:

15. Cameron Flukey RHP Coastal Carolina

17. Hunter Dietz LHP ARK

18. Ace Reese 3B MISS St

21. Bo Lowrance 3B HS

[oldtimer]

13 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

The added Comp pick also adds bonus money, so even if we swing and miss with that pick, we might still use the bonus money to draft a kid "overslot." We've had great success with Comp Picks, though. 

I'm curious to see if we focus more on bats than arms, but I think they will take the best player, regardless.

What else is weird about the MLB draft is the no trading picks part, although Comp Picks can be dealt.

We have been among the worst teams in MLB for a number of years with one exception and yet haven't had top picks. This year we pick 20th and our second pick was traded, so it is unlikely that we will see any help from this years draft in the near term.

[harmony]

6 minutes ago, oldtimer said:

We have been among the worst teams in MLB for a number of years with one exception and yet haven't had top picks. This year we pick 20th and our second pick was traded, so it is unlikely that we will see any help from this years draft in the near term.

That's hyperbole as the Red Sox won/loss record ranks 16th among the 30 teams since the start of the 2020 season, covering seven campaigns, including the 92-win season in 2021.

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, oldtimer said:

We have been among the worst teams in MLB for a number of years with one exception and yet haven't had top picks. This year we pick 20th and our second pick was traded, so it is unlikely that we will see any help from this years draft in the near term.

Our farm has not been worst.

Some of our last few picks have been...

2023: Teel got us Crochet & Early. Don't write off KC yet, either.

2024: Montgomery got us Crochet & Tolle has been solid. Clarke and Aita helped us get Gray &  Contreras. Futrell, Hudson White and others look real good.

2025: Eyanson, Godbout, Witherspoon, Brown and others look very promising.

We didn't trade our #2 and #5 round picks: we lost them by signing Suarez.

We added a Comp pick that is not too far from where that #2 pick would have been.

I'm excited about this draft.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, harmony said:

That's hyperbole as the Red Sox won/loss record ranks 16th among the 30 teams since the start of the 2020 season, covering seven campaigns, including the 92-win season in 2021.

Yes, and exactly 15th since 2021.

Under Brez, it's 13th- just 2 wins from 12th, 3 from 11th and 5 from 10th (top tier)

Hell, if we play like this for the rest of 2026, we may be ranked 8th from 2024-2026. (We are 8 GB SEA- the team in 8th place.)

[Nick]

Moon is it time to revisit Ketel Marte trade? Gives us no brainer 2B for at least 4 years. He's as a sure thing as it gets, no?

[Hugh2]

Jack Schaffner is what the internets is reporting.  Big reach, probably looking to spread money

[southpaw777]

We pick a SS who wasn’t projected until the 3rd round at 20?
so the metrics guys are going with contact and not power? 
pretty sure this dude would have been there in round 2 or 3.

[moonslav59]

Jake Schaffner SS

from NC (LHB)

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, Nick said:

Moon is it time to revisit Ketel Marte trade? Gives us no brainer 2B for at least 4 years. He's as a sure thing as it gets, no?

I actually feel worse about making that trade as I felt last winter. He seems to be declining, and the AAV is recalculated after a trade, so his budget hit is worse than I thought.

In hindsight, trading for BLowe was the best move. Trading for Paredes would have been cheaper ($ and return players) and better than KMarte.

 

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

We pick a SS who wasn’t projected until the 3rd round at 20?
so the metrics guys are going with contact and not power? 
pretty sure this dude would have been there in round 2 or 3.

It could be we are looking to draft an overslot bonus guy later.

In 2024, we paid higher bonuses to Conrad Cason and slightly more for Tolle.

In 2025, we paid double slot money for Eyanson & Barrett Morgan.

I'm not sure this is a good plan or idea. I was hoping we drafted Ace Reese or Bo Lowrance- both 3Bmen. (LHBs too)

 

 

[Hugh2]

This dude has elite elite contact skills.  Sox probably think they can add power to his swing, if they can he’ll be a stud.

sox also had the 8th smallest bonus pool, they will go underslot here to go overslot in the later rounds.

[Hugh2]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

It could be we are looking to draft an overslot bonus guy later.

In 2024, we paid higher bonuses to Conrad Cason and slightly more for Tolle.

In 2025, we paid double slot money for Eyanson & Barrett Morgan.

I'm not sure this is a good plan or idea. I was hoping we drafted Ace Reese or Bo Lowrance- both 3Bmen. (LHBs too)

 

 

Kind of reminds me of the time the reached to draft Mickey Romero and toon Roman Anthony later

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Hugh2 said:

Kind of reminds me of the time the reached to draft Mickey Romero and toon Roman Anthony later

Yes, I should have gone farther back, but I was trying to stick to the Brez era.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Just ignore MLB.com"s assessment of Schaffner: "a promising infield utility profile"

He's a shortstop, which means he can move anywhere. The ghost of Ted Williams just texted the Red Sox to move him to left field and clean-up in the batting order, with the nickname of Red Seat Reacher.

[Hugh2]

Brewers just took a guy ranked 107th with the 25th pick.

remember these rankings don’t mean much in the end.  It’s just on groups list that is just a snapshot of time.  There are 30 teams out there with their own lists that all vary vastly.

[southpaw777]

53 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

It could be we are looking to draft an overslot bonus guy later.

In 2024, we paid higher bonuses to Conrad Cason and slightly more for Tolle.

In 2025, we paid double slot money for Eyanson & Barrett Morgan.

I'm not sure this is a good plan or idea. I was hoping we drafted Ace Reese or Bo Lowrance- both 3Bmen. (LHBs too)

 

 

Yeah, I was hoping for a 3b type with a bat too,  or another up the middle slap hitter.  more contact than power

[Tedballgame]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Our farm has not been worst.

Some of our last few picks have been...

2023: Teel got us Crochet & Early. Don't write off KC yet, either.

2024: Montgomery got us Crochet & Tolle has been solid. Clarke and Aita helped us get Gray &  Contreras. Futrell, Hudson White and others look real good.

2025: Eyanson, Godbout, Witherspoon, Brown and others look very promising.

We didn't trade our #2 and #5 round picks: we lost them by signing Suarez.

We added a Comp pick that is not too far from where that #2 pick would have been.

I'm excited about this draft.

Teel didn't help get Early. Early was drafted by the Sox. 

[moonslav59]

Just now, southpaw777 said:

Yeah, I was hoping for a 3b type with a bat too,  or another up the middle slap hitter.  more contact than power

Maybe some falls into our laps at overslot money. That seems to be our M.O.

[moonslav59]

Just now, Tedballgame said:

Teel didn't help get Early. Early was drafted by the Sox. 

I meant Teel helped us get Crochet and we drafted Early in 2023, so the draft was very helpful.

Sorry for wording that wrongly.

[Tedballgame]

Good sacrifice bunt.

 

[moonslav59]

The first round and Comp A picks are in (picks 1-40.)

The Sox next pick at #67 (Comp B pick) and #96. That's it for today, as we lost our #2 round and #4 round picks by signing QO pitcher Raner Suarez.

[Tedballgame]

Duran needs to get at least one run in.

[Tedballgame]

Just now, Tedballgame said:

Duran needs to get at least one run in.

How in the world can Duran take a fastball down the middle on a 3-2 count. Absolutely horrible AB. Time to trade that bum.

 

Just now, Tedballgame said:

Duran needs to get at least one run in.

i

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, harmony said:

That's hyperbole as the Red Sox won/loss record ranks 16th among the 30 teams since the start of the 2020 season, covering seven campaigns, including the 92-win season in 2021.

The optimist in me really wants to believe that RS fans pay at least enough attention to know roughly what our record has been over the past five years.

[moonslav59]

My second hope beyond a bat draftee is that he's a college player.